The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-30
Washington NEWS GOSSIP

HuUEletbUlUU
tBy Charles Brooks Smith
WASHINGTON. D! @. Jan, 30
Members Of the West Virginia Mil.
tia, articulariy It's officers. have rea-
sons for congratuIa alton that Congress
appears willing 70 provide Federal
pay for the State troops when on &C.
tive duty, whether at the annual en-.
,campment or In the drill Sha us OF the
various commands. The Senate Com.
imittee son Military affairs has re.
ported favorable q bill to this end,
and there Is every reason to believe
that the Senate will pass the meas.
;ure. he house, Il Is understood, Is
friendly to the bill, and as It is sup.
ported with equal sincerity by Rep.
leans and Democrats alike, It would
have standing i'm the next Congress
even should Il fail to get through FIN
the course of the present session.
congress II not the President Is
willing to add to our military strength
and this bill is part OF its general
plan. n 4 3 !
(. army men nere. VINO are interested
WIN me militia IN the passing of this
legislauon believe that some changes
VIII pc MADE IN measure before Its
final passage, but they are strong In
the belief that In most particulars Il
will go through as 1t has been framed.
In brief, this legislat don, which has
nnaliy attained the position OF van
age. provides that the National
suarasmen, oIicers and men, shall.
pc pala snyE the Federal Government
,orz the actual time theys spent IN mil:
,l.aIys WORK. me enlisted men Will
probably be paid 70 per cent Of the
pay OF the men OF. their rank In the
regular service. me soiicers VIII DE
paia q smaller percentage Eot the pay.
,ol tne regulars Of, the same rank.
out the amount Will pc sufficient TO
lnduce men 70 serve the states IN the
TANKS OF tne guards: IEThe TACT that
i.ney are paia wili bring them under
stilcler dlscipiine ana strengthen
con ,u IN mihtary. matters; I,
a. natohai organlzation OF Al
guarasmen mas worked consistently
ana enc properly 70 put thls measure on
S.he statute BOOKS: inc amount OF
pay Which the men would gel. en-;
s.erea I1nto the mattel, very, nttie:s INC
guard oItlcers Knew tnat uncle sam
should become in part g paymaster
ne would nave a muchf larger control
over the Guardsmen and that the
alscipllne. lhe4 arm ana the military
service generaily o. the National
au U,, would petYastiy. improved: !.
me olllcers and enlisted men OF
tne National Guard have given their
services grataitoasly: IN Washing.
,ton AZ me GHeadquarters OF the Mil
itia DIVISION Sots the War Department.
tne .trobles which have lbesets officers
OF the Guard In keeping their ranks
iull ana IN maintaining interest has
been well known and sund erstood.e The
= militia division has
peen earnest an its support OF the
measureswhlch has finally been given
70 the Senate backed by unant.
mouslys favorable report from the
Commtttees on Military affairs.
suhaersthe8 proyts Ions OF the meas;
ure. Gnardsmenf VIII be paid for the
time mat they spent In drill. The
man who does not attend drill will
not get MS pay. Regular army off:
GERS and Guardsmen alike. have
urged thata nearly az men, when they
are paid 70 90 q Sthing-no matter
now small the payment may be-:
,teei an obligation IN doing IT They
pelleye mat the sdriliS attendance VIII
ne. Increased largely that discipline
viii be better. and that interest will
pc Keener I'm the Guards work and
tnat TINS VIII come from knowledge
OF me fact that, as payment Is III;
tended, the 9men must do something
70 earn themoney: In fact, he will
probably much more than earn Il,
put me thing u 10 make him feel the
ODllgatlOQ. T. - 80