The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-05-06
WORK OF CONGRESS

, "AAA VIC AASAOuuCcu III luS cOuSCeSS VI
the United States to-day. The decision
to do SO has been reached after mature
deliberation in order to safeguard the
interests Of the United States. All the
arguments pro and con were discussed
at the White House at conference in
which President Mckinley, Attorney
General Griggs, Assistant Secretary
Day and Senators Davis and Hale
participated, and on it's breaking up
announcement was made that con-
gress would be asked to declare what
1t Is held already exists. This was
the most important Washington de-
velopment on the first war Sunday.
The president will send n message to
congress, to be delivered Immediately
after it's converting. setting forth the
Facts In the case and asking congress
to formally declare war in order that
there may he no misunderstanding on
the part of other nations. The most
important point in the message from n
news point of view will be the an
nouncement that Spain
Has Made Formal Reply
to our ultimatum. This reply has not
been given to the public and it was
supposed that none had been received.
The document is formal acknowledge
ment by Spain and also an acceptance
by that country of the ultimatum as
virtual declaration of war. Congress
will therefore be asked to recognize
this condition Of affairs and to de-
clare 1t to the world, using Spain's con.
cession as a reason for it. The war
resolution has been prepared, and it is
understood that the two committees
having in charge the foreign affairs Of
the two houses of congress will be
prepared to report upon it very speed
hy-probably Immediately after the
reading of the message An effort
will then be made to have the resolu-
ton taken up and passed forthwith,
and it is not now believed that there
will be any formidable opposition to
this course in either house. Otherwise
the news of the day here related al
most entirely to the execution of plans
hitherto announced.
Gen. Goblin and Secretary Alger con-
ferred in the afternoon respecting the
arrangements for calling on the gov
errors of the states and territories for
The Quota of Troops
they are to furnish under the presi-
dents proclamation asking for 125, 900
men. The number of men in each
branch of the service, viz, infantry,
cavalry and artillery remains to be
settled, besides many other matters Of
detail. In the state, war and navy
departments many of the officials were
at their desks directing the execution
of policies heretofore determined upon.
Neither Secretary Alger nor Secretary
Long We're on hand, but Assistant
Secretary Meiklejohn and Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt were on duty for
several hours. Mr.. Meiklejohn has al
ready received large number Of ap-
plications from newspapers to permit
their representatives to accompany the
army, but as stated in the circular is
sued Saturday, the number to be ac-
corded the privilege will be limited.
The assistant secretary is busily ell
gagged in supervising the general pre-
parations for the transportation of the
troops overland and also to Cuba, for
which large number of vessels will
be chartered. In the quartermaster's
Office nearly the whole clerical force
was on hand. The details
Arc Far From Complete
but Quartermaster General Ludington
believes everything will be in readi-
ness by the time the troops are ready
to move. Questions of equipment Of
troops with uniforms and tents also
are to be settled, although many Of the
state state organizations are prepared
in this respect. The department has Il
number Of branches in which tents.
uniforms. ETC., are manufactured, but
it will be compelled to call on the
present demands. 1t is said at the
RI ~ 10t oil Of
militia which will be used in the deep
ordered to them. Those remaining
will be utilized in manning the signal
stations along the coast and the YES
sells of the close shore auxiliary fleet.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt an
nounced that the government had pur-
chased the steam yacht Aileen for the
auxiliary navy. 1t was said at the
navy department that no additional in
formation had been received of the
movements of the Spanish fleets rem
dezvoused at Cadiz and at the Cape
Verde islands. Every step taken by
these fleets is promptly reported to the
department by the agents abroad. One
officer explained to-day that it was
very necessary to receive with the
greatest caution reports of the move
ments of the Spanish ships, as Spain
naturally will try in every way to mis-
lead the United States.
Washington. April 26.-War and war
measures were the only topics dis
cusscd in the senate during more than
four hours Of its session. The body
had scarcely convened when the mes
sage Of the president urging congress
to declare the existence of war be-
tween the United States and Spain
was laid before it. Without comment
the message was referred to the for
eign relations committee. Mr.. Allen
of Nebraska introduced the following
joint resolution, which he asked to
have referred to the committee on for
cign relations: ''That a state of war
now exists, and has. since the 18th
day of February, 1898, existed be-
tween the United States of America
and the kingdom of SPAIN" Consid-
Grafton of the naval bill was then re-
sulned, the pending question being