The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-21
ENLISTMENT OF VOLUNTEERS.
The Emergency Measure PASSED. by the
Houses-Irrm of Enlistment.

to-day passed as an emergency war meas
ure the bill empowering the President 10
call out the volunteer forces ana pro
ylding for their organization. Both the
President ana Secretary Alger haH urseu
The IMPERATIVE necessity OF the passage
~ the bin e. day. and Chairman Hull. Of
The Nui.ary Committee, drove IL through
under whip and spur
The hill was drafted at the War De-
partment. introduced In the House yes
terday. and considered and reported Dy
the committee to-day. No such eNpedl-
.ncv could have been imposed upon the
House except in stress OF war.
There was tremendous crowd III the
House Immediately after the reading OF
INC Iournal when Major Pruden. the Pre-
sident's executive clerk, announced the
Presidents approval of the Cuban resOlu-
tions.
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole TO consider the bill author
izing the President to call for Volun-
teers
Mr.. Hull explained that the committee
,ad unanimously agreed that past pre-
.edents should be followed and the Gov
irnors of the State should retain the
,ower to appoint all reglmental officers
The Joint resolution passed by Congress
uthorlzing the President to employ the
Military force of the United States would
1t meet the present situation. He felt
authorized 10 say that II we were 10
i,xht this war Il would be volunteer and
not military force. lie read commune
cation he had received from Secretary
Aiger this morning.
ALGER WRITES
II hope you wifi Introduce your bill
this morning. Time is now very valua-
ble On the whole / am inclined to think
that recurring commissions to be signed
nv the President for the militia would
be cause for friction. and that the COVER
nors might feel that this was taking some
of their power from them. Can you con-
sistently change that section In It's pas
sage?"
Mr.. Johnston. CRep. Of lndiana), at this
point attempted TO secure time 10 discuss
his attitude in this situation. If war
should come he said he was ready to
support any measure TO assist II 10
successful conclusion. but before HOSTILE
ties began he thought the House should
give him chance 10 - k The request
met with mucn opposition and was refus-
ed
question arose as TO whether under
the provisions OF the military bill addi-
iional legislation would not be necessary
TO permit the President TO call out volun-
feers. TO meet this defect Mr.. Lacey
offered an amendment authorizing the
President to raise volunteers when Con-
gress snail have authorized him 10 do SO
or when he had been authorized, TO call
into the actual service Of the United
states the militia OF the several States.
The Cuban resolutions contained the lat
ter authorization. The amendment was
adopted. ..
Mr.. McMillen Dem. OF Tennessee NOV
ed 10 reduce the terms Of enlistment for
the volunteer forces from three years. as
provided In the bill. 10 one year He
thought many of the young men of the
country would not be willing to enlist
for three years.
Mr.. Hull replied that II was not ex-
pected that the war would be a long one
unless Spain resorted to guerilla warfare.
but he did not believe a three years
term would terrorize the young men.
The amendment was defeated
Mr. Talbert Dem. Of South Cardinal
warned the House that war with Spain
was not light thing. Gentlemen who
thought II would be over In few days
would be sadly disappointed in their
opinion. Il remember at the opening Of
the last war" said ne. men at the North
and South believed that IL would not last
thirty days. heard man agree to drink
all the blood that was spilled. Every
country in Europe may be drawn into the
encounter before we get through with
Spain"
Mr.. Little Dem. OF Arkansas offered
an amendment which was agreed TO pro-
vicing that the Indian Territory shall fur
nish It's quota
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
MIR. IAnney (Rep.. OF North Carolina)
offered an amendment providing that
nothing in the bill should be construed TO
prevent companies and regiments from
selecting their own officers. The power to
select ofiicers 20 MI vacancies. he said.
would be an incentive 10 enlistment. The
tyrannous discipline Of officers he said.
was more dreaded by soldiers than the
bullets and bayonets OF the enemy.
Mr.. GrOsvenor (Rep. Of Ohio vigorously
opposed the amendment. It's adoption.
he said. would SOW a seed OF sin that
would grow up TO death.
Mr.. Pierce Republican took the same
Wow. The election Of officers. he said,
was destructive OF discipline.
Mr.. Talbert denied this statement and
referred to the experience OF the COnfed-
arate army.
This drew from General Walker (Rep.
OF ViTginia) the statement that his ex-
perienct in the Confederate army had
taught him that an army that elected its
own officers was wholly inefficient lie
declared that all men were not brave
While all men would hght II properly
disciplined and led many could not be
counted upon In the hour OF danger when
inefYiciently differed.
The Linney amendment was defeated
An amendment was adopted providing
for a chaplain for each regiment.
An amendpsnt was adopted providing