The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-21
House Gives Power to President to
Call Out Volunteers.
FAVORABLE TO MILITIA
GOVERNORS OF STATES MAY
CHOOSE OFFICERS.
President Authorized to Call Into
Actual Service the Militia of the
Several States-Talbot Warned the
House That This Was No Thirty
Day Affair.

Washington, April 20.-The house
today passed as an emergency war
measure the bill empowering the pres
ident to call out the volunteer forces
and providing for their organization.
Both the president and Secretary AL
ger had urged the imperative necessity
of the passing of the bill today and
Chairman Hull, of the military COM
mittee, drove it under with whip and
spur. The bill was drafted at the war
department, introduced in the house
yesterday and considered and reported
by the committee today. No such eX-
petition could have been possible ex-
cept under the stress of war pressure.
The bill is permanent in it's character.
The principal change in the bill. as
introduced. was that the appointment
of all regimental officers are to be
made by the governors of the states
instead of by the president, as was pro-
posed originally by the war depart
ment. This action conforms to the
practice of the civil war.
GREAT DEMONSTRATION.
There was tremendous demonstra-
ton in the house Immediately after the
reading of the journal, when Mr.. Pru-
den, the presidents executive clerk an
nounced the presidents approval of the
Cuban resolutions. The galleries cheer
ed and the members on the floor ap
plauded vigorously. The speaker with
difficulty suppressed the ovation with
which the announcement was greeted.
The senate Joint resolution authoriz-
ing the printing of extra copies of the
military publications of the war de-
partment was adopted.
VOLUNTEER BILL.
Mr.. Hull, chairman of the committee
on military affairs, asked unanimous
consent for the immediate considera-
ton of the bill he introduced yester-
day at the request of the war depart
ment, authorizing the president to call
for volunteers. He said the committee
had agreed to the measure at a special
meeting this morning. 1t was a very
urgent measure, he said. The secretary
of war had appealed to him this morn
ing to present it. and he had just had
message from the White House say
ing that the passage of the bill today
was imperative.
Mr.. Hull said that the committee had
made only one important change in the
bill as prepared by the war depart
ment. The change authorized the gov
ernor to appoint company and regi-
mental officers which the bill as drawn
conferred upon the president and was
in harmony with the law of 1861.
BILL CONSIDERED.
The house went into committee of the /
whole to consider the bill. Mr.. Sayers |
dem. Tex criticised the section au-
thorizing the president to appoint the
staff officers subject to the confirmation !
of the senate or authorizing him to as |
sign these officers from the regular |
army of the volunteer officers of the |
militia
Mr.. Hull explained that the commit |
tee unanimously held that past prece-
dents should be followed and that the |
governors of states should retain the |
power to appoint all regimental officers.
The joint resolution passed by congress
the president to employ
the militia forces of the United States,
he said, would not meet the present
situation. He felt authorized to say
that if we were to fight this war it
would be with volunteers, and not the
militia forces.
ne received from Secretary Alger this
Il hope you will introduce your bill
this morning. Time is now very val
liable. On the whole l am inclined to
think that requiring commissions to be
signed by the president for the militia
would be cause for action ana opposi-
hon Dy the governors, VINO naturally
might feel that this was taking some
If their power from them. Can YOU
change that and hasten its
oassage?"
THE PEACE BORE.
Mr.. Johnson (Rep., Ind,) at this point
attempted to secure time to address
he house regarding his attitude on the
general situation. If war was to come ]
lie said, he was ready to support any
Measure to prosecute it to a successful
conclusion. But before hOstilities be-
;an he thought the house should give
him a chance to speak. The request
net with much opposition and was re-
used.
Mr.. Cox Dem, Tenn.), the senior
member of the committee,
rave the bill, as modified, his endorse
nent.
Mr. Marsh CRep., Ills.) and Mr..
savers both expressed the opinion that
his measure should be passed forth
worth. We were on the verge of war.
The measure was asked for by the
,racifnnt and tho Sp0rataT of war