, 1865-02-28

Especial ulfp p2VEn 10 IHe lineage lf1pEne-t
WAEH1EeTox, Monday, Feb. r..
As several States have been awaiting the
result Of the application Of Chicago for
postponemeut Of the draft and re-enron-
ment, in order to present their claims for q
similar favor, the following statement Of the
interview, to-day, between the Chicago Com
mittec, the President, Secretary Of War, and
the Provost Marshal General will possess
vide interest. The Interview listed over two
hours which were spent in arguing The case
pro md con-.
Secretary Stanton and Provost Marshal
Fry stoutly opposed granting the petition Of
tbA m. :.on1ttee, who asked, :; -,
1st. For IN order for an immediate re-en-
rol1ment Of tho district, alleging that the
present one eontains at least n,e. names g! e
pertons not liable to draft
I'd. That Mutual Protection Clubs shall be
credited pro rata with the recruits they
put In.
Sd. That Chicago shall put IN 1900 volun-
teers On her quota, the draft tor the other
2,G00 to be suspended rntn the new enroll
ment is made, after which, If any more men
than {, GOO be found due, the city will produce
them Immediately.
The Committee argued that there
was not to exceed 1900 men in
Chicago liable to draft, while 81 900
mca were enrolled; that the quota Of
4ns city WAS excessive and oppressive, being
one-sixth Of the State, though the population
WAS but one-tvelfth; that the District had
already furnished more men and years Of SER
vice than any District in the Union except
Lower Egypt; that the deficit Of ? 900 men
charged over from the previous call was un-
just, and in consequence Of the enrolment Of
5000 names last year; that wrongs ought to
be corrected.
SeeretsrY Stanton replied First, That
new enrolment might not materially reduce
the present one, and second, that it WAS too
late to make it nov without interfering with
the present draft, third that 4 granted fifty
would c1aoor for the same privilege II
granted to Chicago, 1t must be granted to other
cities and districts. That he would rather
excuse Chicago from furnishing q man than
to allow q re-cnrollmcnt under "<he present
call, rs the example would produce trouble
in other districts, and probably keep 1901
men out Of tho field when most needed. AS
to giving credits to mutual pro-
lection clubs for men put in by
them, he thought the law as
1t stood would not allow 1t, but he
would examine tue matter carefully.
Mr.. Hayes, Presiden: Of the Committee,
presented strong argument in writing,
showing that The law would allow such ac-
counts to be kept, and that while It would
immensely promote enlistments, it WAS con-
verting the arms-beariDg men Of every SUBJ
district into recruiting clubs.
Gen. Fry objected to granting the requests
Of the Committee, for various reasons, In the
main the same rs those presented By Mr.
Stanton.
The President patiently listened to the ar
grunents Of both sides, occasionally asking a
question to clear up some point, and then
made the following decision
4 rc-enrol1ment during the present DRAFT
cannot be granted, because the same priri-
lege would have to be conceded in many
! other districts, which also complain
! similarly. The present quota Of Chicago
must be filed rs speedily as possible. 1mme-
| diately xfter It Is filed new enrolment will
be ordered to be taken under the supervision,
| not Of Ar. James, but Of an Officer specially
! appointed for that purpose; that the city au-
1horitics and citizen committees will be In
t yited to cooperate, and to scan the names
| and help purge the list and make It correct ;
that On the basis Of the enrolment the city
! shall be deb1ted and credited for the past na
well as future calls; that whateVor per cent
Of the present enrolment Is found to. be too
large Will be placed to the credit Of the city
on the next call II one. be made. As to mu-