The Washington herald., 1916-02-01
BY e. Il. JOHNS.

Both the Senate and House Committees
on Military Affairs will devote the major
part of this week to the consideration
Of the militia pay bill features of the
national defense legislat tion. The hear
ings we're opened yesterday before both
committees by Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A.
Miles. L. s. A., retired. and tomorrow
three or four National Guard officers will
be heard. The first to appear will be
Mai Gen. Organ. commander of the
New York National Guard. and he will
be followed by Adjt Gen. J. Clifford
Foster. OF Florida and Gen. A. b
CritChfield, Of Ohio.
Gen Miles is the first regular army
officer to express a preference for the
volunteer system He also was profuse
In his praise of the National Guard and
declared that under existing laws the
militia is an available national force. He
said that the National Guard could he
used for all defense purposes, and this
according to his view, was the purpose
of not only the National Guard, but of
the regular army. Gen. Miles believes
that legislation should be passed for an
increase in the regular army and addi-
tional support for the National Guard.
He favored A regular army OF so, on
which could be expanded in war time to
100000 CT 1.OCN.OD0. With the militia pay
bill the general thought the National
Guard could be maintained on the same
basis. He showed clearly that he was
opposed to the continental army.
Gen. O'Ryan, who is a graduate of the
Army War College, is expected to present
a very strong argument for the militia
pay bill. Originally Gen. Organ was op-
posed to the pay bill and fought it in
the annual convention of the National
Guard Association. His conversion to
the bill. it Is said to be due to an
experiment which he conducted with II
company OF the New York Militia. He
recruited company under the conditions
that are provided for in the militia pay
bill with the most satisfactory results.
Reports of the governors malaga" in
the western district of Samoa haNs
been received by the Secretary of the
Navy. The governor is known Is Com
mander John NJ Poyer in Washington,
where he was on duty for a number or
years at the department. The malaga, "
as far as Sc rotary Daniels has been
able to discern. was Thanksgiving
celebration by the natives after recover
ing from their recent famine.
While no doubt the Samoaus were az
thankful as the Pilgrim Fathers on
their original Thanksgiving Day. tho
festivities of the malaSa were of an en-
tirely different character. Commander
Poyer was literally showcrcd with flowers
on his trip around the islands and wa.
received in great state by the high chiefs
at the different placen where his ship.
The Fortune" stopped. In giving an
account of the malaga the report says:
THE governor was met by District
Governor Satele. and High Chief Faiivae
IN a large beat. bea utifully decorated
with tropical flowers and foliage. Elanneu
by sixteen robus: Samoans, dressed ano
painted according TO the samoan custom,
all Of whom were singing beaCtiful Samo-
an boating sonEs." Isl.
This. 1t is related. was followed by two
days of ceremonies and native dances
and celebrations. Some time ago the
Islands were swept with a hurricane
which was followed with drought
which threatened the natives with starva-
ton. Under the direction os Governor
Poyer, s10.eoo vas extended By the gov
ernment In taking care of the natives
and in replanting and repairing their
plantS tions. This year the natives have
just harvested the largest crop In tbs