The Somerset reporter., 1898-04-28


of the states sent yesterday with let
ter giving more detailed information
respecting the troops that are to be
raised and making other suggestions
deemed necessary.
Some difference of opinion exists
among the war department officials as
to the precise steps which shall be taken
to recruit for the volunteer army called
into service by the president. Although
the kilograms sent by the department
yesterday to the governors OF the va
rious states were entirely those of in
quiry, the inference is drawn that the
governors are given certain prerogatiNes
in the work of raising the volunteer
army. This is combatted by some of the
law officers of the war department, who
hold that the act as passed does not ad-
nit of such Interpretation.
Major j. n. Morrison, assistant to the
judge advocate of the army and a high
authority on military law, in CONVERSE
ton With a representative Of the press
expressed his views ons this subject,
which, however he said, were entirely
unofficial and personal. He says there
is no provision in the volunteer army
act for any state or the governor or
other officer thereof to enlist any of the
men of either the regular or volunteer
branch of the army or for them to have
anything to do with the raising of either
branch except t!sat the governors are to
appoint certain designated officers of the
volunteer branch.
The enlisted men are obtained in the
same Way in both branches, that is by
voluntary contracts of enlistment direct
ly to the United States. The governors
have no more authority he says, to raise
the volunteer branch than to raise the
regular branch, and it is not likely that
one of them has single dollar in the
state treasury that can lawfully be used
for raising either branch.
There is nothing in the act that can be
construed to provide that any state or
ganizaton shall DE transferred as a state
organization into the United States ser
vice-"mustered in" as The state volun-
teer organizations of 1861 and 1856 We're
and If the militia officers are not ap-
pointed as volunteer officers, or If they
are appointed and do not accept the ap-
pointments. they will remain militia Of
tiCers.
But If they are appointed and do ac-
cept the appointment, they probab bly,
viii have to resign as militia officers II
they do not resign, they will Simply hold
two offices-one in the state militia and
one in the United States volunteer army
The act assumes that members of thu
state militia organizations will enlist in
the volunteer army. but does not provide
for them to do SO; that is it does not
require them to do so. Anyone else is
as clearly eligible to enlist as they are.
1t might be. said Major Morrison. that
unless something is done by their respec-
tive governors to prevent it, these mill
.tlamen will find that their obligations.
under the ST te law, as members of the
state militia organizations. Will be OBJ
stacles in the way of their entering the
United States volunteer service
Arrangements for the consideration of
the War revenue measures were made
al the opening of the session of the house
today. There was no clash. The lead
ers on both sides had previously reached
complete agreement and the house WAS
only asked TO ratify 1t. AS soon as the
journal was read Mr.. Dingley. chairman
of the ways and means committAe re-
ported the measure to the house and ii
was ordered printed and referred to the
committee of the whole on the state of
the union. The minority was given until
tomorrow to file its views.
Mr.. DingleY then gave notice that he
would call the bill up tomorrow at noon
and asked unanimous consent that to-
morrow and Thursday be- devoted To
general debate and that Friday the bill
be taken NJ for amendment and vote
be taken at 4 o'clock on Friday. In
cluded In thu request was provision for
night sessions and also a provision that
sections p and ~ tthe bond sections)
should first be open to debate under the
five minute rule The minority had
agreed To the Arrangement.
Mr. Bailey formally gave his assent and
the order @as entered
The war ravenu, bill as reported to
the house toby. contains three changes
Of tho btl as r.ejraNy drafted, as fol
lows. \ dtssonn, + 3 per cent ON beer
stamps is a.'..al after tive passage of
the act Telat han- uiessgSp are sab-
jet Of tax or l cent on messages trans.
mitted 30 miles or more the cost of which
does not exceed 20 cents; between rs
cents and $3.50, cents; between $l.50 and
IS, cents; In excess of IS. 10 cents. Off
a AL NH