The Washington herald., 1912-03-24
aIal|lii|;laaIC:;T ! 60
MILITIA

will insure every reasonable opportunity
and encouragement for them 10 DO 90.
He state further that II is not deemed
necessary 10 issue n circular as no gen
eraI complaints from employees have been
recsiyed by the department. bat II any
specific Instances are brought to his at
tention where employees are unable 70
obtain leave TO attend to their military
duties II will give him pleasure to take
the matter up with the heads Of thu
offices in which they are employed and
issue such instructions as win insure the
granting Of leave for this purpose when
ever It Is possible to do 50.
The Postmaster General states that on
September q. 1907. he issued the follow
Ing order and instructions, which are
published In the Postal Guide annually.
for the information Of postmasters and
postal employees:
Ordered, that leaves Of absence with
out pay, in addition TO the leave OF abb
sence with pay, authorized by law. will
be granted to postal employees who are
members Of the National Guard. when
called upon 20 perform military duty
by competent authority.
THE department believes that the Ma
tional Guard should be encouraged IN
every way. and that II is feasible for
postmasters to arrange the duties OF en-
ployes so that leaves Of absence TO per-
form military duty may be granted with
out detriment to the service. In cases
Of emergency. where the entire Guard u
called out and to grant leaves Of alb
sence to all of the employees OF the post
Office who are members OF the National
Guard would seriously embarrass the
postal service. A Is believed that upon
proper representations by the postmas-
tiers. commanding ofncers win relieve
from duty those employees whose sery-
Office work.
THE orders quoted apply to camps Of
instruction for officers, regular annual
summer encampments. and all other mil
itary duties that member Of the organ
lied militia may be called on by compe-
tent authority to perform"
The new infantry signal iass and nag
kits will be ready for issue to the ro-
ganized militia about April Is and dis
tribution will be made about that time
TO all States and Territories that have
submitted requisitions therefor.
The organized militia is authorized to
continue in use until unserviceable. ar
ticles of uniform for officers and men
which were authorized for the regular
army prior to December Is, 1sil-
Under this authority. It Is not compul-
sorry for the officers OF the organized
militia to conform 10 the new pattern
Of the uniform by July /. 1872. as pre-
scribed by paragraph 2, general orders
No. 50. War Department 1911 It Is ad-
visable. however. that when officers pur-
chase or are supplied with new uniforms,
they conform to the new pattern.
The ruling OF Secretary Of War stInson
that the United States government should
not pay any part Of the expense for
the care of equipment loaned by govern
ment TO the organized militia Of States.
Territories. or the District OF Columbia,
will not AFFECT the methods used by the
District Militia In caring for property.
Guns. ammunition. camp equipage. field
artillery. and equipment OF all kinds
used by the National Guard of the Dis
trict Of Columbia ss cared for at the
expense of the District OF Columbia, the
amount being appropriated yearly In the
District appropriation bilL the ldtnctssu-
perintendence Of the property being
mostly under the direction, OF Lieut.. w.
A. DuvaIL
Secretary stimson' disagreed with the
National Militia Board on this PROPOSE
ton. The board. which met in this city
several weeks ago, recommended that
the Federal allotments made to States
by the War Department should be used
In part for the caring Of Federal equip
ment. He does not believe that the
United States should lend a brigade sew
eral hundred thousand dollars worth OF
property and then be put to the expense
OF keeping IL in condition.
At the request of Secretary Of War
Stimson. Attorney General wickersham
last week handed down a decision TO
the effect that II will be impossible TO
employ the organized militia IN the set
tlement of the Mexican troubles. The
Attorney General held that the President
has no authority to call forth the ergan-
lied militia and to send II with the reg
ular army as part Of an army OF occu-
patton. II was declared that the use7of
the organized militia for this purpose
would be unconstitutional