The Washington herald., 1912-01-14
NATIONAL GUARD NOW ASKS
FEDERAL PAY FOR SERVICE
Despite Present Economy Plan the Pay B1r Likely
In Pass
to Pass.
By MAJ. CHARLES J. FOX,

1 BY MAJ. CHARLES u. FOAg
! n q. DC
Armed with a host OF facts and figures
and directed by the executive committee
Of the Interstate National Guard Associ-
alton, officers and enlisted men OF the
National Guard OF the entire country are
planning a vigorous campaign during the
present session of Congress TO obtain the
enactment Of the Federal pay bill for the
organized militia
The cay for which the National Guards
men are making an almost unanimous de-
mand Is to be from 10 to . per cent OF
the compensation now received by the
Ioficers and men of the regular army to
which the organized militia. under the
present Federal statutes. serves as a first
reserve.
Guardsmen'S Demands.
The demands Of the guardsmen for
compensation commensurate with their
services are so unanimous and well-or-
| gahlzed. that the various bills embody-
ing them have made such progress In
both the House and Senate OF the Ma
tional Legislature as 10 warrant a safe
prediction that the pay bill will become
/ a law during this session OF Congress.
despite the announced policy OF economy
OF the Democratic House Of Represent
atives.
In the opinion OF many members Of
| Congress, response to the demands OF the
guardsmen OF the entire country is not
measure which II would be expedlent
for either the Democratic House or the
Republican Senate TO postpone until af-
ter the election" especially as pearly
500, 10000 will be appropriated for the
support Of the army and navy.
The demand for Federal pay by the
members of the National Guard is a logi-
cal outcome OF the present development
Of the organized militia, which by re-
| cent acts OF Congress has been placed
on a thoroughly military basis and as
much under Federal control as the Con-
stitution will permit
The passage Of the Dick bill in 1905,
and its amendments. five years later. re-
quirlnE a marked increase in the military
efficiency of the Guard, entailed large
amount of additional work from the Of
ficers and enlisted men of the organized
militia. and also a general demand for
compensation to cover the time and ex-
pense occasioned by the performance Of
military duties.
Discussion of Topic.
1t was at a meeting of the Interstate
National Guard Association at Los An
geIes, Cal. in 1909. that the question Of
Federal pay was first seriously discussed
by the assembled National Guard officers.
The executive committee was then d.
rected to draft bill for presentation at
the next annual convention of the as
sociation in st. Louis, October. 1910, when
the bill was referred TO legislative COM
mittee, composed of an officer from each
State. This committee passed the draft
ed bill almost unanimously. and the bill
was presented TO the national House of
Representatives. which passed the bill with
some amendments last February, by
vote OF l60 TO l24. The bill was shortly
thereafter favorably reported by the
Senate Committee on Military Affairs, but
as II was near the close OF the session.
il was not brought to a vote.
A revised bill, approved by the War De-
partment, and unanimously indorsed by
the National Guard Association at Its
last convention. in Buffalo. n. T., is the
one whose passage is to be urged Vtgor-
ously at the present session OF Congress
The bill provides that officers Of the
National Guard according TO rank and
duties performed, shall receive during the
year from Is to = per cent OF the pay OF
equal grades of the officers of the regu-
lar army. payments 10 be semi-annual on
the 18th days of June and December.
During annual encampments, IN case OF
riot insurrection. invasion. or imminent
l.
National Guardsmen is now and win
continue to be the same as that OF the
officers Of the regular army The en-
listed men of the guard arc to receive
% per cent OF the rate Of pay of en-
listed men OF like grade in the army OF
the United States.
Obligation of omcers.
The bill furthernore imposes upon those
who receive Federal pay, an obligation to
attend a specified percentage OF the
drills or assemblies Of the organizations
with which they are connected, or an
equivalent amount of military duty dur
ing the year: the obligation to respond
whenever called into the service of the
United States. subject to trial by court
martial for failure TO do so' ana the oo-
IiRatIon 10 nav for any public property
lost or destroyed by and chaPgeable to
any ofacer or enlisted man A further
obligation is that the omcers ana en-
listed men must qualify as TO fitness for
military service under such regulations