New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-07
XXXVuIth CoNGRESS-Second Session.
SENATE. .WAsHINGTov, Jan. G. Is'

LANDS which was called for by the resolution adopted
some time tiIce.
RATIoYs AND PAY.
Mr. TosrrR presented tie petition q officers OF The
Connecticut Second Light Artillery asking for nn
increase Of the YaoBs issued 10 soldiers They state
that tie allowance Of rice. potatoes and bread TOO
small. IT,.
The petition was referred TO the Military Committee
Petitions from officers of the army asking Tor an III,
of pay were presented by Messrs fomeroy anu
Wilson.
MIR. SuI ErAN. from tie Finance Committee, reported
back the Petit Of army occrs asking for an increase
of nav. and asked that the committee be discharged
and The rettion referred 10 the Military COMMITTEE.
The request If Nr. Sherman wGS acceded TO.
SISTERS OF CHARITY.
Mr. SHERMAN. from the Committee on Finance re
ported back petition asking for a remission OF me
duty paid on macrel used in tho manufacture OF
dresses hy the Sisters Of Charity aud asked pat
the committee be discharged from the further cor
sideraion Of - same. ard II was 50 ordered
PENSION AGlSr.
Mr.. TRuNBULL offered resolution, which was passed.
ealing upon The Secretary Oi The Interior Tor ihiOiMa
tion as 10 tie number of pension AGENTS employed by
tie Government. low many IN cacL STATE uIdei "ha'
law employed, &C.. sc
PUNISHMENT OF TREASON,
Mr.. TEUMBUIL called up the bill 10 regulate proceed
ngs in criminal cases relating especially to the punish
ment Of the crime Of treason which was passed
II provides that whore the onso charged be treason
and a capital oense the defendant shah DO entitled
20 twenty ard the United Stles ~ hye peremptofl
CHALLENGES; on fet for any other ohcnse the uniied
States shan he entitled 10 Two pertmltoTy challenges
and the defendant 10 ten. Where any peTson convicted
Of an oense against the United States shall be sen
fenced TO Imprisonment for period longer than one
year II shall be lawful for the Com Thy which tue sen
euce passed order the same 10 he executed IN any
state prison or penlteniiary within me useI or o'c
whore such court is held, the use Of which prison or
pententnrv is allowed by the legislature OF such state
FOR such pa pose ard the expenses attending the exc
cution OF the sentence shall be paid by the United
States. The takes effect the LET Of June, 1908
DRorPISG UNENPIoY OFFICERS.
Mir. WILSON called UP tie bill 10 drop RON the rolls
unemployed officers Of the army.
The report of the Military Committee Oh this subject
recommending that the hil do not PISS wss read.
Mr.. WILSON moved that the bill DO indefinitely post
poned. 49,,
Mr.. TRUNBuLL was sorry that the Committee on MI
itary Affairs had CON, TO such conclusion. lie was
not prepared 10 coR'rOyer the sOundness OF tic pos
ton assumed by the Committee. TO deny that the II
ecutiye has competent authority 10 dismiss officers from
the service. But it authority which the E1ecn
tive would be very slow Ia exercise lie believed u had
always been customary in the history OF the GoveTn
ment for Congress TO leglsate for the disposition OF
army officers. 1t Gone in the war ofiLe Rcvolu'
ton and in 1872 IL the precedent proposed by the
Committee were adopted and tho power lefi in the
PRESIDENTS hand Congress would have to surrender NJ
ts authority 10 reducc the army and discharge the oil
al the close % tie present war. He would Ike 10
inquire of the Chairman Of the Military Committee
whether there had not always been legislation 10 get
rid of supernumeray officers that would not be neces
ssry in time pcect. An oct Of Congress Was passed
TO muster cut such officers in lslt OF lel7.
Mr.. GRDT- said that during the last War several
ton OF the became necessary TO reduce the army
That required legislation. but the volunteer officers
went ont Of commission on the sIpraon Of ihe wnI.
lars tGd volunteers in such time ths II II was ne
cesssry sfer the Of 1872 to egislaie Ibs cub
ject IL was equally 50 nov.
Mr.. GEfyFs snii there was no parallel between the
Cases.
Mr.. TaUgBtLI hDds,-o that the report Of ire Com
mtttee upon the ground entirely that the President
had authority relieve the country d this evil Of idle
officers receiving pay from the Government and render
ing srrvice. Would the Senator from Iowa tell the
'enso and the country Why in 1878 1916 legissi
necessary 10 get rid Of unnecessary ohsert why
was u not so
Mr.. GRpIfs stated in reply TO Nh. Trumbup, that
last with Great Britain and their officers we're 40
pointed by the President and confirmed by he s~"a'c
yas nsss,.r Close =, :" The war b., wss NOT me
now II proposed 10 step IN and interfere
with the prerogatve Of the President lie was opposed
TO this.
Mr. LANE lnd) spoke in favor Of the report VI The
committee. and hoped the Senate would oct upon lite
recommendation.
SIR WILSON said the responsibility Of dsuis-lng
officers was now with the President Of the United
States and he ought 10 exercise H. Several officers
had been mustered out Of che service during the past
year; some he thought. within the last four or five
weeks They lad either been mustered out or had re
signed, knowing they would be mustered out. The
facts in relation - every officer could be put into the
possession of the President and lie could act upon them
sud take the responsibility. He tMr. WILSON, did not
want the sopsibity shifted upon the Congress OF the
United States II the bill wns passed a. Il cino fon
the House would leave II n the power Of any com
manGipg Officer to secure the dismissal o! his subord
Mates by the reorganization o' into divisions
officers could be thrown out Of the service at
the expiration Of three months nnd@r this BIZ.
There was more intrigue In the army among officers
than the mos, excited political canvasses among poll
ticians There was no comparison between tho rival
res and ieaOu-ies OF army officers aud Of ambitious
men ia tn. civil service and lie (Wilson) thought Con
gress ought 10 10 nothing ~ increase tic means for
carrying out this rirary IA 1t would by passing the
Houie bill. When general was out OF service II was
the duty Of the executive 10 10 the can,e Of his
being unemployed II he ont service for be
ought 10 be dismissed. But H. was frequently
the case lie ont because Of tho jealousy or rivalry
q superior officer. tie President should 50 sc o. TO
do Justice ills officer and At the same time take care
OF Inc interests OF the country We ought 10 suppose
that officers will be Justly dealt with by the President
aud that the public good would be promoted by the
udicon exercise OF the authority vested ia hin Some
officers not in employment now ought 10 he dis
mis- ed, Others ought not. The mere mention VI
names would satisfy the Senate on the subject.
II this rule Of the House BIZ was adopted 1t would give
10 supprio!I the power TO crush out interiors HON they
did not like by suspending tbem from duty under some
reter knowing that s the expiration Of three months
they would b. dropped from tho rolls. This power Of
inferior officers by superiOfs vcy great
and ought to e exercised by corps and army command
ers IN tho field and only that very rarely There were
able officers MOI IN ths public service to-day or II In
the service in subordinate capacity because Of
difference VI opinion rivalry with officers who
once their Interiors but have Leen more fortunate than
they for q couple Of years He did not believe jnriice
or tho good Of III. service would BIZ promoted By tho
massage Of the law from tho H0us'.
Messrr COMES POWELL How, DAVIS and HEsp
KICKS addressed tie Senate on tie subject under COZ
siderati0s.
the passage If the House bill the ground
Nat ju,tics 10 tho In the army required 1t.
There were to- cOi1neis commanding DriBades III
the ermy. They could lot be prom9ed because there
were no vacancies and could not be while 20 many
al. were the rolls thot gh unemployed