The San Francisco call., 1898-03-24
STATE TROOPS AS VOLUNTEERS Secretary Alger in Favor of Making Them More
 Efficient.
He Listens With Interest to Congressman Marsh on
 the Subject.
General Miles at the War Depart rnent to Talk bout FOrtifying
 TOrtugas.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House, Washington. March g.

Washington, March 23.
 Secretary Alger's office at the War Department presented an unusually busy aspect to-day. A number of mem- bers of Congress called to have word with the Secretary, among them being Senators Lodge and Hoar and Repre- sentative Marsh of Illinois.
 Representative Marsh is chairman of the House committee which recently reported the bill to reorganize the State soldiery to raise it's efficiency and to appropriate a million dollars for it's support MT. Marsh said he had spoken to Speaker Reed recently in regard to the bill and he hoped to be able to call it up in the House for consideration within reasonable time. During his interview with Secretary Alger MT. Marsh urged that in the event of hostil- ities, the first recourse of the Govern ment for soldiers be the State militia, who should be invited to volunteer for the country's defense. These men, he pointed out, are well organized, we'll drilled and officered and are in posi- ton to render very effective service.
 In view of these facts MT. Marsh be- lieved that it was the duty of the Gov ernment to call upon these old soldiers for duty in case they care to volunteer If any members or officers of the guard preferred not to enlist because of fam fly or business cares and reSponSiblH- ties, then their places might be taken by volunteers from outside the service
 Secretary Alger was very much in- terested in the arguments made by Marsh, and, while. not committing him self on that point, seemed to regard the suggestions made by him as prac- ticable Afterward MT. Marsh called on President Mckinley and repeated the statement he had made to the Sec retary.
 During the morning Secretary Alger was also in conference with General Miles, commanding the army, respect ing the military occupation of Fort Jefferson, on Dry Tortugas Island. The determination to garrison this fort has been reached by the Secretary after a conference with his aids and the Navy Department officials, and the questions now to be met are those of what inn provements in the Notifications now there may be necessary.
 Already a contract has been let by the Navy Department for dredging a large part of the harbor of the island so as to permit the entrance of large naval vessels, and to-day bids were opened for erecting an immense shed in which the navy will store large sup Dll6S or coal u IS ItdllZ6t, IlOWCNCi, 1, that without very material improve ments and additions to the fortifica- tions and armament of Fort Jefferson 1t would be impossible to protect the coal supply from the depredations of a hostile fleet unless United States men-of-war were constantly on hand for that purpose. The armament of Fort Jefferson at this time consists of probably over a hundred oldt time smooth bore guns, which would have to be supplemnted by number of addi- tional ones of modern pattern and eff fectiveneSS
 Reports to the War Department show that about 400 men up to this time have been enlisted for the two artillery regiments recently authorized by Con gress. About 1900 men in all are re- quired. Most of the new recruits are sent to join old-established regiments and in many cases experienced men from the latter are detailed for duty at inc SeacOaSt Notifications