The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-23
STAYS WITH HIS REGIMENT.
COL. CAMPBELL NOT WORRYING
OVER HIS SEAT IN CONGRESS.

If the House Permits Him 10 Retain
1t He VIII Draw Only the Smaller
salary of Colonel Until He Does
Congressional Duty-There seems
to BE No Fixed Principle Govern
ing such Cause.-The Present n
Good Time to Settle the Question
Forever.
Col. James r. Campbell of the Ninth
Illinois, intends to go to Cuba with his
regiment regardless as to what Congress
does in reference to his right to retain
his seat in the House and at the same
time hold a commission IN the United
States army. This was the decision he
announced yesterday afternoon.
Col. Campbell represents the Twentieth
Illinois district in the House of Repre-
sentatives or, to be more accurate, has
been elected to represent the district for
a second term, but has not taken his place
in the House owing to his duties as a sol
der. lie is one of the several congress-
men whose seats Congressman Bailey of
Texas declares should be ruled vacant and
new elections ordered for their successors.
Congressman Bailey is generally regarded
as intending 90 hit Gen Wheeler, espe,
cially in this. course, but whatever affects
the general naturally carries with it the
same results TO Col. Campbell and one
or two other Democrats, as well as a cou-
pie of Republican congressman who are
IN the army.
Col. Campbell has not the slightest idea
that there is any feeling against him on
the part of Congressman Bailey in the
steps the Texan is taking to get him out
of Congress along with others 1--WE were
quite good friends during the last Con-
sress,' said he, "and there has been moth
ing to make us otherwise to-day. 1 drew
one of the best seats in the House two
years ago and Mr.. Bailey one of the worst
and / promptly exchanged with him as
leader Of the party. 1t would look from
the published reports as though the move
ment was more directly against Gen.
Wheeler than any other Congressman in
the army, if there is any personal side
to the issue at all.
IF l am correctly informed, the ques-
ton as to whether a congressman can also
hold a commission in the volunteer army
has never been definitely settled and it
might be well to have it decided for all
time While the present agitation is on.
Different congresses have. 1 believe,
viewed the matter from different stand
points, and there is no positive precedent
to force this House to take one position
or the other. / believe that in the first
Congress the point was first raised in the
case of a member who had accepted
commission in the army. He was turned
out of the House. Then during the Mex
lean war there was the case of Yell, from
Arkansas. He was elected to the House
but went into the army as an officer and
to Mexico. The Governor of Arkansas
think, declared the seat vacant and held
another election, the successful candidate
going 10 Washington and presenting him
self for the seat The House passed
resolution allowing him to sit and repre-
sent Arkansas until Yell should return.
He never returned, though, being killed in
one of the battles. This having a congress-
man by substitute would hardly be
accepted to-day Then in the early days
of the civil war Col. Baker, the senator
from oregon, l believe, actually sat in
the Senate on one or more occasions in
his uniform as an officer He was killed
at the battle of Balls Bluff and so there
was no opportunity, L suppose, for any
one TO move to put him out OF his seat in
the Senate on this account. Gen. Slckles,
l understand, also held seat in Congress
and commission in the army and think
that l have read that he drew both sala-
ries.
1T is impossible to tell what the House
will do Whatever it may do, though,
expect 20 go on with the men to Cuba,
and to draw the smaller salary, that of
colonel. As the volunteer officers are ex-
pected to be in the service but a short
time longer 1t would seem as though some
consideration might be shown them in the
matter of retaining their seats in Con-
gress. There should be a distinction be-
tween an officer in the volunteer service
and one in the regular service in this con-
nection. However l am not letting it
worry me. l have done what l regarded
as my duty and will let the matter rest
there and with the House l have no
criticisms to pass upon its probable ac-
ton"