Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-10
DISTRICT NAVAL RESERVE.
Conference Report Agreed to bv th,
House.

house.
just before the adjournment of the House
yesterday afternoon Mr.. Hilborn called III
the conference report on the bill establish
Ing the naval battalion for the District OF
Columbia.
Inc statement accompanying the report
said
ne 1irst amendment Of the House pro
Vldeu that the battalion Contemplated by
the above named bill should be a part of
the militia already authorized for the Dis
trlct OF Columbia, instead of In addition
thereto. as in the original bill The second
amendment proposed to strike out ths word
relative so that it would give the staff
ofilcers absolute instead of relative rank
Alter 1ull and free Interchange OF views
th5 House conferees agreed to recede from
the House amendments, and SIS now recon-
inended the bill stands as 1t Was passed by
the Senate"
MI Bailey CTeXas) made u brief speech
upon the danger OF legislatinS at this time
touching the army ana navy establish
ments. He said Congress was uniIel in a
determination to prosecute the war to an
early and victorious end, but ii should DE
on guard against any permanent iucreas Sc
IN the army and navy features of the gov
eminent He referred to recent journalist C
expressions congratulating the country
upon the growth of sentiment favorable TO
stronger navy and army as daplorabe.
Mr. Hiiborn, explaining the conference re-
pert, Sald ii mad appeared that the militia
complement of the District was filled and
the naval battalion could not be organized
as part of the present militia.
The report was adopted, lU5-:,2 Those
not voting, but present. increased the num-
Der present to quorum
AT 400 pm. the House adjourned pending
the disposition of a motion of Mr.. Hilborn' S
to reconsider the vote ,y which the confer
ence report-was adopted, MIR. Ballehhavins
again raised the point of no quoruH.
District Naval Battalion.
The bill establishing a naval battalion of
the District National Guard, as passed by
the Senate and accepted by the House con-
feIees, provides as follows: That in ad
dition to the companies of volunteer militia
now authorized in the District of Columbia
there may be organized not more than four
companies of naval militia, which shall
constitute a battalion to be known as the
naval battalion of the National Guard of
the District of Columbia
Sec =. That the officers of the naval bat
TALON shall consist of one commander and
stan 10 consist OF one executive officer
with rank OF lieutenant commander, one
navigating officer with the rank of lieu
tenant, one signal, ordnance and equip
ment officer with rank of lieutenant. one
surgeon. each with the relative rank of
lieutenant.
Sec. B. That each company shall consist
OF one lieutenant, one lieutenant. Junior
grade, two ensigns, and not less than sixty
nor more than one hundred petty officers
and enlisted men.
Sec. 4. That in all matters not otherwise
specially provided for. the provisions of
law which provide for the organization of
the militia of the District of Columbia
shall apply to the naval battalion.
Sec. 8. That general routine of duty, dis
cipline, and exercises of the naval bat
talon. and parts thereof, shall conform
with the laws, customs and usages of
the navy, as far as the same apply, and
where they do not apply then such routine
or duty, discipline, and exercises shall con-
form to the laws governing the volunteer
forces of the District of Columbia.