Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-04-28
SHERMAN RESIGNS.
Formal Declaration of War by the
United States Congress.
THE NAVAL APPROPRIATION PASSED.
An Acknowledged Authority on Interna-
tional Law Appointed Assistant see-
Rotary OF State--Another Prociama-
tIon on the Subject of Prizes.


-
WASHINGTON, April 26.-Congress
yesterday formally declared war to ex-
list between the United States aud
Spain; the senate passed the naval APP
preparation bill carrying large amounts
of money for the Improvement of our
sea fighting arm of the federal s~ervicei
the Hull army reorganization bill was
passed by the senate, and now goes to
conference; Secretary Sherman re-
signed rs chief of the state depart
ment, to be succeeded by Assistant
Secretary Day, and the latter by John
b. Moore, of New York, an acknowl-
edged authority on international law,
and the war department called on the
several states for their quota to the
volunteer army of the United States.
These make up the important events of
the day.
Ii was not announced when Score
tary Sherman's resignation would take
effect, the secretary having yielded his
original idea OF leaving ut once, and IL
Is presumed that he will remain until
Judge Day qualities as his successor.
The selection of Mr.. Moore, who is
now professor of international law ut
Columbia university, New York, to
succeed the latter, was warmly well
coined by the state department en-
ployes. Appointed originally from
Delaware in the state depart
ment by Mr.. Bayard when the
latter vas secretary of state,
Mr.. Moore, by sheer merit and ability,
worked his way up to the place OF Sec
ond assistant secretary, and In that en-
pacity he served under several admin
istrations without regard to political
changes. He resigned his place in the
state department to accept tae chair
of international law Mt Columbia uni
versity about three years ago, and 1t Is
believed that his present appointment
is only temporary, owing to his in
disposition to permanently severe his
connections with Columbia. Mr.. Moore
is an authority on certain branches OF
international law and his selection
will do much to strengthen the state
department in the present emergency.
The officials of the department., with
the assistance of the attorney general
have been preparing another proclA-
nation which will be issued in a day
or two, this time, treating of prizes
and defining the conditions and time
when such seizures might be made. It
Is believed that the protest and sug-
gestions coming from foreign embas-
sizes and legations here have led the de-
partment to define, once for all Its
position in this matter.
A prize commissioner was appointed
yesterday afternoon in the person Of
Commander John Wynn, a retired va
val officer. He will be stationed Al
Key West, where he now resides, and
it will be his duty, in conjunction with
two other members yet to be selected,
as part of the commission to make APP
praisements of the value of prizes, and
to assist the prize courts N their work.
1t has been understood for some time
| past that Assistant Secretary Roose-
| welt, of the navy department, would
| soon retire in order to enter the mill
| tary service In the Cuban campaign.
This story car now be confirmed posi-
lively, although the time set for Mr..
Roosevelt's departure from the depart
ment is not definitely fixed The presi-
dent yesterday named MI. Roosevelt
as iieutenant-colonel of one OF the
| regiments of mounted rifemen to be
raised in the Rocky mountains under
Col. Wood, whom Mr.. Roosevelt has
urged for the place. Col. Wood 10 o
DIR. Wood, of tho army. He won q
medal of honor for distinguished gal
lantry while commanding a detach-
ment of regular troops during the OK.
ceedingly hard Apache campaigns
against Geronimo.
Secretary Algcr selected Col. Wood
and Mr.. Roosevelt for these positions
because he felt that their training and
experience in the past peculiarly ft.
| ted them to do good service with q
cowboy regiment. Col. Wood starts
west to-day to superintend tho re-
eruiting, many offers having already
come to Mr.. Roosevelt from individu.
ais and organizations among the cow
boys. Secretary Long wishes Mr..
Roosevelt to remain in his present POI
sition as long a. possible, 30 ID may DO
two or three weeks before he will Join
his command.
The president and both secretaries
have regretted to see Mr.. Roosevelt
leave his present position, but they
feel hat in q regiment OF this charac-
ter he can do good service in the field,
and should be allowed to 60, though,
II possible, they wish him to remain
here until the regiment In organized
and ready to take part in the invasion
OF Cuba. Before that. however. he
may have TO leave for short periods 70
superintend the enlistments.