Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-15

, Senator Butler Of Knox introduced
an act for the revision of the Military
Law Of the State of Maine. 1t contains
146 articles and one of the most i'm
portant is comforting the power on the
Governor to draft by lot unmarried
men between Is and Is years of age
into the National Guard. The pro-
visions of the act are well worth the
reading.
| New drafts Of the resolve in favor
of Knox Memorial building in Thorn
aston and the act relating. to the ex-
ANIMATION and commitment of persons
ITO insane hospitals were reported in
the Senate.
| Representative harrington OF Au-
gusta introduced in the House an act
relating to the opening of an account
be known as the State contingent fund.
were also made.
| To Revise Military Law.
Butler of Knox-Act to revise the
military law of the State of Maine. The
preamble declares that whereas. owing
to the present disturbed diplomatic re-
lations, a revision of the present mill
tary laws of Maine to conform with the
requirements of the national laws gov
erning the militia and National Guard
is an emergency measure. Immediately
necessary. for the preservation of the
public peace, health and safety, and
the act accordingly is to take effect
when approved. The revision con-
| tains 146 sections.
! The act provides that the militia of
the State of Maine shall consist of all
le-bodied male citizens of the State,
and all other abe-bodied males who
have or shall have declared their in
tention to become citizens of the
United States who shall be more than
10 years of age and, with certain ex-
ceptons. not more than As: and all
militia shall be divided into three
classes: The National Guard the
Naval Militia, and the unorganized
militia.
The National Guard is defined as
consisting of the regularly enlisted
militia between the ages of IS and As,
organized, armed and equipped as pro-
vided by the act, and of commissioned
officers between the ages of II and "a
lyears.
The act provides that the staff of the
commander in chief shall consist of the
adJutant- general, who shall be cx-
ofticio chief of staff; quartermaster
general and paymaster general, with
rank of brigadier general: the senior
officer on duty, with each of the staff
departments; and four aides de- camp.
WIN the rank OF captain, and one
naval aid with the rank Of lieutenant.
All officers must be at the time of
their appointment commissioned of
hcers in the Maine National Guard on
the active or retired list, of or above
inc grade of captain. but no officers
shall be appointed from the retired
list who shall have had less than eight
years of service in the active militia.
the last year of which shall have been
within 10 years Immediately preceding.
the appointment. The four aides de-
camp and naval aid may be detailed
| from the commissioned officers of tho
National Guard or naval militia of the
grade above specified; but officers so
detailed shall not be relieved thereby
from their regular duties in the Ma
tlonal Guard or Naval Militia. except
when on duty with the commander-in-
chief. ,- .t
Officers of the staff of the COM
mander-ln chief, excepting the senior
ofncer on duty in each of the staff de-
partments, and detailed aides de camp
snail be appointed and commissioned
by the Governor and shall hold office
curing MS pleasure and until their
successors are appointed and qualified.
Ihe Naval Militia of the State is de-
fined as constituting the organizations
forming the naval organizations at this
date. such others as may be organized
hereafter, and such persons as may be
enlisted. or as may be appointed or
enlisted therein. Hereafter, the period
OF enlistment in the National Guard
shall be for six years. the first three
years of which shall be an active or
ganization and the remaining three
years in the National Guard reserve,
and the qualifications for enlistment
shai be the same as those prescribed
for admission to the regular army;
provided, that in the National Guard
the privilege of continuing in active
service during the whole of an enlist
! ment period. and of re-enlisting in said
service, shall not be denied by reason
of anything contained in that act
| For the purpose of raising revenue to
defray the current expenses of the Ma
tional Guard and Naval Militia, there
shall be appropriated annually from
any money in the treasury not other
wise appropriated the sum of $4,000,
of which at least $4,000, or SO much
j thereof as may be necessary, shall be
appropriated by the paymaster gem
eral for the support of the Naval
Militia. The revenue thus raised shall
be paid into the State treasury and be
converted into a special and continuous
military fund, from which special fund
only, except where otherwise specified,
shall be paid the expenses authorized
by this act.
The Governor is authorized to accept
in the name of the State, donations of
land and buildings to be used for mill
tary purposes by the National Guard or
Naval Militia under such conditions as
the donors may nominate; lands and
| buildings so donated shall be subject
| to the rules and regulations prescribed
| by the Governor; and 1t is provided
| further that when any building is
turned over to the State for use as an
armory or drill shed the Armory Com
mission shall be authorized to approve