The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-21
PAVING THE WAY FOR THE VOLUNTEERS.
The House Passes the Emergency Measure
Already Approved by the President
and Secretary Alger.

WASHINGTON. April ee-The house to-
day passed an emergency war measure.
the bill empowering the president TO call
cut the volunteer forces and providing for
their organization, Both the president and
Secretary Alger had urged the Imperative
neeexxlsy OF passing the bili today. and
4chairusan Hull. uf the military committee.
drove 1t through with whip and spur. The
bill was drafted at the war department.
introduced in the house yesterday and con-
s.dered and reported by the committee to-
day. No such expedition could have been
possible except under pressure. The bill
Is permanent in its character.
The principal change In tir bill as In
trodnced was that the appointment OF all
regimentai officers Is 70 be made by the
governors Of the states instead OF by the
president. IA was proposed originally by the
war department. This action conforms 10
the practices of the civil war.
There was a irenredous demonstration in
the house Immediately after the reading OF
the journal. when Prudsn. the presidents
executive clerk announced the presidents 3
approval of the Cuban resolutions The
galleries cheered and the members on the
floor applauded vigorously. The speaker
with difficulty suppressed the ovation
with which the announcement was
greeted.
Hull asked unanimous consent for the
immediate consideration OF the bill he In
iroduced yesterday at the request OF the
department authorizing the president to
cali for volunteers. He said the committee
had agreed to the measure al special
meeting this morning 1t was very ur-
gent measure The secretary OF war had
appealed 70 them tias morning TO press II.
and he had just received a message from
the White House saying that the passage
Of the bin today was imperative. TIE
committee had made only one important
change in the bin as prepared by the war
department. That change authorized the
governors 10 appoint company and regi-
mental officers. which the bill. as drawn.
had conferred upon the president, and was
in harmony with The law OF 1851.
The house went into committee OF the
whole 70 consider the bill
Sayers of Texas criticised the section
authorizing the president 20 appoint staff
officers subject TO the confirmation Ct he
senate or authorizing him TO assign these
officers from the regular army or the vol-
unteer officers of the militia.
Hull explained that the committee nFaa-
inaously he'd that past precedents should
AA followed and that the governors S1
states should retain the power to appoint
al reeimentai officers. Tae joint reSola-
sioas passed by congress authorizing thc
president 10 employ the militia force oe
the United States. he said. would no.
naest tae present sstuation- RE fest author
lied TO say that II we were % agat this
war. Il would re with volunteers. snG rot
Nth ih@ militia forces. Hal read the
following telegram he recr.vesi from Sec
seiarg Aiges this morning:
81 hope you VIII Introduce your eilt tahs
Eisornsfg. Time Is no~ very Sas'saiss* ~
the hoe. am Inclined 70 think that
repairing commissions % to signed d the
president for the militia would b~ cause
far action and opposition tsy the governors.
wao naturally might feel that this WIS
iakirs *scssss os lhsir powey fram them.
Can you consistently ehang@ iias ard
hasten rs PASSAGE
Jchnsen % Indiana az this point s:-
tempted 10 sseura tsnse 10 address .he
Fcase regarding h1s attitude On the gen
erai siFuatsoa. II war was 70 csme. ne
said hs Was ready to sappsFs any meas
urs TO prosssqts IL 10 saccssstai con