The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-21
VOTE TO ASK FOR VOLUNTEERS
HOUSE PASSES AN EMERGENCY
WAR MEASURE.

Amendment TO heuace Nhe Limit TO
One Year Defeated--Companie and
Regiments Not 10 Have the Right
to Select Their own officers.
Washington, April 2o.--The House to-day
passed as an emergency war measure the
bin empowering the President to call out
the volunteer forces, and providing for
their organization.
Both the President and Secretary Alger
had urged the imperative necessity of the
passage of the bill to-day, and Chairman
Hull of the military committee drove it
through under whip and spur.
The bill was drafted at the war depart
ment, introduced in the House yesterday
and considered and reported by the com.
mittee to-day. No such expedition could
have been possible except under the stress
of war pressure. The bin is permanent in
its character.
There was a tremendous demonstration
in the House after The reading of the Jour
nal, when MAG. Pruden, the Presidents
legislative clerk, announced the Presi-
dents approval of the Cuban resolutions.
The House then went into committee of
the whole 10 consider the bin authorizing
the President to call for volunteers.
Mr.. Hull explained that the committee
had unanimously agreed that past prece-
dents should be followed and the Cover
nors of states should retain the power to
appoint all regimental officers.
The joint resolution passed by Congress
authorizing 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 volun-
teer and not the militia forces.
Mr.. Hull read the following telegram he
received from Secretary Alger this morn
ing: 'I hope you viii introduce your bill
this morning Time Is now very valuable
On the whole / am inclined to think that
requiring commissions to be signed by the
President for the militia would be cause
for friction and opposition by the Cover
nors, who naturally might feel that this
was taking some of their power from
them. Can you consistently change that
and hasten its passage?"
Mr. johnson, Rep, of Indiana, at this
point attempted to secure time to address
the House regarding his attitude on the
general situation. If war was to come, he
said, he was ready to support any measure
to prosecHte 10 q. JtSy3sful conclusion.
But before hostiities began he thought the
House should give him II chance to speak.
The request met with much opposition and
was refused.
Mr.. Handy, Dem, of Delaware, opposed
the bill because it was proposed to pass it
as an emergency measure, and yet ii was
to be a permanent enactment.
A question arose as TO whether under the
provisions of the bin additional legislation
would not be necessary to permit the Pres
dent to call out volunteers.
To meet this defect, Mr. Lacey offered an
amendment authorizing the President to
raise volunteers when Congress shall have
authorized him to do so. or when he has
been authorized ito call into the actual ser
vice of the United States the militia of the
several states" The Cuban resolutions
contain the latter authorization.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. McMillin, Dem, of Tennessee, NOV
ed to reduce the term of enlistment of the
volunteer forces from three years, as pro-
vided in the bill. to one year. ife thought
many of the young men of the country
would not be willing TO enlist for three
/ years.
Mr. Hull replied that Il was not expect
| ed that the war would be a long one un-
less Spain resorted to guerilla warfare,
| but he did not believe a three years term
would terrorize the young men.
| The amendment was defeated.
Mr. Talbert, Dem, of South Carolina,
warned the House that war with Spain
was not a light thing. Gentlemen who
| thought it would be over in a few days
would be sadly disappointed, In his opin-
| ion.
II remember at the opening of the last
war" said he, linen at the North and
South believed it would not last thirty
days. ] heard man agree to drink all
| the blood that was spilled. Every coun-
try in Europe may be drawn into the en-
| counter before we get through with
Spain"
Mr. Little, DEM, of Arkansas, offered ar
amendment, which was agreed to, provid-
| ing that the Indian territory shall furnish
| its quota.
Mr.. Llnney, Rep, Of North Carolina, Of
fered an amendment providing that moth.
ing in the bill should be construed TO pre-
vent companies and regiments from select
ing their own officers The power TO select
officers to fill vacancies, he said, would bC
an incentive 10 enlistment. The tyrannous
discipline of officers. he said, was more
| dreaded by soldiers than the bullets anC
| bayonets OF the enemy.
MIR. Grosvenor vigorously opposed tn,
| amendment Its adoption, he said, woult
sow seed of sin that would grow up e
death.
Mr.. Pearse, Rep, of Missouri took tn,
| same view. The election of officers wa.
| destructive of discipline and efficiency.
Mr.. TaIbert challenged this statemen
and referred 70 the experience of the Con
| federate army.
This drew from Gen. Walker Rep, O
Virginia, the statement that his experlenc,
in the Confederate army had taught hin
that an army that elected its own officer
was wholly inefficient. He declared tha
all men were not brave. While all mer
would fight, ~ properly disciplined an,
led, many could not be counted upon II
the hour of danger when inefflcientiy of
| hcefed
The IAnney amendment was defeated.
An amendment was adopted providing
for a chaplain for. each regiment
An amendment was adopted provldini
that regimental and all other medical Of
hcers should keep daily records of all Of
ficers or men sick or wounded, and tina
upon the disbandmcnt of the organization
they should be filed IN the record and pen
sion Office OF the war department.
section l3 was amended SO as TO provldi
that the Governors Of states instead OF tn
President, might appoint officers Of tn
| n1...,fae array IN fho grades af HaTf ~