Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-23
REEVES THE ISSUE
OVER MILITIA DUTY
Resignation of Capt. Clark
Through Fear of Injur-
ing Record as Clerk.
HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS
OPPOSE GUARD SERVICE
Government Work, It Is Contended,
Should Not Be Interrupted.
Long-Standing Controversy.

eS q captain III the pay
National Guard of the District of Co.
lumbia, rendered. it is understood. be-
cause 1t was definitely indicated to him
that absence for military duty in ex-
cess of the usual thirty days of annual
leave would injure his record as a gov
eminent clerk in the office of the audi
tor of the War Department, is one OF
many incidents, National Guard officers
say, of opposition to military service OF
government clerks by those in author
ity over them in the administrative de-
partments Of the government.
Service of government employees in the
organized militia has been for all time
the cause of contention between
milltiamen in the public service. sup
ported by their militia officers, and
bureau chiefs and administrative heads,
according to the guardsmen. Yet the
National Guard has been ENCOURAGED
by the attitude of Congress and the
enunciatiOn of national policies and by
every final decision made by law OFF,
GERS of the government in the belief
that the training of citizens in military
matters was essential to the common
veal of the republic. and to be fostered
in every possible way.
Victory for the Militia.
dispute OF some consequence be-
tween the militia and civil authorities
over the military service of govern
ment employees. coming up in June a
year ago, resulted in a victory for the
militia. 1t was the occasion of con-
siderable correspondence between the
commanding officer of the LIST Battery,
Field Artillery. NJ G. d. c., and Frank
lin MacVeagh. Secretary Of the Treas
ury at that time
The battery commander set forth the
arguments for the encouragement Of
organized militia. Secretary MacVeagh
Vie ded the point. and gave written as
surances of and directed compliance with
TINS change of view in the case under
consideration.
The specific case had to do with four
enlisted men of the battery employed
AT the bureau of engraving and print
ing. The administrative superiors Of
these guardsmen directed them to re-
turn to their civil employment The
guardsmen responded to the order of
their captain directing them to as
semble prepared for two days of tar
get practice on the range. Their ad-
minlstrativ superiors counter-ordered
them to return to their civil work. and
oy direction of the captain they did SO.
Four other members of the battery.
employed at the same administrative
bureau. returned from the range prac-
fice having been absent two days. and
presented their certificates of military
duty. The certificates were accepted as
valid for only one day Of military
DUTY, and a mark of absent without
leave" entered against their records
for the other days absence at the
range.
Case Goes to President.
The battery commander carried the
case to the head Of the bureau of en-
craving and printing, thence to the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury and finally to the
PRESIDENT, then William H. Taft. He
cited the law and the opinion of .Judson
Harmon, when Attorney General. He
further analysed the situation as pre-
scented In the case in issue. Offering the
argumen! of the National Guard
Granting OF military leave is not dis
cretionaiy With heads of administra five
bureaus o: departments, he contended
Inc law is mandatory. requiring that
government employees be granted leave IF
absence for military duty ordered nv
their commanding officers.
the government of the United States
is spending money" he wrote in his let
ter to Secretary MacVeagh, ION the mill
tary framing OF these men. and the law
directs that officers of the civil depa :
ments of the government shall not i'm
pede this work. = The necessary infer
ence is that such officers shall aid this
work. II men in the civil employ OF the
United States enlist to take mil;tarv
training their civil officers are to en-
courage. not intimidate Them
In answer to the contention that mi,itf.
duty should not BE- allowed to interfere
with the efhciency OF the public service.
the battery commander indicated that
various administrative activities of the
government found it practicable to grant
military leave to members of the Ma
uona! Guard employed under Them with
OUT impairlng the efficie ncy of public
work.