The Washington herald., 1916-04-28
DE- y. Q. JoHNs.

BY II. -. JOHNS.
The Secretary OF the Navy has been
advised that the naval militia pay blu,
now pending, has Some features which
will be subjected TO bitter attacks IN
Congress by those who are advocating
complete Federal control Of any military
forces which draw pay from the general
government The charge is made that
the naval militia pay bill gives the Fed
eral government less control over the
State troops than the provisions for the
National Guard in the Senate and House
bills now before the Joint Conference
Committees.
What is known as retainer pay" un-
der the terms OF the bill. II is claimed is
given to all members OF the naval militia
regardless of their qualifications for serv-
ice in the navy. The charge + made
that the bill would not put tie Fed
eral government in position to make the
same demands upon the personnel OF the
militia as are provided for in the exist
ing law Under the existing law il is
required that before a state organiza-
ton is entitled 70 appropriation made by
the Federal government they must come
up to certain state Of efficiency
The attention Of the Secretary has also
been called to the fact that while enlisted
men Of the naval militia are not TO re-
ceive retainer pay unless they shall
attend a certain number OF assemblies
for drill instruction and target practice,
no such requirements are specified for
officers. II is argued that all an officer
would require is his commission to be
entitled TO retainer pay. An officer is
not required to be attached TO any or
ganization or TO perform the duties OF
commander, according to the views of
the critics of the bill
Objections are also raised TO the pre-
emption by the militia Of the term
United States Naval Volunteers" There
is now pending in the House Committee
on Naval Affairs a provision Of the nava:
appropriation bill wbich gives this name
to another naval force. II the naval
militia bill passes in Its proposed from
only those who are in the State or
gsnizations would he entitled to volunteer
for service in the navy. II is argued
that no such limitations should be placed
on the sea force.
In order 10 procure supplies needed for
the army in time OF war the General
STAN has recommended that all articles OF
clothing and equipment be standardized.
II urges that the designs that are or
dinarily used by civilians or which can
De turned out in great quantities from
existing factories he adopted by the army.
Working out this policy win eventually
result in some changes In the uniform
and equipment Of the army. The day Of
fancy uniforms for the army is passing.
The first step in this direction was taken
when the khaki cloth was adopted, but
even this does not fit in the plan OF the
War College. Eventually cloth viii be
adopted which is used in ordinary
civilian clothes. The only difference will
he in the dye used 50 as to give the
uniform OF the army a distinctive color.
Under the law prohibiting voluntary
/ services. the camp of the Second bat
TALON OF the Twenty-eiEhth Infantry. at
Pharr Texas. may not accept the free
ofTer OF. electric light. water or flooring
for their tcnts offered by the citizens
committee at PharT. The Judge AdvO-
cate General recommends payment IL
only a nominal sum. for the services as
a way OF adjusting the situation.
Howard \ Banks. private secretary to
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels. left
WASHINGTON April N with the remains Of
/ his >-year Old son. Robert for his home
( IN AshyiIlo, y {. The lad had been
| III for some time with heart trouble, and
| his death was not unexpected.
"Mo,icS'' For the Army.
] Two new items Of expense will be
incurred by the War department In
the support OF the. military establish
ment for the next fiscal year One Of
these amounts to $3.50. which repre-
sents A part Of the cost for the rental
of films It is estimated that it will