New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-03
an EXTRAORDINARY BILL.
1T GIVES THE PRESIDENT UNHEARD-Of
POWER TO WAGE WAR.

DRAWN AT THE NAVY DEPARTMENT AND M
PORTED FAvoRABLY TO THE SENATE BE-
FORE 1T HAD BEEN PRINTED THE
SENATE MODE OF PROCEDURE
CRITICISED.
FEY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBuNEl
Washington Feb "A fact came TO my ho''oe
to-day that has made strong impression upon my
mind" said a prominent Republican Representa-
tive TO a Tribune correspondent yesterday ne
continued: The fact is that II seems 10 DE an
exceedingly easy matter-and TO require an hs'sh'i'
amount of tme-in the Senate TO nave d Dii
framed. favorably reported from a committee reau
the first and second time and placed on the caIenua'
OF course, that is the fact In regard to all DIS
but 1, is true of many very important ones. Now
here in the House of Representatives. 1t is entirety
different Each of the standing committees Is
naturally and properly jealous of its own rs"'s
and unwilling shirk responsibility or nave II
assumed by single member or even one-haii Vi
its members. and the House holds every committee
responsible for recommended ions. In my OPINION
that is both better and safer mode OF legiSla''o'
than the slipshod methods that seem to preVa'i 10
considerable extent in the Senate.
What is the particular fact to which you nave
reference?" asked the correspondent.
We'll perhaps / ought to have said that 1t was
the most recent OF many facts that have come
under my observation since became me"'e'
OF the House OF Representatives. which seems ~
indicate slipshod methods OF doing business III '"'
coordinate branch OF Congress. and 1t happens 10
relate to n most important measure II you Will
procure a copy OF Senate bill No. i.Di and the re-
port thereon. which purports to be report from
tie Senate Committee Naval Affairs you WI"
al once see that it Is a most important measure
and that 1t clothes the President OF the Inl'ed
States with unusual and extraordinary authority
How sou
The first section authorizes the Secretary OF the
Navy to enlist many additional men Tor service
in tho Navy he may deem necessary. not 10 eN-
coed 1000 That Is all right. but The men VIII not
be needed for several months to come. or until
some more new ships put in commission Inc
extraordinary, not to say unnecessary ana H's-
chievous provisions OF the bill found In the re-
naming sections one OF which provides that when
ever an exigency may exist which. in the Judg-
ment OF the President renders their services heces
sary the Secretary OF the Navy may enlist ior
period OF years. unless sooner discharged such
OF the Naval Militia and other may be re-
quired for the purpose OF manning vessels OF the
Navy not having full crews and sLch other SHIPS
as under the laws now existing the President may
call into servlce-such ships the Paris and the
New-York and other merchant vessels that may
be called into service auxiliary cruisers IN ho
o. war-toge,her with all chartered private vessels
The third section authorizes the President TO ap-
point and commission many officers as may be
necessary. In his opinion TO organize and com
mand the evies but none OF them are 10 BE-
above tho rank OF Lieutenant. They are to be dis
charged as the exgency under which their
services were required has disappeared. and while
In service are 10 be assigned TO duty with rank
and pay OF the grades established by existing la~
There is no provision In the biz fixing or limiting
the number o, additional men who may be enlisted
or the number OF officers who may be appointed
and commissioned. nor Is there any provision which
requires tha, the appointments OF the latter shall
be confirmed by the Senate OF the United states.
Those matters are left absolutely to the discretion
Of tho President. who is also decide when
exigency has arisen which just!hes him In using 'he
plenary authority that the senate proposes - give
him IL my opinion. the President OF tho United
the scope OF MS ai aor;y'
you referred 10 chartered private vessels For
what purposes areSthey To be employed tho cor
resERonaent ask ;,., o,-.ous =, ~, mos, .,r.o,
dnsry pr t Of he S Is ono S Thsh p1ovs
that whenever eXigo ncy exist In the opinion
sAry the Secretary o; the Navy may charter any
private vessel vessels TIA; may b" required for
THIS IL the FRS, time ever saw or heard OF
proposition 10 give the secretary 81 ne Nav
pod -. u rds,,c %; NM ' Va Tenor,men, A.
ne riyg :" ,h f,l VA oniv knrc
OF ore case II which any part 81 The Navy was I'm
1y r INV 6s a. Gf Ters h a%n encrn
Grant, who had moved his army below vcksburg,
Army Transports and Admiral Porter volunteered
10 use his whole fleet f1r ,hat purpose and large
part o. the army thus transferred TO the east
bank % the river Brunsburg. Miss. That
all done IN single day President CleAe.ani and
Secretary Herbert however. seem to have some
original IDEAS about the transportation OF troops.
"l3ut there necessity OF such legislation IN
your opinion this time ." asked the correspond
ent.
None whatever. As far ms know. the United
States IS Mt peace with al. the world. and there f.
not the slightest danger Of with any foreign
Power Even II such danger imminent. Con
gross is IN and ready 20 provide against any
emergency. and II It not in session II could be
reassembled within ten days. The Administration.
however. seems 70 hold a different opinion. for II
has recommend the legislation. II you VIII ex-
anime the Senate report you Will fad that II con
s!sts solely Of letter from the Secretary OF the
Navy bearing date OF January :. 1875. and by look
Ing at the bill you Will discover that IL re-
ported 10 the Senate from the Committee on Naval
Affairs on January s. read the first and second time
and placed on the calendar. The bill must have
been drafted at the Navy Department and sent TO
the Senate with the Secretarys letter OF January T.
so that II printed until after l. had been
favOrab.y reported. read the first and second time
and placed the calendar. The consideration OF
the measure by ;he Senate Committee must have
been OF the most hasty and perfincory nature even
II (, received any consideration whatever From the
degree OF haste one would be justified in the belief
that the Administration expected tkat the United
State would be at with some foreign Power
within week at most. and that the Senate Com
mttee on Naval Affairs shared this expecta ton