Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-07
MILITIA BILL PASSES
House Acts on Measure Pend
ing for Six Years.
REFERS TO LOCAL BRIGADE
Representative Hull Objects to Sew
eral Provisions.
INSISTS ON HIS AMENDMENTS
Legislation Will Allow Citizen Sol
diery Here to Conform to Or
ganization of Army.
INSISTS ON HIS AMENDMENTS

The Ames bill providing for a reorsani-
zation of the militia of the District OF
Columbia in order that it may CONFORM
with the provisions of the Dick act
was passed by the House of Represent
atives yesterday. This measure has been
pending in the House for several years
and would have been passed at the last
session but for the democratic flibuster
and the general tie-up of all legislation.
| Representative Stevenson of Minnesota
called up the bill yesterday and explained
| it in part as follows:
THE militia of the District of Colum-
bia was organized under an act passed
in 1889. Congress in 1903 passed the Dick
law. which provides that before the mill
tia of any state, territory or the District
| of Columbia can share in the appropria-
tions made by Congress for the militia
they must conform in organization. arma-
| ment and discipline to the regular army
| within five years from the date of that
act. Last year We extended the time two
years so that the time within which the
militia of all the states, territories and
the District of Columbia must conform in
organization to the regular army expires
next year This makes it necessary to re-
write many of the sections of the organ
! ic act of the militia of the District of
Columbia. The first nine sections did
! not require any change. out most OF the
| subsequent section did.
Committee Report Unanimous.
THE committee on the militia has had
! this bill under consideration for many
months, and we heard representatives OF
the militia and the War Department and
| gave the subject very careful considera-
| ton. The report of the committee is
i unanimous
THE officers and men Of the militia of
| the District of Columbia are anxious TO
| conform their organization to that Of the
regular army, but are unable to do so
! until Congress passes this a similar
| act If it be not passed within year
they will be deprived Of their quota We
know of no reason why this bill should
not pass. l will not detain the House
| with any further statement. but will be
| glad to answer any questions.
| Mr.. STEVENSON was followed by Repre-
sentative Ames Of Massachusetts, the au-
thor of the bill, who explained that IT
| contained but two changes of moment
| lone in reference TO the pay of militia
men when ordered on duty and the other
| in reference to courts-martial.' He added
that the bill has been most carefully
| gone over by the War Department, the
| Judge advocate general. Gen. Drain. the
head of the Interstate National Guard AS
| ISOLATION, and Maj. Brett, list United
/ States Cavalry. for many years adJutant
| general of the District of Columbia
| militia.
Not Criticism From Guardsmen.
| There has been no criticism that
| have heard from any of the officers and
men in the militia of the bill providing
J for the promotion in the line or in the
staff / understand there has been some
criticism Of the portion OF the bill refer
| ring to what shall constitute the orsaniza-
| ton of the National Guard The criticism
| was to the provision:
THAT the President of the United
! States the commander n-chief. shall have
| power to divide. annex, consolidate dis
band or reorganize the same whenever in
his Judgment the efficiency of the forces
| will be thereby increased.
THAT was put in the bill after long de-
bate and consideration with the depart
ment to simplify the act and make it
possible in time of peace for the com
mander-in-chief to reduce to a necessary
and proper minimum. in order that the
organization might continue without dis
bandment. necessary under a fixed rule
of strength
Gen. Keifer of Ohio interposed with a
criticism that the bill gave the District
a militia organization out of proportion
to the militia of the states, taking into
consideration the population and power
and influence, and that there was pro-
vided for "a very considerable army of
officers. sufficient to go into the field and
wage "A very considerable battle. alto
gether made up of the militia of the Dis
tricf ~