The Washington herald., 1916-02-05
Nv r, X. JOHNS.

II the President accepts the advice of
Secretary of War Garrison. he will veto
a militia pay bill that does not turn the
National Guard over TO the exclusive con-
troll OF the Federal government. In
letter to Chairman Chamberlain, OF tho
Senate Committee on Military Ahairs,
the secretary OF War condemned the NIL
itia pay bill in the strongest terms. He
went further and declared that the at
titude of the advocates OF the militia
pay bill is preventing the country from
establishing "a sound policy in time OF
peace" He expressed his opinion that
in the event OF war this small force
Of state troops" would create confusion,
delay and embarrassment which would
probably be attended with disaster.
Not only in his letter to Congress. but
in all Of his public utteranCes is the
Secretary protesting against the passage
of a militia pay bill. He refuses to ad-
NIT that any of the proposed amendments
to the militia pay bill will federalize
the National Guard. As long as the state
has any control over the National Guard
the Secretary insists that it is not de-
pendable Federal force.
| So far the protests and the objections
of the Secretary of War are having very
little effect upon Congress. As far as
1t can be learned there is no opposition
in the House Committee to the militia
pay bill There is some difference of
opinion as to the rate of pay and as
to the terms which the militia should be
paid The members of the committee dc
not agree with the Secretary of War as
to the constitutional status that the mi
litia will have under the pay bill. Aside
from this they think that only through
the militia will the country secure a
force of trained Citizen soldiers. They
have very little or no faith in the Con-
tinental Army proposition and there is
not much prospect in fact. no prospect
of legislation for the Continental Army
being reported out of the House Com
mittee.
Over in the Senate Military Committee
the sentiment is not unanimous for the
militia pay bill but at present there /.
a majority who will vote for favora bic
report upon the measure. The Senate
Committee is apt to strengthen the bill
and there will probably be a minoritf
report upon it when it comes out of the
committee. There will be a spirited de-
bate when the bill comes up for con
sideration on the floor of the Senate.
The fate of the militia pay bill may
turn upon the attitude of the President
If the President insists upon complete
liberalization of the militia he may bt
able 10 bring it about. In the event that
the President supports the Secretary ir
the latter's opposition to pay for the
militia there will be a bitter fight botl
in the Senate and the House before tht
bill is passed. The situation is giving this
| Democratic leaders considerable concern
as most of the senators and members
Lave already expressed themselves in ia
vor of passing the militia pay bill.
The question of the constitutional au.
thority to use naval militia on the bat.
| tleship fleet has been raised and is nov
! being discussed In the Navy Depart.
ment 1t is understood that the Judge
| Advocate General of the Navy will short
| " be esked to render an opinion upor
, the constitutionality of the new nava
! militia act
I When the naval militia was organized
| it was then proposed to use it only ir
/ connection with the Coast Guard. There
! is no doubt that the militia could bt
used as a defensive force. but on the
! battleships 1t would be required to dc
duty in foreign waters. By the strict
1 construction of the militia laws under
| which the naval militia is organized the
/ naval militia could not operate more
than three miles from the shore. Thii