Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-04

ing to the new limit in the short peri
cd intervening between the time the
law became effective and the date set
for the cruise The necessary equip
ment for the increased force has been
purchased and the additional men will
be recruited early this year, thereby III
surfing adequately trained forces for
the cruise for the summer of 1910.
The new law will ultimately make
consider able reduction in the rank of
officers serving on the staff of the
commander-in-chie and will limit the
selection Of staff officers to those who
have had military service, but as Off
GERS serving on the staff of the COM
mandcr-in-c chief at the time of the pas
says CT the law We're exempted from it's
provisions such changes will not take
place during the present administra-
ton. In this connection, l may state
that / awaited myself of the new law
in order to reduce the grade of this
Office from that of major general to
brigadier general, believing that while
the higher rank was no more than fit
ting for officers who had rendered dis
tingui3hed service to their country
during the Civil war it was better that
an officer appointed from the National
Guard begin MS duties with the lower
rank contemplated by the Military
Law. This change in rank was ac-
complished under General Orders, Nc
%, al d brings the rank of Names ad-
jutant general to the grade which OBJ
tains in a great majority of the states.
bn T.,
on the National Guard of this State to-
day is the lack of suitable armories
The DEFICIENCIES in this respect have
beer pointed out year after year in the
reports of my predecessors, in the re-
ports of the inspectors general and in
the reports f,Tntted States inspecting
officers acting under the provisions of
the federal militia law. The Military
Law enacted at the last session of the
legislature was designed to improve
conditions in TINS respect first by Sc
curing an Armory Commission, second
ly by Increasing the compensation paid
by the State to municipalities furnish
ing ar:norics. and thirdly by establish
ing the legal procedure under which
permanent armories may be acquired
when funds are. available.
THE armory commission was con-
situated in an executive order dated
November II. 1909. naming as members
of said commission the Adjutant Gem
eral. ok Officio, Major Walter J. Mayo,
Second Infantry, Captain Harry P.
Carver. First Infantry, Honorable
Charles H. Randall of Portland and
Honorable Frederick w. Plaisted of
Augusta The commission has already
inspected many OF the armories.
LAS a result of the work already
done. armory conditions are being i'm
proved and while the maximum
amount which the municipality may
receive from the state is increased by
only $500 (from a maximum of 500 to
a maximum of 5000 municipal officers
generally have appreciated even this
slight advancement. 1t has been the aim
of the commission to make the grant
ing of an increased allowance condi-
tionll on a genuine betterment of eX-
listing conditions. Although the max
mum is still too small to warrant i'm
provements on a scale which will give
the Guard fully adequate quarters it
is the beginning of better days and al
most without exception the Armory
Commission has found municipal Off
GERS ready to promptly make REQUIRED
In meeting municipal
officers the commission has endeavored
to give due considerations to both the
requirements of the National Guard
and the conditions under which NUM-
cipal officers are sometimes restricted.
To this end, recommendations nave
been confined wholly to essentials.
leaving for later consideration minor
details which should ultimately be re-
adjusted to the greatest benefit of the
National Guard organizations. After
it's inspections and thereby
becoming thoroughly conversant with
conditions, in all parts of the State, the
will be in position to
prepare regulations for the govern
ment and control of armories.
IN framing these regulations the
will have data from all
states having similar commissions and
when the regulations have been ap-
proved and published it is believed
that much of the past friction between
National Guard organizations and mu-
nicipal officers will be done away with.
Nothing has been done as yet towards
pr eparing for the consideration of the
Legislature d progressive system of
State armory consideration but there
is 10 question that the State will final
ly have to provide and maintain all
National Guard Armories and the COM
mission is now securing information
the enactment and workings
of such laws in other states. Before
the assembling of the 18TH Legislature
in January. 1911, there will be ready for
a report fully covering
legislation in other states and afford
ing the groundwork on which iegisla-
ton can be enacted for the benefit of
the National Guard of this State
James Libby, who has until recent
ly held the position of head farmer
at the National Home at Togus, has
purchased a farm at Saco and will