New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-07
Draft Law May Be Used
if Regiments Lack Full
Strength
S1.OOO,000 BILL TO
BE SIGNED TO-DAY
City Must Pay $4,000 a
Day for Protection by
GuardSmen

FINN, S,.~ Co--,sDondert OF The Tr0une.l
Albany. Feb. 6.-Governor Whitman
and the state militia authorities wait
only word from Washington to place at
the disposal Of the Federal government
the entire militia force of the state re-
inforced. if necessary, by draft citl-
zens 10 FIJI the ranks to war strength.
Anticipating an emergency call, the Ad-
iutant Generals staff has prepared de-
tails for such a draft as authorized by
the law introduced last year By Senator
John D. Stivers and passed by the 1916
Legislature.
Adjutant General Stotesbury and the
other militia heads at Albany, as well
as the Governor, have clamPed down a
rigid censorship on the plans for the
guard mobilization and recruitment.
The Legislature to-day evidenced its
determination to back UP the President
and Congress With all the resources at
the states command. The bill intro
duced last night by Senator Henry NJ.
Sage, appropriating S1.Oo0,OoO for the
use Of the National Guard, naval mill
tia and any volunteer organizations
that may be formed, was passed by the
Senate immedi.reIy after an emer-
gency message from Governor Whit
man. The Assembly had adjourned be-
fore the message reached the lower
House. but the bill will be passed in
that body tomorrow and signed BY the
Governor soon after
Governor Whitman certified to the
necessity for the immediate passage OF
the Sage appropriation bill on the
ground that "the State of New York
should be adequately prepared TO sup
port the Federal government IN any
emergency which may arise"
diplomatic relations between the
United States and the German Empire"
he said. "have been severed There
fore. in accordance with the provisions
of Section / 5 of Article Of the con-
stitution, and by virtue of the authority
thereby conferred upon me, DO hereby
certify 10 the necessity of the imme-
date passage (of this bilD."
The state authorities are prepared
to go TO every extreme TO support the
Federal government in the event of
hortilities with Germany. That is man
fest on all sides and especially so in
the adjutsnt generals Office. The
Stivers law. il is stated, gives the
Governor ample power 20 exact military
service from every able bodied citizen
included under It's provisions. 1t en-
powers him to cali citizens between the
ages Of eighteen and forty-five years,
who must report 10 the proper officials
for examination as 70 fitness 70 mill
tsry duty and assignment 70 specific
service thereafter.
Aid for Depot Battalions
The Sage bill is so broadly drawn
that the money il sppropriates can be
used 70 good advantage in the estab-
lishment Of depot battalions. Officers
OF the National Guard assert that when
the state troops were called upon for
Mexican border service last June the
organization of such depot units was
hsmpered BY lack of funds TO equip the
new recruits.
Adjutant General Stotes bury has
planned for the most effective DISPOSE
ton OF the funds to be appropriated
by the Legislature. In that connection
il was ascertainsd to-day that New
York City as a result OF it's request for
state troops TO guard its bridges and
water supply will have 70 pay approx
mately $4,000 a DAY for that protec
tom