Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-06-02
NEW MILITIA LAW
NOW EFFECTIVE
Governors Troop One of the Last
in Which the Men Will Select
Their Major Officers

officers and men of the Eighth
Infantry and Governors Troop have
elected their last officer, with the ex-
ception of second lieutenant. The new
military code, passed by the State
Legislature on April "a of this year.
became effective yesterday, and from
now on colonels. lieutenant colonies,
majors, captains and first lieutenants
of companies will be appointed by the
Governor. Staff captains and lieuten-
tenants will, as before, be appointed
by the colonel. with the approval of
the brigade commander.
Formerly the enlisted men or COM
panies chose their captains, first and
second lteutenants, while the colonels,
lieutenant colonels and majors were
chosen by vote of the commissioned
officers OF the regiments. All of these
now lose their voice In the naming
of officers with the exception of en-
listed men of companies for the choice
of second lieutenant.
One important result of the change
in the code making the officers ap-
pointive by the Governor, instead of
by election, is that 1t will throw regi-
mental staff positions open to line off,
GERS more freely than before. Here
tofore the effect of the necessity to be
elected to an office, for instance.
major was to keep line officers, the
electors, from desiring staff positions.
1t was the practice to elect to field
positions only line officers. Now, a
field officer being an appointive off,
Ger may be appointed from any de-
partment. Consequently, a man who
becomes a staff officer, ii would seem,
would not thereby lose his qualifica-
tions for Advancement, if he is meri-
torious, to a field position-which a
major is.
This apparently will have the eff
feet to greatly strengthen the per-
connel of the staff group. 1t also
means that regardless of the per-
sonal popularity of the line officer, II
he is not meritorious from a military
standpoint. it will be hopeless for
him to aspire to any higher office.
All of which effects are highly bene-
fetal to the National Guard and to
the component units in particular.
Another change which goes into
effect Tuesday morning is that of ex-
empting members of the National
Guard during their terms from jury
duty, If the members so desire. Dur
ing encampments, etc, they must eX-
empt themselves from jury duty.
The new code reduces the maxi
mum OF infantry companies in the
State from $50, to $50, but increases
the maximum for field artillery from
five batteries to one brigade. Cavalry
remains the same. one regiment. I'm
der the new act provision is made fol
one ammunition train, one sanitary
train and one supply train. None OF
these were provided for in the Act OF
1911.
The medical corps is increased from
twenty majors and forty captains oil
first lieutenants, to twenty-five majors
and eighty captains and first lieuten-
ants.
A number of minor changes, of in
terest mainly to the men in service
are made and in many respects the
new code greatly resembles that oi
1911, particularly the parts relating tC
discipline. clothing, and other equip
ment
The election of officers of the Gov,
ernor's Troop, conducted by Colone
John P. Wood, of the First Regiment
of Cavalry, on Thursday. May a. was
probably the very last in which the
men of a command will choose their
own officers by vote.