Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-26
Major Davis, Paymaster

Over $4,000 is the neat little sum
of money that will be paid the MEM
bers of the Maine National Guard
now in camp for their annual tour
of duty at Camp Devens.
Many romances have been woven
around sums far less than that, but
the payment of this amount to the
officers Of the seth Infantry Brigade
and the 103rd Infantry, Maine Ma
tional Guard, discloses an example
of financial integrity and faultless
attention to detail that is far more
interesting than any near monetary
romance.
And this little story centers around
Major Charles E. Davis of Augusta.
When payday comes at the close
of the tour of duty It will be the
duty of Major Davis to disburse the
more than s35. 900 already mentioned,
as well as such State funds as may
be needed. He will be brought into
personal contact with every one of
the thousand and more officers and
men from the Pine Tree State now
in camp and yet 1t Is safe to say
that not IS per cent Of these knew
him by sight.
The total expenses of the present
camp of instruction will be over $685.
COO. the largest single amount ever ex-
pended for one tour of duty Of the
Maine Guard But this 10 not all.
When the Coast Artillery Corps goes
into camp at Portland there will be a
further expenditure Of approximately
$27.500. including pay roll OF $4,000.
The field artillery battalion which will
encamp in Augusta ip August will en-
tail an expenditure Of about $26,500, in
GLIDING a pay roll Of $1,000. The Off
GERS schools already held in Maine for
| these three branches of the service
have cost about $4,000. so that in q
single year for camps alone Major Da-
| Wis has had the administration and pay
ment of funds aggregating around
| $4,000. Including both State and fed
eral funds for all National Guard pur-
poses. Major Davis now directs or han
| dies around a quarter of million dol
! lars annually.
When the National Guard was reor-
ganized and became National Guard In
| fact as we'll as in name. Major Davis
| was appointed United States property
and disbursing officer for the State of
Maine. During 1917 and 1918 there
was. of course. no National Guard in
the Pine Tree State. SO that there was
no annual camp pay rolls to be made
out.
Beginning in a small way and grad
| ually growing. the Maine National
Guard has developed so that in the Ave
years since the federal Reorganization
of the National Guard there has been
| an approximate aggregate pay roll for
tours of duty in camp of 100000. But
even this is not all the story, for Ma
| jor Davis as chief clerk in the adjutant
generals office handled funds during
| the 10 years anterior to 1916 Of APP
proximately a million dollars for camp
pay rolls alone.
| ton to all the details of his office. Ma
Guard that shows itself in an unfail-
informed members any knotty problems
| that may prove unfamiliar to them.
This attitude is not to be wondered
at when it is recalled that while g
young man living in Portland Major
Davis enlisted as private in 1880 il
the old Portland Cadets. afterwards
| Company B of the list Maine Regiment
| Even in those days the Maine citizenry
soldiers were called National Guard:
| although they occupied a position fal
| different from their present relation
| to the federal government. Tn 1881
Major Davis was commissioned SECOND
! lieutenant and the following year ht
was appointed adjutant of the Firs'
Maipa Regiment, a position he hello
| until 1905. when he was appointed in
| spector general on the staff of Gov
ernor Cobb with the rank Of brigade,
| general. He has been an Invaluable