Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-02

of Columbia militia, and Maj.
IL Leroy w. Heron, inspector gen
eral Of the National Guard of
the District accompanied the officers of
the army, navy and Marine Corps to the
White House yesterday TO pay their re-
spects to the President of the United
States
Members Of the armory board, ap-
pointed by Gen. Harries from the officers
of the local brigade, and of which Adjt.
Gen Smiley is chairman, will hold a
meeting Wednesday evening at District
militia headquarters to determine which
members of the board will go to New
York to inspect the armories In New
York city, Rochester and Buffalo, and
perhaps those of Providence, r. J.. 1t Is
the purpose of the board. as we'll as of all
the officers of the National Guard, 10 90
all in their power TO 1urther the interests
OF the campaign in favor OF procuring
an armory for the troops of the District
which will be model for the rest of the
country. Tentative plans, as described
in The Star two weeks ago. nave aiready
been drawn. and the chances of obtain
ing from Congress the entire appropria-
ton for the erection in the near future
are said to be excellent. The report or
Col. Weaver of the division of militia at
fairs of the War Department, III which,
while complmenting the troops of the
National Guard of the District, he spares
no words in condemning the local armory
facilities. will give fresh impetus to the
movement in favor of first-class
armory for the District troops.
The new armory which is to be oc-
cupied by the Battery and Signal Corps
company, will be completed by February
l. The contractor, who is now working
OH the building, has guaranteed to have
il reaay at that time, and will have to
forfeit $40 each day after February l un-
Ill the building is entirely completed. The
building Will be used by the Battery and
Signal Corps company until the large
armory Is completed, and IT Is great
Improvement on the present quarters OF
these organizations, especially those of
the lst Battery, Field Artillery.
Announcement that there will be at
least two candidates for commissions in
the LIST Battery examined next montn
has started several applicants studying
the drill regulations anu hand book night
ANA day. Almost every afternoon. al
though drills are now suspended, some
Of the non-commissioned officers of the
battery are TO be found in the battery
armory studying the battery COM
nander's telescope, the 3. G. X. ruler,
and other instruments used In the
preparation and conduct of fire, and of
IeTing each other problems involving the
calculation OF parallaxes of aiming points
and targets, angles OF site, the detection
differences and other technical and tacti-
cal problems involved In the cOmputa-
tion OF firing data with the modern field
piece. Tie candidates mastering the
subject well, and il is thought that they
Will make excellent artillery officers.
Representative William III. Wiley of
New Jersey, who is a Republican mem
Der OF the House committee on militia.
has introduced d bill in the House to
further promote the efficiency of the
militia The bin has been referred to the
committee or militia, and is said to have
excellent chances OF being reported favor
q bly,.
The Wiley bill provides that the division
OF militia affairs OF the War Department
shall be made a separate bureau of the
department, subject 10 the supervision of
the chief Of staff of the army, and that
il shall hereafter be known as the bureau
OF military affairs Of the War Depart
1nent.
The business assigned TO the bureau,
according 10 this bill Will embrace all the
administrative duties of the War Depart
1nent involving the organization, aNma-
Inent, equipment and discipline of the
organized militia not in the military
service of the United States.
The chief OF the bureau OF militia at
fairs VIII be appointed by the President,
with the advice and consent of the
Senate, from the colonies Of the line of
The army, and Will have the rank. pay
and allowances OF a briEadier general and
VIII be an ex-Ofilcio member of the gen
crti Stan.
The bill provides further:
That there shall be paid to each en-
listed man the sum of fifty cents and 10
each commissioned officer the sum OF one
dollar for each drill actually attended
and for drills from which excused by
proper authority. Said payments shall
be made monthly. and fines imposed for
absence or other breach of discipline
snail be deducted therefrom."
In order 70 provide funds for the pay
ment Of the troops, the bill stipulates that
the necessary money shall be appropri-
ated ont Of the funds of the Treasury
not otherwise appropriated.
The bill further provides that 1.-The
Secretary OF War NAV, in his discretion.
detail one more officers on the active
list Of the regular army, whose rank
shall not be less than lieutenant colonel
III the adjutaut generals office of such
state or territory, whose duty il shall be
10 inspect the National Guard In their
home stations and al their camps of in
struction, provided, that such state or
territory shall have at least one brigade
of militia fully organized and equipped"
Another provision of the BILL similar to
the law now in force in the District of
Columbia, says that .all officers and en-
ployes of the United States and the Dis
trict of Columbia who are members of
The organized militia of any state ter
Iitory or the District of Columbia, shall
be entitled TO leave of absence from their
respective duties, without loss OF pay or
time. whenever said militia or any portion
thereof shah engage in encampments.