The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-02
MAY PLACE MILITIA
 1 ON 4 SALARY BASIS
Bill to Come Before National Congress
TAYLOR IS REAPPOINTED
Cotton Market Has Developed Tumb- ling Faculties and May Go Below I4 Cents-More Is After
 Trap shoot

Montgomery, November l-(Special)- Every enlisted man in the National Guard of every state of the Union, and every l commissioned officer will receive hand some bonus from Uncle Sam if the bill drafted at the recent session of the Ma tional Guard association. held in St. Louis. Is passed by Congress and ap- proved by President Taft The measure, as outlined in copies of the resolutions which have been received by Adjt Gen. Bibb Graves of Alabama is the fruit of tine labors of many years. and in its pres ent state is supposed to be as nearly per feet as any measure could be which has as it's ulterior object the ultimate uplift of the National Guard of the United States
 The measure Is one which provides fed- eral pay for the National Guard, and as blanket measure calls upon the treas ury of the United States to expend an- nually S6, 500 900 to aid in the improvement of the militia in every state of the Union. In Alabama alone a government appro- priation of s165.ooo is sought to be made, while all of the other southern states VIII receive a like amount.
 According to the text of the resolution, enlisted men and commissioned officers are to receive annually from the govern ment certain percentage of the wages which they would receive were they in active service all of the time. For in stance a private in the Alabama National Guard receives while on duty, s15 per month or s1S0 per year. The bill which is sought to be passed in Congress pro- vides that such a private shall be paid bonus of 25 per cent in addition. In other words, each private will receive, If the measure is passed, s45 a year in addition to his S1S0 Commissioned officers all over the United States are to be paid percentage of their annual rate or pay. As an illustration, all officers below the grade of general officers, including onl- cers of the medical corps serving with troops, are to be paid 15 per cent, and an additional 3 per cent to the commanding officers Of all companies, troops and bat teries; general officers and officers ot stan departments serving with general off cers are to be paid per cent. At this rate. a colonel would be paid monthly salary of $50 and a captain would be paid $40 per month. Generals, on the per cent basis, would receive about 25 per month in addition to the wages which they would receive from the state in times or active service. The difference between the state pay and the government pay IS
 
 the tirne provided that requirements set forth in the bill are compiled with. The measure specifies at length that drills must be regularly attended, and that all duties shall be regularly performed. If the duties as set forth, are not compiled with. the government reserves for uself the right to refuse the pay.
 General Graves, who was a memDer of the committee on legislation which drafted the bill, and who is also one of the five members of the national militia board, is of the opinion that the measure will be the means Of greatly improving the service in every state, especially in the matter of efficiency or inc officers The bill requires that each officer must undergo rigid ex- animation on military tactics before he can be eligible for the extra pay. Because of this clause 1t Is conceded that a number of the leading officers of every state will be thrown out Of the service, owing to unfamiliarity with the army regulations and owing to a lack of time that would be neces- sary for them to familiarize themselves with the army tactics. But at the same rime good would accrue in the eleva- tion of those officers who are capable of standing the test. The rule of ''the Attest shall survive" would be practic- ally in effect from the day of the pas sage of the measure.
 Already the war department, through General Wood, has signified its will lingness to throw it's weight on the side of the measure, and the national militia board has promised Its hearty support More than this a number o1 the leading senators and congressmen have promised their help, co-opera ton which will in all probability bring about the change desired The chair men of the committees on military af- fairs in Congress have been caled upon to present the measure to their re- spective houses and In each case con- sent has been given.
 The bill in full follows:
 Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Unit ed States in Congress assembled:
 Section 1. That, under such regula- tions as the Secretary of War in con ference with the national militia board may prescribe, the commissioned off cers of the organized militia of each state, territory and the District of Co lumbia shall receive in compensa tion for tn cir services other than at annual encampments, or in case of riot, insur- rection or invasion, certain percentages of the annual rate of pay for officers of like grade in the army of the Unit ed States as is now or may be here after established by law as follows All officers below the grade of gen. eral officers, including officers of the medical corps serving with troops, fif- teen C15) per cent and an additional five (5) per cent to the commanding officers of all companies, troops and batteries; general officers and officers