The record-union., 1898-04-22
Military Committee were offered b

4
| Hawley and agreed to.
| Bacon of Georgia suggested that the
bin be so amended as to provide that
no man in the military service should
be compelled to enlist by the vote of
| the company of which he is a member
| Hawley explained that nobody could
| be forced to enlist as volunteer IN
the service of the United States, and
| there would be no practical difficulty
in carrying into effect the provisions Of
the bill. He further explained that no
member of a militia organization could
| be forced to go out of the country TO
perform service unless he should vol
| unteer for such service.
| Pettus of Alabama explained that the
matter suggested by Bacon would be
arranged by the Governors of States.
All of the militia men would not, Of
course, volunteer for service. No indi-
| vidual company or regiment would be
compelled to enter the service. although
! the great body of them would doubt
| less volunteer for the service.
| Faulkner of West Virginia said that
| the militia organizations throughout
| the country thoroughly understood the
matter, as they had been in communi-
|
cerning it. Every member Of the Ma
tional Guard understood that he could
not be forced to enlist in the United
| States service.
The bill, after an extended discussion,
| was passed.
| The measure, as passed, contains
! fourteen sections, which may be sum-
married. as follows:
I l.. II IL r. I'd
male citizens between the ages of 18
and 45 shall constitute the national
! forces.
! Section defines the regular army
| and the volunteer forces comprising the
| land forces.
| Section further defines the regular
army; provides also that the President
may authorize the Secretary of War TO
| organize companies, troops. battalions
or regiments possessing special quail
fications from the nation At large, under
such rules and regulations, including
the appointment of the officers thereof,
as may be prescribed by the Secretary
of War This provision is a Senate
amendment to authorize the enlistment
of plainsmen and others, as proposed III
Senator Warren's bill.
Section 4 provides that the volunteer
arm shall be maintained only during
the existence of war or While war is
imminent, and shall be organized only
upon the authorization of Congress;
provides also that enlistments shall be
for a term Of three years, unless SOON
er terminated and that all volunteers
shall be discharged upon the accom-
plishment of the purpose for which they
enlisted; provided, further that existing
organizations of the State militia may
at their discretion, be turned into ser
vice for term of one year. (This lat
ter proviso was inserted as a Senate
amendment)
Section 3 provides for enlistment fol-
lowing the Presidents proclamation
stating the number of men required,
under regulations to be prescribed by
the Secretary of War, and provides
also that as far as practicable the vol
unteer army shall be taken from the
several States and Territories in pro-
portion to their population.
Section 6 provides that the regula
tions of the regular army shall apply
to the volunteers and also provides that
the regimental and company officers
shall be appointed by the Governors of
the States organizing volunteers, sub
ject to such examination as to fitness
and capacity as they may prescribe;
provides also that each regiment shall
have two surgeons and two assistant
surgeons.
Section Z provides for recruiting to
maintain the maximum strength of vol
unteer organizations.
Section 8 provides for certifcation to
the pension office of all records of vol
unteer organizations.
Section provides for the three bat
talon organization.
Section 10 enumerates the officers
who shall compose the staffs of corps.
division and brigade commanders; pro-
vides also that the same shall be ap-
pointed by the President, by and with
the consent of the Senate, and may be
drawn from the volunteer army or the
regular army.
Section IL authorizes the appointment
of one Major General for each corps
and division, one Brigadier- General for
each brigade. to be slected from the
regular army or volunteers, and pro-
vides that such officers so appointed
from the regular army may retain the
rank so conferred.
Section i provides that regular army
and volunteer officers and men shall be
on the same footing as to pay, pension,
etc.
Section 13 authorizes the President to
commission one regular army officer in
each volunteer regiment.
Section II provides for military
boards and courts martial to examine
as to capacity, qualification and con-
duct of officers of the volunteer army,
and for the discharge Of those adversely
passed upon.
Consideration of the naval appropri-
alton bill was then resumed, in order
that certain amendments might be
offered.
Butler proposed an amendment that
the Government should pay no more
than S4o0 ton for armor plate and ap-
propriating $4,000 for an armor
plate factory, and $1000,O0O for the
manufacture Of armor plate for vessels
now being constructed The amend
ment went over.
The Senate, then, at $50 D. rr.. on
motion of Quay of Pennsylvania. went
into executive session and adjourned at
7:06.