The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-04-29
FORMAL DECLARATION
Passed Congress With.
out Dissenting Vote.
THE PRESIDENT REQUESTED IT

The Measure Went Through Without a
Dissenting Vote Naval Appropria-
Bill Passed-Secretary Sherman Re-
stgns-Judge Day Appointed.
Washington, April 27.-A formal
declaration that war exists between the
United States and Spain passed both
branches of congress today. The dec
laration was made in accordance with
the recommendation of the president,
engrafted in message sent to congress
this morning. The measure was first
adopted by the house, and later agreed
to by the senate.
The senate passed the naval appro-
priation bill, carrying large amounts
of money for the improvement of our
sea-fighting arm of the federal service.
The Hull army reorganization bill was
passed by the senate, and now goes to
conferences; Secretary Sherman re-
signed, as chief of tie state depart
ment, to be succeeded by Assistant Sec
retary Day, and the latter by John B.
Moore, of New York, an acknowledged
authority on international law, and the
war department called on the several
states for their quota to the volunteer
army of the United States.
These make up the important events
of the day.
1t was not announced when Secre-
tary Sherman's resignation would take
effect, the secretary abandoned his
original idea of leaving at once, and it
is thought he will remain until Judge
Day qualities as his successor The
selection of Judge Moore, who y now
professor of law at Columbia university,
New York, to succeed the latter, was
warmly welcomed by all of the state
department employees.
A prize commissioner was appointed
this afternoon in the person of Com
mander John A. Wynne, retired naval
officer. He will be stationed at Key
West, where he now resides, and it will
be his duty in conjunction with two
other members, to be selected as part
of the commission. to make appraise-
ments of the value of prizes and to
assist the prize courts in their work.
A few kilograms came from Key
West, announcing the arrival there OF
the prizes whose capture has been re-
ported through the press. Nothing
could be obtained as to the intentions
of Commodore Schley in SO hastily
rushing away the flyers Colum bia and
Minneapolis from Hampton Roads, but
it is believed that their purpose is to
shelter the Paris or some of the liners
from attack of some Spanish cruisers.
There was talk of establishing a supply
depot in the Philippines to meet the
conditions in Asiatic waters. Our fleet
there now has no home, and under
neutrality laws, the stay of the ships
at any port is limited to a few hours.
This is unpleasant, besides involving
the expenditure of great deal of coal,
so that it may become necessary for
Commodore Dewey to seize a port in
the Philippines and fortify it as base
of supplies.
The department today purchased two
tugs, the Hortense. of New Orleans,
and the Mary Willick, of Galveston.
The feature of interest at the war
department was the dispatch to the
governors of the states and territories,
of circulars, notifying them how many
men they would be expected to furnish
as volunteers, how they should be ap
portioned among the three arms of the
service, and where they should rendez-
vous as United States army. A good
many details to be arranged in order 10
carry out the project for the mobiliza-
tion of the volunteers, but these are
rapidly being disposed of.
The rendezvous for the troops to be
mustered in the service of the volun-
teer army in the Pacific states and ter
ritories has been designated by Secre.
tary Alger as follow:
California-San Francisco.
Colorado-Denver.
Idaho-Boise.
Montana-Helena.
OrapOD-Port1apd