Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
FRIDAY. January &

RlDAI, January D.
SRNATB.-Mr. Foster presented a petition
from the I'd Connecticut light artillery, serving
on White river, Arkansas, praying that the
army ration may be restored to what 1t for
merly was. Referred to the Military Com
mittee.
Mr.. Pomeroy presented petition from Off.
GERS OF the I'd Pennsylvania artillery, at Der.
muda Hundred, praying for an increase of
Mr.. Clark presented a similar petition from
officers of New Hampshire volunteers; and
Mr.. Wilson presented nine others Of like char
acter from officers-all Of which were referred
to the Military Committee.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee on Fl.
nance. reported back petitions for the increase
OF pay Of officers Of the army, asking to be dis
charged from their further consideration and
that they be referred to the Military Committee.
Agreed to.
He also reported on the bill to remit the du-
ties on goous imported by the Sisters of st.
Joserhs, at Emmitsburg, Md. for the uniform
of their order, asking to be discharged from its
further consideration, which was agreed to.
Mr. 1rumbull called up the Senate bill to
regulate proceedings in criminal cases and for
other purposes. It authorizes the court to ap.
point the foreman OF grand jury; regulates
challenges in treason and other cases. authori-
zes the court to order convicted person SEN
fenced to be imprisoned over one year to be
confined in any State prison within the Dis
trict or State where such court is held, the ex.
penses to be paid by the United States; and al.
Courts OF the United States to be tried and de.
termined without jury when the parties so
desire. The act is to take effect from the LIST OF
June 1861 The bill was slightly amended and
passed.
Mr.. Sherman introduced bill levying inter.
nal duties on tobacco. He said the bill had
been prepared by the Commissioner Of Internal
Revenue. 1t was referred and ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. Wilson called up the joint resolution
from the House to drop from the rolls of the
army unemployed Generals. The report of the
M ilitary Committee on the subject was read,
taking ground in effect that, as the President
had already authority to dismiss incompetent
or useless officers, the resolution was unneces-
sary.
MIR. Wilson moved the indefinite postpone
Mr.. Trumbun did not think it proper to leave
the whole power of action on this subject in
the hands of the President, supposing it really
to rest there. and ne thought the Executive
would be slow to exercise it, He believ we'd it
had always been customary in the history of
the government for Congress to legislate for
the disposition of any officers. 1t was done in
the war of the revolution and in the war of
1872 II the precedent proposed by the COM
mttee were adopted, and the Pc wer left in the
Presid ents hands, Congress would have to
surrender up it's authority to reduce the army
and discharge officers at the close OF the pres
ent war. He won d like to inquire Of the chair
man of the committee whether there had not
always been legislation to get rid Of superuu-
merary officers that would not be necessary in
time Of peace. An act of Congress was passed
to muster out such officers and troops in 1915
or 1917.
Mr. Grimes said that the case then was diff.
ferent from the present. During the last war
several regiments OF the line were established,
regular infantry. At the expiration Of the war
1t became necessary to reduce the army. That
required legislation, but the volunteer officers
went out Of commission with the expiration Of
the war.
Mr. Trumbuil could see no difference be.
tween regulars and volunteers in such mat
ter as this. II il was necessary after the war
Of 1912 to legisate on this subject, 1t was equal.
ly so now.
. Mr.. Grimes still held that there was NO par.
allel between the two cases.
HousK-The House passed the Senate bill
repeating 80 much of the act establishing the
Smithsonian Institution as requires two Of the