EMERSON C. HARRINGTON, GOVERNOR. 6-13

gade Commander) or Commander of the Naval Brigade, con-
fer brevet commissions of a grade next higher than the ordi-
nary commission held by them upon officers of the National
Guard in active service for gallant conduct or meritorious serv-
ice. He may also confer upon officers in active service in the
National Guard, who have previously served therein in a high-
er grade or who have previously served in the forces of the
United States in time of war, brevet commissions of a grade
equal to the highest grade in which they previously served.
Such commissions shall carry with them only such privileges
or rights as are allowed in like cases in the military and naval
service of the United States.

Section XXXVIII. Commanding Officers of regiments,
and of battalions not part of regiments, shall appoint and war-
rant the noncommissioned staff officers of their respective regi-
ments, and they shall, in their discretion, warrant the noncom-
missioned officers of the companies of their respective regi-
ments or battalions from the members thereof, upon the writ-
ten nomination of the commanding officer of the Company.

In the troop, battery or separate company and in the signal
corps the noncommissioned officers shall be warranted by the
commanding officer of the brigade, at his discretion, from the
members thereof, upon the written nomination of the com-
manding officer of the troop, battery, company or signal corps.
No enlisted man shall be warranted as a noncommissioned
officer unless he shall have passed previously a satisfactory
examination before a board of examination to be appointed
by the officer authorized to issue such warrant. Sergeant, first
class, and sergeants of the Hospital Corps must be appointed
from the members of the Hospital Corps. The officer warrant-
ing a noncommissioned officer shall have power to reduce to
the ranks, for good and sufficient reasons, the noncommissioned
officer named in this section; but such as were enlisted as non-
commissioned officers shall be discharged. Noncommissioned
officers who shall be dropped vacate their position. The pro-
visions of this section apply to the warrant and petty officers
of the Naval Brigade.

Section XXXIX. Any man who is a citizen of the Uni-
ted States, or has declared his intention to become a citizen, if
more than eighteen and not over forty-five years of age, able-
bodied, of good character and temperate habits, may be en-
listed in the National Guard of this State, under the restric-