The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-05-05
WORK OF CONGRESS

| to do 50 has been reached after mature
| Geliberation i'm order To safeguard the
| interests of the United States. All the
arguments pro and con Were discussed
at the White House N Il conference in
| which President Mckinley. Attorney
General Griggs. Assistant Secretary
| Day and Senators Davis and Hale
(, participated. and on its breaking MP
| announcement was made that con
gress would be asked TO declare what
| il is held already exists. This was
the most important Washington de-
velopment on the first war Sunday.
The president will send a message to
congress, To be delivered Immediately
after its converting. setting forth the
facts ia the case and asking congress
to formally declare war in order that
there may be no misunderstanding on
the part of other nations. The most
important point in the IN, ssage from 4
news point of view will be the an
nouncement that Spain
Has Made Formal Reply
to our ultimatum. This reply has not
been given to the public and ii was
supposed that none had been received.
The document is n formal acknowledge
ment by Spain and also an acceptance
by that country of the ultimatum as Il
virtual declaration OF war. Congress
will therefore be asked Ia recognize
this condition of affairs and 10 de
clare il to the world. using SPANS con-
ceSsion rs a reason for il. The war
resolution has been prepared, and il Is
understood that the two committees
having in charge the foreign affairs OF
the two houses of congress will be
prepared To report upon ii very speed
ily-probably Immediately after the
reading of the message. An effort
will then be made 10 have the resolu-
ton taken up and passed forthwith,
and il is not now believed that there
will be any formidable opposition to
this course in either house. Otherwise
the news of the day mere related al
most entirely to the execution of plans
hitherto announced.
Gen. Goblin and Secretary Alger con-
ferred in the afternoon respecting the
arrangements for calling on the gov
errors of the states and territories for
The Quota of Troops
they are 10 furnish under the presi-
dents proclamation asking for $4,000
men. The number of men in each
branch of the service. viz. infantry,
cavalry and artillery remains to be
detail. In the state, war and navy
departments many of the officials were
at their desks directing the execution
of policies heretofore determined upon.
Neither Secretary Alger nor Secretary
Long were on hand, but Assistant
Secretary NIeiklejOhn and Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt were on duty for
several hours. Mr.. Meiklcjohn has al
ready received IL large number of APP
plications from newspapers TO permit
their representatives to accompany the
army. but as stated in the circular is
sued Saturday, the number to be ac-
corded the privilege will be limited.
The assistant secretary is busily en-
gagged i'm supervising the general pre-
paratiOns for the transportation OF the
troops overland and also to Cuba, for
which q large number of vessels will
be chartered. In the quartermasters
office nearly the whole clerical force
was on hand The details
Are Far From Complete
but Quartermaster General Ludington
believes everything will be in readi-
ness by the time the troops are ready
to move Questions of equipment or
troops with uniforms and tents also
are to be settled, although many of the
state state organizations are prepared
in this respect. The department has 4
number of branches in which tents.
uniforms, etc., are manufactured, but
it Will be compelled to call on the
services of outside firms to meet the
present demands. II is said 1T the
navy department that all of the naval
militia which will be used in the deep
sea patrol vessels already have been
n 40, tyAft
will be utilized in manning the signal
stations along the coast and the YES
sells of the close shore auxiliary feet.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt an
nounced that the government had pur-
chased the steam yacht Aileen for the
auxiliary navy. 1t was said ut the
navy department that no additional in
formation had been received of the
movements Of the Spanish fleets rem
dezvoused at CadiZ and at the Cape
Verde islands. Every step taken by
these fleets is promptly reported to the
department by the agents abroad. One
officer explained to-day that II was
very necessary to receive with the
greatest caution reports of the move
ments Of the Spanish ships, as Spain
naturally will try in every way to mis-
lead the United States.
Washington, April 26.-War and war
measures were the only topics dis
cussed In the senate during more than
four hours Of its session. The body
had scarcely convened when the mes
sage of the president urging congress
to declare the existence of war be-
tween the United States and Spain
was laid before ii. Without comment
the message was referred TO the for
eign relations committee. Mr.. Allen