Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15

duty here Col. Upham was ordered to
proceed to the Sd Corps Area head
quarters, at Baltimore, Md, Tor con-
ference with officers there in charge
of National Guard affairs on militia
matters in the District Col. Upham
came to this city from the 65th In
fantry, with station at San Juan, Porto
Rico. Under the local militia law the
War Department assigns a Regular Of
1icer here for duty as adjutant general
and while serving in this capacity ne
is commissioned as lieutenant colonel
in the Guard.
Consideration for the request ex-
pected to be made on the floor OF the
House Monday for suspension OF the
rules to permit action on the national
defense act amendment bill was urged
on Speaker Nicholas Longworth during
the week in a telegram from MAJ. Gen;
Anton Stephan, commanding the local
militia brigade and commander OF tne
10Th National Guard Division. comprising
the National Guard units of this city.
MARYLAND and Virginia and part OF
Pennsylvania.
"Ani informed" the telegram read,
CONGRESSMAN Speaks will request you
20 suspend the rules Of the United
states House of Representatives on
Monday to permit action on the Dill
n. r. 1913, making changes In the
national defense act in so lar as IL
relates to the National Guard. l ur-
gently recommend that you grant Con- on,
gresham Speaks request, which Will
permit consideration Of matters OF con-
Germ to the National Guard OF the
country and which I, personally, feel
viii benefit the national defense"
While 1t was pointed out by those
familiar with the proposed legislation
that the bill contains many changes;
the principal one is that which would
make the National Guard OF the coux-
try a component part OF the army Oh 81
the United States. In other woroS, II
was explained, when this becomes a
law it will not be necessary In the event
of an emergency arising neceS sor, @S aiIS
muster the Guard into Federal service.
The members will enter the Feoeral
service simultaneously with their enilSC-
ments in the militia. =
II was said that now the Guard Is
a separate component. Under the plan
provided in the law, 1t was polnteo out,
militia organizations VIII retain tner
individual status If mustered into the
service and will not lose their oiSunc-
ton. as many Of them did during the
for various reasons.
The proposed law, it was said, does
not particularly affect the local militia,
because of the fact that under lts Or
can,c act it comes directly under the
President Of the United States.
Construction in training camps Of the
militia. authorized under the deficiency
act recently signed by the President,
Il was pointed out, will provide mucn
work for the unemployed. While no
projects were included directly anect-
ing the local militia, 1t was tno1cateo
that 1t probably viii indirectly beneft,
as some of the money may be expended
on training camps used by the local
Guard during the Summer.
The act makes Immediately aVallaple
al 600 900 for construction work In the
camps. It was explained by the War
Department that the appropriation was
made at this time to assist in relieving
unemployment in the entire country
and Is admirably suited TO that pur-
pose. as construction IN some 80 camps
in 81 States, from Maine to California
and Florida to Washington, Is included.
In appearing before the Senate sub
committee, Mai. Gen. William @.
Everson, chief of the Militia Bureau,
49,
appropriation would be expended for
wages directly to the various classes OF
skilled and unskilled labor at the places
of employment OF the remaining 80
per cent a large proportion will be ex-
pended for labor in fabrication OF ma
terials used in construction.
It is estimated that these projects will
provide employment for maximum OF
5000 skilled and $4,000 unskilled work.
men at one time, with total Of 224,O0O
hours of skilled labor and 420, 900 hours
Of unskilled labor.
In the Militia Bureaus program no
project has been included which cannot
be Immediately initiated and funds ex-
pended before June 80 next. A large
proportion of the expenditure VIII be
prior to April /, 1t was said.
The necessary machinery has been
set up by the Militia Bureau and there
will be no delay, it was explained, In
securing the maximum employment OF
labor. For this purpose Gen. Everson
has requested authority to eliminate In
the smaller projects certain formal
routine steps in the preliminaries nor
mally required by Army Regulations
but which appear unnecessary under the
circumstances and can be handled much
more quickly by personal interviews.
A statement from the department says
that the National Guard appreciates
the action Of Congress In its efforts tc
relieve unemployment and meet the
urgent construction needs Of the Guard
thus protecting the health and adding
to the comfort of its members, besides
providing facilities to conserve materia,
and reduce transportation costs.
Gen. Stephan has authorized Capt
Arthur C.. Newman, commanding Com
pany A. 372d Infantry, to parade q
squad in connection with the Maine
memorial exercises to be held at Pythiar
Temple, Twelfth and U streets, under
the auspices Of the Department Of thu