The Alaska daily empire., 1916-03-09

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 Gov. ]. F. A. Strong announced to- day that bill may be passed by the present session Of Congress permit ting the formation of National Guard in Alaska. The Governor strongly recommended the formation of an or. ganization of that kind In his annual report and has also taken the matter up with Delegate Wickersham. the Department of the Interior, and drought the department. with the Secretary of War.
 Gov. Strong stated this morning that while he had had no official no- tifcatlon Of the matter, he believed the present bil before Congress for the Federallzatlon Of the National Guard will make provisions for the formation of a guard in Alaska.
 Much Agitation.
 There has been considerable agita- ton jn all parts of Alaska for the for nation of a Guard for the past few years. and especially so since the agi- tation for preparedness was started. Gov. Strong. B. l.. Thane, of the Gas tineau company, and D. M. Hui, rep resenting the Mutual Life Insurance company. have interested themselves In the matter and steps are being ta- ken towards this end.
 The War Department some time ago held that under the present laws no Guard can be formed in Alaska. The matter was taken up at once and au endeavor has heen made to have proper laws enacted allowing this to be done.
 Governors Report
 In his annual report Governor Strong says:
 As yet Alaska has no militia
 or other military organization. In
 1903 the War Department decided
 that no useful organization Of the
 militia in Alaska could be per
 fected under the existing law,
 which was regarded as obsolete,
 and 1t was therefore recom- mended that no organization of
 the militia be attempted in ad-
 vance of appropriate legislation
 by Congress At the same time
 the War Department was of the
 opinion that it was both prac-
 ticable and desirable to maintain
 a force of militia in Alaska, par
 ucularly in the vicinity of Juneau.
 The matter seems to have rested
 there. for no effort has been made to remove the obstacle referred to
 by the department in the way of
 organizing the militia of the Ter
 ritory and to extend to 1t the pro-
 visions of the act approved Jan
 uary 21, 1903. Ito promote the ef.
 hciency of the militia, etc" have therefore Co recommend that
 such legislation be enacted by
 Congress as will make it possible to organize and maintain Q force
 of militia in Alaska. The time
 seems to be opportune for such
 organization And if this be done a force of militia 1000 or more
 in number can be enrolled. whose personnel would comprise men of previous experience In the militia
 of various States and who are now seasoned Alaskans.
 Gov. Strong stated today that P. M. Hun called on him shortly before leaving for the westward and said that there he would investigate the possibilities oc raising a company of the Guard in each of the towns. Speaking of his visit recently the Se- ward paper says: E. M Hun the prominent life insurance man. who is in the city making inquiries to learn what the opinion of people is respect Ing the establishment of company of the National Guard here. Mir. Hun does not say so. but 1t is pretty safe to say that Gov. Strong has asked him to look into the matter SO that Alaska's stand on the subject will be known when the bill becomes law.