Evening star., 1930-11-30

The inconsistency Of the Federal Gov
ernment in recurring the States to pro-
vide suitable housing facilities for their
militia organizations as a requisite Tor
Federal recognition and in permitting
the National Guard Of the District OF
Columbia to go along With It's made
quate armory conditions Is alluded to
in the annual report of Mai. Gen. Will
liam G. Everson, chief of the Militia
Bureau of the War Department, who
urges that provision be made for suit
able ARRANGEMENTS for the citizen troops
of the National Capital, adding that the
present location of the soldiers Is O
temporary one.
"The unsatisfactory armory conditions
in the District of Columbia referred to in
last years report have been corrected to
some extent" Gen. Everson says. "AS
a part of the plans for the improvement
of the Government area in the city OF
Washington the old National Hotel, at
the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and
Sixth street, was acquired.
This property has been turned over
to the District of Columbia National
Guard for use as an armory, and after
minor alterations serves its purpose
fairly well. This, however, Is but a
temporary arrangement. In relatively
short time this building must be torn
down to make way for the improve
ments included in the plans.
"As a requisite for Federal recogni-
ton the Federal Government requires
the States to provide suitable housing
facilities for National Guard units. 1t
is not consistent to exact this require
ment from the States and then waive
the requirement with respect to the only
element of the National Guard for which
the Federal Government must provide
housing facilities. The situation should
be contemplated and provisions made
for a suitable armory for the District
of Columbia National Guard in keeping
with other Improvements that are being
made in the Capital City"
For number of years the reports Of
the Militia Bureau heads have called
attention to the very unsatisfactory con-
ditions prevailing here in the matter of
troop housing, and have recommended
that they be corrected. Like the pleas
Of the Guard officials themselves, they
have gone unheeded, but 1t is the hope
that legislation may be enacted at the
coming session of Congress which at
least will assure the provision Of perma-
nent armory facilities within few years.
The movement launched several years
ago looking to the transfer of the Pen
sion Office Building in Judiciary Square
to the local militia for its permanent
armory is expected to take definite form.
The Recommendation now has the sup
port of the Federal Planning Commits
sion, which has pointed out that the
assignment of this building to the mill
tia would be very appropriate because
Of the fact that 1t Is located on the
edge of the land now being acquired as
site for the new municipal center.
Veteran organizations have approved the
suggestion, pointing out that it would
be a most fitting use Of the building
which for many years housed the actiVi-
ties of the Pension Office.
So far as could be learned, no def1-
mite steps have been taken by the
Guard offlcials or others at this time
to indicate when they will again pre-
sent the case to Congress. 1t was
said, however, that it would require
legislation in order to permit the trans
fer of the building to the Guard Tor
training purposes.
The report Of the Militia Bureau chief
indicates general increase in interest
| in the National Guard, pointing out that
there are on file in the bureau num-
ber of requests for the formation OF new
units. He says that the progressive
growth of the National Guard con.
| tinued during the year, and there mas
been an increase Of 5,727 in the aggre-
gate strength of officers, warrant off,
| GERS and enlisted men since June 80
| 1929. From the number of applica-
| tions for authority to organize addi-
tional units on file in the bureau, he
says it is evident that this increase
could have been materially extended
had appropriations and War Depart
ment policies permitted
There have been 126 less separations
| Of commissioned officers from the
| Guard during the year covered by the
| report than during the previous one
F., and he added that there are los vacan-
cies in the commissioned grades. He
points out that all of this indicates ar
increasing stability in the commissioned
personnel, which is a very considerable
factor in the promotion of progress and
efficiency.
With the exception of relatively
small number of headquarters and line
units for which personnel are not avail.
able for ALLEGATION, he says, the reor-
| ganization of the National Guard Cav.
airy has been accomplished. 1t nov
conforms to that arm in the Regular
Army, he says. a
Gen. Everson tells Of o gratifying I'm.
0r0V0Unank m tina NfI1Cieaac1 a. k2a0 hngiG