Evening star., 1928-05-06
District National Guard

the Spanish American War, Some
doubt recently seems to have been cast
on the matter. and 1t was brought up
/ recently on the question of the right
of a member of the command at that
time to be buried in Arlington Gene
] terry. The data submitted by the local
headquarters as a basis for the decision
show that at 4 pm. April %, 1898. the
Secretary OF War issued the following
order:
"By direction Of the President the
troops of the District of Columbia Ma
tional Guard will so into camp, i'll ac-
cordance with such order as may be
issued by Brig. Gen, George II. Harries,
commanding the District of Columbia
Militia" The order was signed by Fl. A.
Alger. Secretary of War The CORE
Si,ondence shows that the District of
Columbia does not have the file num-
Der of this communication, but admits
that the quotation was found III the
files Of The Washington Evening Star
of April %. 1898.
The data then show that in conf
pliance with this a general order was
issued by the local Guard which. :hc
local officials say, shows an interchange
of views by Secretary Alger and Gen.
EarricS, as follows:
Authority is given to the general
commanding the District of Columbia
Militia 10 encamp the troops of the
District of Columbia National Guard Oh
the ground of the Soldiers Home in this
city"
The troops responded. and marched
to the Soldiers Home, but was followed
by an order from the Secretary of War
TO Gen. Corbin to stop the movement
of the District Militia until further
notice" The movement was stopped.
So much trouble having arisen, sc-
cording to the War Department, over
administrative function pay for officers
exercising command who are not men,
bers Of the unit, that the Militia
Bureau has had to issue special instruc-
tionS. Administrative function pay is
only due and payable to an officer COM
manding an organization under the
following conditions:
The officer claiming pay must be ac-
tually in command of the unit and
perform the administrative duties con-
nected Herewith during the period .cr
which administrative function pay is
claimed Administrative function pay
must be authorized by National Guard
regulations for the type of unit under
consideration, The senior Cfficer as
signed 10 the unit in conformity with
the table of organization is considered
the proper commander thereof. How
ever. in the case Of Medical Depart
ment Detachment. the command de-
wolves on such officer-of the medical
department if available-aS may be spe-
cifically designated therefor by the
State authorities
II the senior officer assigned to the
unit in conformity with the table of
organization is not available, the next
senior likewise so assigned succeeds TO
the command thereof. provided that, (
there is no other officer who can sue
ceed to command or If for local reasons
such succession is impracticable the
State authorities may attach any officer
to the unit for the purpose of corl-
mand. When the State authorities at
tach an ofhcer to a unit for the purpose
Of command he will be eligible for the
administrative function pay of the unie
he is commanding and will qualify for
armory drill pay in the same manner as
the officer regularly assigned to the po-
sition he is occupying. provided. how
ever. that IL an officer OF the class not
belonging 10 an organization is attached
to command a company the order will
also prescribe attendance at drills OF
the company as his appropriate duties