The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1917-07-27

enemy; and r,.-...
Whereas. The National Guard OF fior1da an.
the Florida Naval Militia are about to be or
dered into service of the Government OF tn
If,ited States. and will not be available TO-
The protection of the life and property OF thu
citizens of the respective counties OF the Stat
of Florida; and ... :.
nands that immediate action be taken by thi!
LEGISLATURE for the organization OF body
OF men to take the place OF said Nationa
Guard and Florida Naval Militia tor duty
in the absence OF said Guard and Militia; and
Whereas, 1t has become necessary that such
an organization be made Immediately avail
able in the respective counties OF the State o.
Florida; therefore
Be 1t Enacted by the Legislature Of the State
Section l. The Board Of County Commits.
sioners of the respective counties Of the State
OF Florida be and they are hereby authorized
and empowered to organize companies OF
County Guards not to exceed in any County
battalion to consist OF not more than four
company, exclusive Of officers, to be known as
the County Guards; provided, such companies
shall all be composed of white men.
Whenever the required number OF men who
are eligible for membership in said Guards
shall associate themselves together for the
apply to the Board of County Commissioners
to be organized as such and shall designate
the persons nominated and elected as COM
missioned officers. If the application is approx.
ed the names OF the persons enrolled as men,
bers OF said organization and the names of per-
sons selected as officers shall be filed with the
Clerk OF the Circuit Court of the County in
which said organization is perfected and the
Clerk of the Circuit Court shall Immediately
send certified copy of the order of the Board
OF County Commissioners approving said ap-
plication together with a list of the names Of
the persons who have enrolled themselves as
members of said Guard companies and the
names OF the persons who have been selected
as commissioned officers to the Governor of
the State, which certificate aforesaid shall be
filed in the Office of the Secretary OF State and
thereupon the persons so selected as commits
stoned officers shall be commissioned in their
respective grades and rank by the Governor of
the State; and the ranking ottcer so commits
stoned shall then be authorized by the Board
OF County Commissioners to muster the organ
izatlon into service, the muster roll shall be
made in duplicate, one copy to be retained by
the company, and the other. together with the
enlistment papers OF each member OF the
Guards will be filed with the Clerk OF the Cir.
cult Court OF the County in which said COM
pany is organized, with the report of the
mastering officer
The said companies may be formed and or.
gained in the same general manner as is pres
crlbed Tor the formation and organization OF
companies of the National Guard of Florida;
provided, however, that those qualifying to be.
come members of said Guards shall be between
the ages OF IS and 65 years; provided, further,
however. that nothing in this Act shall be
construed as preventing any member Of the or.
carnations authorized from volunteering in or
being drafted or conscripted into the National
Guard of the Army, Navy or other forces of
the United States and that upon enlistment
in SAID National Guard Of the Army. Navy or
other forces OF the United States, such enlist.
nlent shall ipso facto operate as discharge from
the organization hereby authorized, without
any written or other formal discharge or eyi.
dence thereof. And said membership shall be
acceptable to the said County Commissioners
and any membership committee OF such organ.
ization as may be provided, for; and provided,
further. no physical examination shall be re.
CURED for enlistment in said organization en-
cept such as may be required by the command.
ing officer Of said Guards.
Whenever the said organization is so formed
by the said County Commissioners the officers
shall be selected by the membership of said or.
and in the event OF battalion for.
nation, the captains of the respective compan-
les forming such battalion shall nominate the
commanding officer OF such battalion and he
shall select the officers OF his staff and there.
upon the whole list OF said commissioned Of
hcers shall be forthwith certified TO BY the
sald county Commissioners md forwarded to
me Governor OF Florida, who shall thereupon
commission said officers in their respective
grades and rank as shown by the certifcation
ny SAID County Commissioners, for term OF
our years service in said Guards; the muster
-oIl shall be made up by the commanding
3tlicef OF the respective units in any county in
duplicate, one copy to be retained by the
amt, and the other together with the enlist.
Hent papers OF each member OF the Guards
,haI be filed with the Clerk Of the Circuit
-ouTt OF said County, with the report OF the ,
aid commanding officer.
Sec ?. The armament eouipmen. and o-. ;
OF the Guards and its system of dis
Apine and exercises shall conform as near az I
nay be with such changes as the commanding {
,f 1r may ind necessary to prescribe to thai
juard OF Florida. "'0Ia' :
sec . commissioned officer may be dis. i
nafsed when he has permanently removed
lis residence beyond the limits of the county c
u Whlch is located the organization OF which c
~ 10 d ;ileIhOer, OF upon the acceptance of his
eslghation' or upon the disbandment Of the r
rsanIzation to which he belongs or upon The a
EXPIRATION OF his term of office bv the Gov.
rho5' ana shall be discharged upon the recon-. i
OF the commanding officer by the /
Hi he An enlisted men OF the Guards S
ha4 be enlisted for the term OF three wears: i
le qqanhcaton for such enlistment shall he Y
1at tAe applicant is citizen Of the United h
.%'es q -NheTca, and OF the State OF Florida, Il
ne e rgs5uflt OF the county in which is located
ne organization Of which he wishes 10 become :,
member, and shall be of good moral cIaTac. y
II ana physically fit to perform the duties !,
FsseTibed for the Guards. '' N'''e' n
4 olScharge certificate shall be given each h
.tS leu man at the expiration OF his enlistment
ny commanding othcer OF the Guard: also !.
i GisGGnaTge may be issued by reason of phvsi II
!! ulsaolhty, permanent removal from The =
'ui'ty, OF other sufficient reason approved NV {,
rs commanding officer which precludes the n
roper attention TO duties prescribed bv hin, IN -
~ GUARDS, and also by sentence of sum. h
airy court martial - sum- D
sec f. When any unit of said Guards has :;
zen organized under this Act, il NAV become =
oIdy corporate by virtue of letters natent :,
men shai! be issued by the Secretary Of STATE C.
'om dpPhcauon OF commanding officer, and g,
% .o4 CO.. pofauon 1t shall have power TO Il
e ana 10 be sued by its corporate name ~ e
ID and acquire property, both real nerso, y. 81
q mixed, and dispose OF same The Officers a.
SAD Guards shall constitute the BOARD of d.
ITectors OF said organization. VI OF
-, o. me organization OF any of the rom,
MS mss hereln provided for NAV be dishanded l
INN months after peace is declared he. ~,
zen the enIed States and the Imperial Gov. ~ y,
a- rI''. Vi germany, or such other foreign q,
We been at war with. may RI
sec 8. The formation of commands ,.,I =. he
1a'tahon OF Guards in its composition ~ II, ..
SIS anu non'commissioned officers shall CON. %
~, as hear as possible TO the formation az 10
antTy OF the National Guard of FLA
1N'uTu' however, there shall NOT he more Nc
i, II me following officers commissioned Co.. NC
:" company and the battalion Organized IN. i3'
49, oNS Terms OF this Act: For each comnanv IN
ana tn, Ue one captain one first lieuten. ~,
anu TWO second heutenants and ae h,t th
on organization, one major co,,rr,, d Eat
II a stan OF one adjutant with the rar,i. a3 OF
y nt,uteRant' and one quartermaster with III
RANK OF hrst lieutenant; one surgeo, onJ CT
ttaPldlh' each with the rank Of frst Eeut al