Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-03-24
GUARD PROTESTS
L0SS0F DRILL PAY
Officers Tell Coolidge Appro-
priation of ST 1892, COO Is
vitality Needed.

group of National Guard officers
presented TO President Coolidge today
the argument why the S1,332.ooo car
ried in the deficiency appropriation
bill for National Guard dril pay
should be allowed. The President
has ordered the appropriation with
held until he can ascertain the neces-
sity for 1t.
In the DELEGATION were Milton A.
Reckord of Maryland, president of
the National Guard Association of
the United States; Adjt. Gen. Bearry
Of Pennsylvania. Adjt. Gen. Hender-
son of Ohio, Hugh A: Gilmore of New
Jersey, Frank Schwengel of Illinois,
y. John Marley of Maryland, Anton
Stephan, commander of the District
National Guard, and Brig. Gen. Travis
of the Georgia National Guard.
Might CurtaiI Drilling.
The President was told that unless
the money Is made available for ex-
penditure during the remainder or
this fiscal year drill OF Natlonai
Guardsmen In every State Will be tn
terfered with and In many instances
will have to be dispensed with a.
together. Gen. Rockford told the
President that within a few days he
would submit to him a written state
ment of the necessity. for the appro-
pristion.
Preuarations of the National Guard
nf the District for service in camp
likely will be seriously affected should
President Coolidge decide to withhoio
the deficiency appropriation.
The local National Guard, In the
ordinary course, would get small
slice of this appropriation. However,
from an exam ma ton OF the records so
Far 1t would appear that the local
Guard would have to foreeo four or
five drills toward the end of the fiscal
year to come within its regular allot-
ment. according TO officers at National
Guard headquarters.
Question OF Morale.
Cutting off drills at the period pre-
cedinG camp, according to Guard off,
GERS. will seriously affect the eff
cheney of the organization and in a
way will be destructive to the high
morale which has been built up in
the organization. 1t is pointed out
that close to camp time more men at
tend drill and more recruits are taken
into the organization.
To efficiently operate with the main
organization and with its field prob
lens while in. camp II Is necessary
that the recruits be given period Of
intensive training in the armory for
which they are entitled to pay from
the Federal Government. If this drill
Is not given to them In the armory.
II was said. 1t is necessary to give 1t
to them in camp. with the consequent
increase in cost.
Behind the whole action of the Pres
dent, it was said by those in close
touch with the situation Is the test
OF the right of those having the eff
cheney of the National Guard at heart
to go direct to Congress and make a
plea for funds with which to hold the
guard together. The appropriation
was asked for by the Militia Bureau
or the War Department in the ordi-
nary course of making up the esti-
mates this year. but the Budget Bu-
reau struck 1t out in its entirety.
When the matter went to Congress
the National Guard Association Of the
United States, through its legislative
committee, made direct plea to the
committees, and was successful in it's
fight. 1t Is believed by some that the
Presidents action was brought about
by protest from the Budget Bureau
pointing out that these officers had
gone directly to Congress.
$4,000 Allotted Here.
The local National Guard was al
lotted $4,000 for armory drill pay at
the beginning of this fiscal year, and
up to December 81 less than half of it
had been used. However. more off,
GERS have qualified for pay since the
first OF the calendar year, and more
men are coming to drill. and this is
making serious inroads into the bal
ance.
The local National Guard now has
$50 officers and men in all of it's
units. which is 100 men less than the
maximum allowed by the Militia Bu-
reau of the War Department. Fac
ing the possibility of having the de-
flciency funds withdrawn, it was said,
the local guard may have to elimi-
nate its annual tour of duty at tar
get practice at Camp Simms, as well
as cut out several armory drills.
The funds which were appropriated
by Congress are about equal to the
amount which was turned back into
the Treasury last year because 1t was
not needed, but owing to the increase
in personnel there was likelihood
that it might be needed before the
end of this fiscal year. and those in
charge OF the guard thought that ii
would be better to have the funds
ready. and therefore acquainted Con-
BTeSS Win the SITUATION. Win inc re-
suit that they were appropriated.
Hope President Grants Pny.
Those instrumental in building up
the guard to it's present state of eff
cheney assert that should the Presi-
dent insist on Withholding the funds
it will be destructive of all of the ef
fort in the past to put the guard in
it's present state. Failure to provide
pay for the men, 1t was said, would
result in their loss of interest, and il
they stayed away for two or three
drills 1t would be difficult to get them
to return, because of their lack of
faith in assistance by the Govern
ment.
When il is time for the guard to
go to camp they would go below the
minimum required by the War De-
partment. and under the regulations
the officers would not be permitted
to collect pay. Therefore, it was de-
clared, the whole question of main
tanning a large National Guard to
supplement the Regular Army in time
OF war rests on the Presidents decision.
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