Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-16
Reimbursing I'd Me. Boys for
Texas Border Home Expens,

The following letter Is being sent
from the Office of Adjutant General
George Mel. Presson to the municipal
officers of the towns and cities where
companies of the I'd Maine Infantry
are located, for the purpose of ascer-
tanning the total amount advanced or
expended for the benefit of the SOL
diers' families, made necessary by their
sudden call to duty last summer on the
Mexican border. These officials were
advised at the time by the military au
thoritieS of the State that later the
matter would be presented to the in
coming Legislature, with the view of
reimbursement being made by an ap-
preparation. General Presson and his
Office staff have been at work since the
return of the boys on this matter, but
have not succeeded in getting all the
figures from the municipal officers,
hence the letter. which says:
STATE OF MAINE.
Office of the Adjutant General.
Augusta, December IA, 1916.
To the Municipal officers.
Gentlemen
In order to ascertain the amount of
money paid out by the several cities
and towns assisting dependent families
or relatives of soldiers of the I'd Maine
Infantry called to the Mexican border
by the President June 10, 1916, you are
requested to inform this Office by re-
turn mail the amount your city has
paid, in order that the whole amount
80 expended throughout the State can
be ascertained.
z An early reply will be greatly ap-
Il nrocfafed
= GEORGE Mel. PRESSON,
~, The Adjutant General.
:, Federal Assistance.
It will be remembered that during
the exciting days of the Mexican bor-
der furry, when the sudden call for the
) National Guard took many boy from
his home and family. without any pro-
! vision for the care of those he was
I obliged to leave, Congress took a step
to relieve that situation. This was in
the shape of a measure entitled
IAN act making appropriations for
the support of the army for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1916. and for 9TH
er purposes"
, @.That the sum of 100000 is hereby
!. appropriated out of any money In the
sHgeasury not otherwise appropriated,
|, t0Sbe expended under the direction of
Esthe secretary of war, and under such
Erltles and regulations as he may pre-
!, scribe, for the support of, at cost of
mot more than $50 per month, or so
Na5G 4sof said amount as the secretary
y - n may deem necessary. and not
E12loT3 tAHn such enlisted man has been
E.o0ntrfbUting monthly to the support of
IBIS family at the time Of his being
/ called or drafted into the service of
4 the United States or during his enlist
u mont period in the regular army at the
time of such call or draft of the or
Eanized militia or National Guard. the
family of each enlisted man of the or
Eanized militia or National Guard
called or drafted into the service of the
United States until his discharge from
such service, and the family OF each
enlisted man of the regular army until
his discharge from active service
therein or until the discharge of the
organized militia or National Guard
from such service if such enlisted man
at that time in active service in the
regular army, which family during the
term of service of such enlisted man
has no other income, except the pay Of
such enlisted man, adequate for the
support of such family, etc.
1.-THE families of all enlisted men
who were members of the militia or
National Guard at the time Of the calls
of the President of May 9 and June IS.
1916, and were brought into the service
of the United States pursuant to those
calls are entitled to the benflts of the
act from and including June 10. 1916.
The families of men enlisting in the
militia or National Guard after June
Is, 1916, are entitled to the benefits of
the act from the date of enlistment.
The amount paid to the family of an
enlisted man Of the militia or Ma
tional 0dard may be paid to the family
Of such soldier until his discharge from
the service.
1.-THE attention Of all concerned Is
called to the fact that the word fam
lily as used in the law includes only
wife, children and dependent mothers"
The results of the above is now be-
ing felt among the returned I'd Maine
soldiers. some of them already having
received checks from Washington for