Chap. 322.—An ACT to organize home guard companies. [H B 403]
Approved March 16, 1918.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
the citizens of each of the cities and counties of this Common-
wealth, who are not subject to, and those who are exempt from
military duty by the laws of this State or of the United States, be
and the same are hereby authorized to raise, by voluntary enlist-
ment, one or more companies of not less than fifty nor more than
one hundred men, rank and file, to each company to act as a home
guard for said cities and counties, such organizations to be subject
to the approval of the governor of Virginia, and the muster roll to
be filed with the adjutant-general of Virginia, and whenever a
sufficient number shall be raised to form a company, they are hereby
authorized, under the superintendence of a commissioned officer of
a city or county, or of such person as the governor may designate, to
elect. a captain and two lieutenants, whose election shall be certified
by the officer or person conducting the same, to the governor of this
Commonwealth, who shall thereupon commission said officers. The
captain of each company is hereby authorized to appoint requisite
number of sergeants and corporals.

2. The said companies are hereby authorized to adopt such by-
laws and regulations for their government as they may choose, not
inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of this State or of the
United States. Said force, when in actual service, shall be governed
by, and be subject to all rules, regulations and articles of war which
may be in force at the time for the government of the Virginia
volunteers.

3. The said companies shall operate as a guard and police for
their respective cities and counties during the war, and the term
of enlistment shall be for the duration of the war and for one
year thereafter, and the officer in command, on order of the gover-
nor, is hereby authorized to order such force to rendezvous at any
point that he may determine upon, whenever in his opinion the safety
of the city or county may require it. Whenever two or more com-
panies shall be organize in a city or county, they may elect a major,
who shall be commissioned by the governor, to command the whole;
provided, however, that the troops hereby authorized to be raised
shall not be marched beyond the limits of their respective counties
or cities against their consent, or kept in active service for more
than thirty days at any one time.

4. The troops hereby authorized to be raised shall furnish their
own weapons and shall not be entitled to compensation for their
services, except that they shall be furnished with rations authorized
by law when in actual service; but the governor shall provide them
with such ammunition as the exigency of the service may require,
to be deposited with the senior officer of said corps in each county,
who shall give bond and security for the proper disposition of the
same, and they may wear any uniform that they may choose, pro-
vided it resembles that worn by the National Guard of the State.

5. The officer in command shall have power, when in active ser-
vice, to appoint a quartermaster, who shall act as commissary, and
who shall give bond and security for the faithful performance of
his duty, in such penalty as the officer aforesaid shall require; pro-
vided nothing in this act shall prevent any locality from equipping
any company organized under the provisions of this act.

Section 6. That any portion of any organization which comes
into existence under the provisions of this act which violates provi-
sions of the same or any laws of this State may be disbanded by
order of the governor communicated to the officers thereof, or pub-
lished in the commuity where such portion of this organization
exists; and provided, further, that any member of such organiza-
tion may have the right to resign from same after the expiration
of the present war with the consent of the governor.

Section 7. An emergency existing this act shall be in force from
its passage.