Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-02-07
Status and Purposes Of
Federal Pay Bill.
Work on State Roads viii Be-
gin Early in The Spring.
Primary Nominations for Sheriff In
Somerset and Piscataquis.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting of Governor and
Council, Friday, Feb. 9, at 10 A. M.

Malne Guardsmen, as well as those
OF other states, will be interested to
learn that, according to the last is
sue OF the Army and Navy Journal.
the bill Which provides pay for the
National Guard for armory drills will
be reported out by the committee on
military affairs after the Military
Academy bill is reported III the House
In circular regarding the bill, which
has Just been published. Gen. Edward
G. Young of Olliuois chairman of the
executive committee of the National
Guard Association of the United
States makes the following explana =
ton, covering the history. provisions
cost OF and authority for the bill
History~-Thc National Guard Asso-
citation of the United States, composed
of representatives, from every state in
the Union, after mature deliberation
unanimously endorsed federal pay for
the National Guard and drafted and
presented this bill to Congress. 1t was
intreduced in the House. of the 61st
Congress. Dee 6, 1910, by Hon, Halvor
STEVENSON. chairman of the commit
tee on militia. 1t was reported with
amendments to the House and passed,
Feb. 2s, 1911. 1t was introduced in the
Senate of the 61st Congress by Hon.
Boies Penrose. Dec. II, 1910. 1t was
referred to a subcommittee of the
committee of military affairs of which
Senator Joseph NJ. Dixon was chair
man and was unanimously reported
out of the Senate committee but too
late for final vote. a revised bill was
presented TO the special session of the
61st Congress, in the House, May /,
1911, BY Hon. |. S. Pepper and in the
Senate. May 4, 1911. by Senator Dix
on. This revised bill retains all of
the substantial features of the origi-
nal bill. but eliminates the amend
ments, which created opposition to the
original bill 1t was unanimously en-
dorsed at the last convention of the
National Guard Association of the
United States and has the approval of
the war department and the bureau of
militia affairs.
Prosisions-This bill provides, under
certain conditions that National
Guard officers shall receive as COM
pensation from the federal govern
ment. II per cent. of pay for like
grades in the regular army: captains,
regimentai and battalion adjutants
and quartermasters, 20 per cent: staff
officers serving with general officers,
five per cent: enlisted men, % per
cent
Cost-The war department estimates
that IL will cost S6.000.00o to carry this
bill into effect. The estimate is based
upon the theory that there will be no
vacancies, that there will be 100 per
cent. of efficiency of officers, and that
there will be 100 per cent. of atten-
dance at all drills of enlisted men
BASED upon present records of efFtcien-
cy which this bill will bring about the
executive committee of the National
Guard Association estimates. after
careful calculations. that the cost for
the first six months will not exceed
$200o,000, for the second six months,
$4,000. 900, and that the ultimate
cost per annum will not exceed SIS ,000,-
900. The last amount is based upon
100 per cent. Of an efficiency for Off
GERS and IS per cent. of attendance
for mel. all that might reasonably be
expected.
Authority-Congress has power to
enact this legislation, according to
the Constitution. This bill does not
directly or Indirectly change the re-
lation of the National Guard to the
State and National Government as
its status is fixed by the Constitution.
1t does not interfere in any way with
the authority of the Governor of the
State over the National Guard in time
of peace.