The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-18

which had built two OF the largest monitors had
asked no additional compensation, but another firm
there had Every one knew that these con
tracted for their material predcated upon securing
| the contract from the Government, and they OBJ
tanned at the price stated at the time the contract
was made, no matter how much the material might
20 up. The only advance to which they were liable
was an advance in the price Of labor, and twelve
per cent was ample to compensate thom for that.
Mr.. CLARK opposed the bill.
Pending discussion, on motion Of Mr.. Trumbull,
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
MORNING HOUR.
Mr.. Eliot Of Massachusetts, from the Committee
on Commerce, reported back q bill making appro-
priatons for the repair and improvement Of certain
habors, and for other purposes which was read
and referred to the Committee Of the Whole on the
state Of the Union.
Mr.. shanklin, Of Kentucky, asked 10 be excused
| from further service as member Of the Committee
for the District Of Oolumbia, inasmuch rs he felt
| that he could no longer serve on that committee
with profit to the country or satisfaction to him
| self. He was accordingly excused.
The remainder Of the morning hour was devoted
to the consideration Of bills Of private character
| reported from the Committee on Invalid Pensions.
| REGULAR ARMY.
The morning hour having expired, the House re-
sumed the consideration Of the bill to reorganize
and establish the army If the United States, the
pending question being upon the fourth section,
which reads rs follows:
| Sec. 4. And BE- IL further enacted, That the in
fantry regiments herein provided for shall consist
Of the first ten regiments Of infantry, Of ten com.
panies each, now in tho service; Of twenty-seven
| regiments 70 be formed by adding two COM
panies to each Of the twenty seven battaons com
prisDg the remaining nine regiments Of ten regi-
ments to be raised and Differed hereinafter pro-
vided for, to be called the Veteran Reserve Corps,
and Of eight regiments Of colored men to be raised
and Differed as hereinafter provided, to be known
| as United States oolored troops
Mr.. Schenck, Of Ohio, addressed the House In
support Of tho section. directing his remarks more
| especially TO meet the objections which had been
urged against the retention Of the Veteran Reserve
corps in the regular service lie explained that the
idea which prevailed to some extent that the bill
provided for the transfer Of the present Veteran Re-
bodily into the regular service mistake.
The bill simply allowed tho admission into ten out
of the ffty.hve regiments Of infantry of such men
as had been wounded in the line Of duty, provided
they were not so completely disabled as to render
them unfit for light duty. All appointments Of Off.
GERS In the corps according to the bill, were to be
made only after strict examination, having refer.
ence to capacity, good conduct and efficient service
In every case Unless some such provision were
made, the mere fact Of having received q wound In
the service Of the country would be sufficient to
cause the rejection Of any applicant for admission
into the ranks Of the regular army even though
such wound might not in any way incapaoitate the
applicant for service. Mr.. Schenck made strong
appeal to the House in behalf of the claims Of the
wounded veterans to n place In the standing army.
Mr.. Conkling, Of New York. was Of opinion that
the Veteran Reserve Corps ought not to DO perpet,
uated as part Of the permanent standing army oil
the country. He supposed that It was no secret In
the House that oil Of our most eminent Generals
Grant, Sherman, Meade, Sheridan, Thomas, and a
host Of others-had been consulted on this very
subject, and that this convocation Of men, justly
famous in military annals, had presented q state
ment In writing Of their views, in which they ex
pressed their dsapproyal Of this project Of estab
fishing q permanent Invalid or Veteran Reserve
Corps He then sent 10 the Clerks desk, to be
read, an extract from the opinion of those Gener
ais In which they recommended emitting altogether
the Veteran Reserve Corps from the organization Of
the Army. Accordingly, In the bill which the Sen
ate had passed for the reorganization Of the Army
this provision for the Veteran Reserve Corps had
been left cut. But the Military Committee had
disposed Of the Senate BILL and in spite Of the rec
concentrations Of these eminent military men, had
reported the present bill in its stead II was not
necessary to organize special force like this fol
J garrison and light duty.
In the regular army there were always more thar
enough men to garrison all the forts and to do al
the light duty that was to be done. And, indeed
it was one Of the chief indictments to good con
! duct and discipline In the army, and which had
tendency to preserve and heighten Its morale, tina
all portions Of the army had their turns in the per
Torrance Of light duty which thus served o rest
To those who worn down With the fatigues anS
hardships Of more arduous service. The veteran
reserve corps had been created to serve, and hR'
served a Temporary purpose merely; and he coul,
not admit what had been stated by the chairman 0
tho Committed on Military Affairs that AT the tim
of the formation of The sorps INV iptimation ha,
been given 10 its members that It's ORGANIZATION wa
i To be permnnent. And, whatever might be alIeQe,
tn ths contrary the nraotioa efect of ibe bi wo1l
he 10 perpetuate be present veteran reserve corps
a Mr. Blaine of Maine renlied to the remnrks a
s Mr. ConkIing vindicatin0 the action Of tbe com
0 mittee, He said that the gentleman certainl
could not have read the bill II no thought that
Transferred the present veteran reserve either h
/ name or In faot. To the regular peaoe establish
ment So far from doing This. the bill gave 10 tn
oieers Of the veteran reserve corps no single nd
vantage over any other wounded oiBcer in apy par
: of Inc country.
Mr. Paine, Of Wisconsin, said that while in gen
eraI be had grant resnect for thu oninions of IN
0 gentleman from New York. IMr. ConkIine h
Scanned 10 be onnosed IN this bii i toto nd mere
made obeotion 10 tbis yeeran reserve eorns claus
= without saving how he would have the bill amendo
Q az ,hnt he wo1ld s,nnort n His NM pa l infe,
a sn.s vas tbot tha sr,Ieman ,vas n,a;ndiosd agains
/ tho hill and would not sunnort II in anv svent
a M ronLinS r.riis5 tbat tha ,antIawon vas /,
srror ~ he wonid "hsa,snv xots ror Tho b,II n
/. ware amended a. as 10 meet h;S yisws
NJ RoaorS Of NJ Jarsoa al That vb,,o h
!. .ptsrtainsS tbo areatsst syTnatby for the brov
o soISisrS IN No. ~ ,onrdiJ H. ,hs;r onrntrv,
e'iu,'t7 "nN nau uooh "ouhueu III '"'i S'u"t,J