The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-02-08
Especial to The Farmer.)

! Hs~teord. Feb. 8.-Connecticut's pro-
posed new militia bill, drawn by Col
! J. Moss Ives, of Danbury, and pre-
scented to the general assembly by
Senator John N. Brooks, Of Torring-
ton, was considered at length in the
hall of the House of representatives
| last yesterday afternoon, by the COM
mittee on military affairs.
This bill aims to effect the reorgan-
| ization Of the state militia to conform
to the federal law enacted by the
present congress last year. The hear
| ing yesterday came at short notice,
Senator Brooks having announced it
on Tuesday, the first day Of meeting
of the assembly since the development
of, the recent critical international sit
uation.
The hearing was notable for the
presence Of Governor Holcomb, his
first attendance at any committee
hearing since during the present gen.
eral assembly,. 1t was remarkable, too,
in that a judge of the superior court,
Judge Lucien F. Burpee, appeared
probably, as he himself said, the first
time that person occupying his posi-
! ton on the, bench, ever appeared be-
fore a legislative committee to advo-
| cate the enactment of a law He ex-
| planned that he came at the request
Of the governor. Judge Burpee was
suffering from severe sore throat,
and spoke with difficulty.
Judge Burpee was one of the gov
ernor's military advisory board, all Of
whom attended the hearing The
other members are Col Richard j.
Goodman, of Hartford, Major J. Moss
Ives Of Danbury and Major Ernest L.
Isbell of New Haven
While these military personages
were advocating the new militia bill,
a volunteer committee of eight mem
bers, who had responded to Gov Hol-
combs appeal of Tuesday for aid in
the census of men and military re-
sources Of the state, were organizing,
and taking the first steps towards car
rying out the governors program.
This committee includes Charles A.
Goodwin of Hartford, one-time candi-
date for the Republican nomination
for governor; Frank S. Cheney Of
Manchester, manufacturer; Hugh M.
Alcorn of Suff1eld, states attorney for
Hartford county; Walter H. Clarke Of
| Hartford, former judge of the police
court; George B. Chandler of Rocky
Hill, compensation commissioner; Nor
man r. Moray, manager of the Hart
ford Accident & Indemnity Co.;
Dwight G. Holbrook Of Hartford, man
ager Of the Mutual Life Insurance
| Co.: Samuel Ferguson, vice president
! Of the Hartford Electric Light Co.,
and Bishop White, Of the American
Chain Co., Bridgeport, formerly Of
West Hartford.
| The two last are a special commit
tee who will take charge of the in
| quiry into the states manufacturing
resources. especially into the adapt
ability of various industrial plants to
the exigencies of manufacture of war
materials.
Not a word of opposition was voiced
against the provisions of the new mil
|itia bill There were several who of
fered words of helpful suggestion, not
ably from Representative William M.
Foord Of Stamford, himself an officer
| of the Coast Artillery, and the mill
| tary board accepted the suggestions
with good spirit
Founded upon the federal law en-
| acted last June, the proposed militia
| bill is drafted in seven parts. 1t
creates three branches of the state
militia: First, the unorganized mil
itia; second, the national guard, and
third, the naval militia. The last
comes directly within the province
of the federal government, under it's
present status, thus it's members are
exempt from service in the state mill
| tia in its two other branches.
Among the most striking provisions
| is the enlargement Of the scope of
the unorganized militia to include not
only all naturalized American males
between 10 and IS years. but also, all
male persons who have filed their
| applications to become citizens. 1t
| will be necessary, under the new bill
which is sure of enactment in it's
general principles, only for the male
| to have made application to become
| a citizen, to become liable to active
| military service.
Along the lines Of extending the
| scope of the existing law, the pro-
posed law, covering the subject of
| drafting, makes the usual exemptions
| for physi cal disability but does not
EXEMPT all Who might claim such ex-
emption from active service, from ser
vice, from service of a non-com Blatant
nature. Incidentally, the new law
provides that the rank of major shall
be conferred upon the members of
the governors staff chosen from civil
life.
| It is provided that the national
guard shall comprise not less than
| 500 members for each of the senator's
end members Of congress- the. state
sends to Washington, $500 men. The
period of enlistment too, is made to
| conform to federal regulation, three
years active and three years reserve
service Strict provision is made as
| to the appointment of officers only
| upon their qualification by passing
examinations. Authority is given to
the state1to carry on draft, in peace
! time, to bring the national guard up
+ to the required strength, care having
been taken to provide that the draft
shall be apportioned fairly through
the cities and towns of the state.
Provision is made, further, that
should congress refuse to provide aid
| to the several states in maintaining
the national guard, the governor shall
take charge of it's organization, train
ing and discipline.
The law reads into the Connect
cut procedure that Of the federal
army as to courts martial, and also
/ provides for the maintenance of the
i national guard reserve.
It calls for the pensioning of wild
ows and families of soldiers.
Its general purpose is to place
the state militia upon a frmer foot
ing than at present, to enlarge it eff
J fciency and to cooperate with the