The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-04-28

of the Senate, or authorizing him to assign
these officers from the Regular Army, the
volunteer officers or the militia.
Mr.. Hull explained that the Committee
had unanimously agreed that past prece-
dents should be followed, and the Gov
ernors of States should retain the power
TO appoint all regimental officers. The
Joint resolutions passed by Congress au-
thorizing the President to employ the militia
force 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 the volunteer ana
not with the militia forces.
A question arose as TO whether, under
the provisions of the bill, additional legis-
lation would not be necessary to permit
the President to call out volunteers. To
meet this defect Mr.. Lacy offered an amend
ment, which was adopted, authorizing the
President to raise volunteers when Con-
gress shall have authorized him to do so.
or when he has been authorized ito call
into the actual service of the United States
the militia of the several States" The
Cuban resolutions contain the latter au-
thorization.
Various amendments were submitted
and lost.
Mr. Enney On. c., r. offered an amend
ment providing that nothing In the bill
panieS and regiments from selecting their
own officers. The power to select officers
to fill vacancies, he said. would be an in
centive to enlistment. The tyrannous dis
cipIine of officers, he said, was more
dreaded by soldiers than the bullets and
bayonets of the enemy.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio, R.) vigorously OPP
posed the amendment It's adoption, he
said would sow seed of sin that would
grow up to death. IF / desired to make
the army which is to fight this war "a
caucus of ward politicians" said he, 81
would adnYt that amendment ~
Mr.. Grosvenor referred 10 the expert
ence of the late war, which, he said, was
against such system. More than one
half of the officers elected at the begin
ming of the war, he said, had retired or
been retired within year on account of
their unfitness.
Mr. Talbert, of South Carolina, chal
lenged this statement and referred TO the
experience OF the Confederate army.
This drew from Gen. Walker va, r.
the statement that his experience in the
Confederate army had taught him that an .
army that elected its own officers was |
wholly inefficient He declared that all |
men were not brave. While ali raen would |
fight if properly disciplined ard Id. many |
could not be counted upon in The hour of
danger when inefficienily cfficercd. The |
Linney amendment was defeated.
Another amendment was adCrtcd rro- |
viding that reginental ard al ether rafdi- |
cal officers should keep daily rccCTds 81 II I
officers or men sick or wounded, ard i,r2t I,
upon the disbandment OF the Crganizatp n
they should be flsd in the Iecord ard
Pension Office Of the War Department
In the Senate the sundry civil bill was
considered and passed.
Mr.. Hawley, Of Connecticut, Chairman
of the Military Affairs Committee, called
up the resolution introduced a few days
ago and reintrCduced 10 day relating to the
expectation Of coal and other war materials
After so Amending the resolution as To en-
able the President not only TO lay, but aiso
TO raise the embargo, the resolution was
passed without division
The volunteer army bill was taken uD
Mr.. Bacon, Of Georgia, suggested that the
bill be so amended as TO provide that no
Hsn in the militia service should be com
PEELED 10 enlist by the vote OF the company
OF which lac is "A member
Mr. Pettus, of Alabama EXPLAINED that
the matter suggested by Mr.. Bacon would
be arranged by the Governors of States. All
OF the militiamen would not, of course,
volunteer for service. No Individual com
pany OF regiment would be compelled to
enter the service, although the great body
Of them would doubtless volunteer for the
service.
The bill, after further discussion, was
passed.
In the House, the coal embargo resolu-
ion was adopted. II soon became a law
by the Presidents signature
In the Senate on April %, conference
report on the volunteer army bill was
adopted The same thing was done i'm the
House. The President soon signed tho
bill.