Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-12-17
GENERAL FINER
MAKES SUGGESTIONS
Would Organize a State Con-
stabuIary and Relieve
Militia Of Strike Duties

off the policy of using the state
military power for the enforcement of
the law is to be continued it is sug.
gested that state eonstabulary be or
ganized for that purpose, says Ad-
jutant General W. L. Finer, of the
Oregon National Guard, in his biennial
report to Governor West. "This is to
be separate and distinct organization
to that of the National Guard. The su-
perintendent of constabulary should be
appointed by the governor and the
members should be stationed wherever
needed and where most economical.
They should also be authorized to act
as forest fire, game and fish wardens,
and in general to have the power and
prerogatives conferred by law upon the
police force or constable of the state. "
General FINER states that the Ma
tional Guard is becoming more or less
national force and the principal rea.
son for its existence is for national de.
fense. If the guard should be entirely
relieved from strike duty, many labor
ing men who now do not join military
organizations would no doubt become
active members.
Headquarters in Salem.
General FINER also recommends that
the headquarters Of the National Guard
| be removed from Portland to Salem
and given offices in the supreme court
building and that store house and
arsenal be constructed at Clackumas in
order to be used as a quartermaster
stOrehOuse and arsenal for the militia.
He estimates that concrete building
suitable to all the needs Of the de-
partmcnt would not cost more than
100000, and he asks the legislature to
make provision for such Improvement
as it would work great saving in the
amount now paid out us rent for such
accommodations
In asking for the transfer Of head.
quarters from Portland to Salem, Gen.
eral FINER says; "For many years
the state headquarters have been locot-
ed in Portland, one reason being that
one-third of the state troops are locat.
ed in Multnomah county; another was
that no adequate space was available
in the capitol building. Since the con
struction of the supreme court build
ing, additional offices have been pro.
vided for state purposes. If the neces-
sary space can be provided at Salem in
the capitol, it would seem financial
consideration that the adiutant gener-
nj s office should be located here, pro-
vided all quartermaster supplies and
equipment can be stored at Clacka-
mas
Should Be- Paid.
Stating that the amount Of time and
labor now cNacted from the citizen sol
der under existing conditions is all
that can be consistently expected by
the government unless the national
government provide adequate support
in the way Of compensation to the
| members Of the guard to properly
. mointOin the organized militia, very
little progress can be made from now
on, In other words " says the gen.
oral, in his report, "thc members Of
the guard are deyoting MS much time
. now us can reasonably be expected
, without some compensation for money
expended and time lost The failure
of the general government 10 provide
by legislation adequate support for the
organized militiO has had discour0g
ing effect upon the troops During the
, past II years great progress has been
made by the militia, and II has been
demonstrated beyond question it,
value to the national government as
n dependable force for war;
General FINER says that an attempt
should be made to hold the 1918 on
campment for the Oregon troops neal
San Francisco in order to give then
the benefit Of the Panama Pacific ex
position, His financial report show.
the department to be in first.class con
! dition and to have kept well within
= the funds allowed and no additiona
G appropriation is asked beyond the reg
! ulNr support for maintenance cxccp
u for the proposed new storchouse an,
arsenal building nt ClnckomNs