The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-25
The Provost Msrshars Buresu.-A Spicy
Debate.

The following Is q part Of the proceedings Of the
House upon the army bill yesterday afternoon:
Mr.. Conkling Of New York. moved to strike out
this entire section, (secton 2O) Its provisions, be
said, proposed to fasten upon the public q hateful
instrument Of war in n time Of peace. He was OPP
posed to the perpetuation Of office which In the
past had proven so prolific Of evil results. He had
heard 1t stated in support Of the introduction Of
this section into the bill, that 1t embodied tho
views of the Lieutenant General commanding To
ascertain what foundation there for this state
ment, q Senator had addressed note to General
Grant on the subject which he would ask to be
DO read, with the Generals reply.
The Clerk read letter Of inquiry from Senator
Nesmith, Of Oregon, and also the following reply
from General Grant;
wAsHrSGroS D. c., March 10, 1886
Hon. j. W. Eesmhh United States Senator;
DEAR SIR Yours Of the 18th, stating that it had
been intimated that had recommended the con-
tinuance Of the Provost Marshal Generals depart
ment and the transfer Of the recruiting service to
IL, Is received.
showing the great number Of desertions from the
army, and asking for suggestions to put stop 10
them. To that paper l suggested q number Of
changes in orders governing the recruiting service,
and recommended that the whole matter be put In
charge Of the Provost Marshal General, who could
devote more time and attention to II than the Ad
jutant eneral with all his other duties, could.
am opposed, however, to multiplying bureaus, and
think there Is no necessity for provost marshal
general. In fact, II We had to organize the army
anew would not have as many bureaus as We now
have. IN my opinion, the country would be just
as we'll, and much more economically served, II the
coast surveying duties added 10 the Engineers
Bureau, and the quartermasters, subsistence, and
pay departments were merged into one. would
not recommend change now, however, but would
not make any increase Of bureaus.
Very truly yours, U. s. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
Mr.. Conklng, resuming said that the Provost
Marshal's Bureau had always been,- an incubus
upon the country, and reviewed and denounced its
operations in strong terms.
Mr.. Blaine, Of Maine, vindicated the Bureau, and
said there was no more estimabe or high minded
officer in the service than Its head, Gen Fry. He
also intimated that the opposition manifested to-
ward the Bureau by the gentleman from New York
Mr.. Conklng had its rise in some issues which had
been raised between that gentleman and Gen. Fry,
in which the gentleman from New York had not
come of first best. He did not consider 1t very
chivalrous in the gentleman from New York to have
reflected so severely upon an officer whom he knew
had no opportunity to reply here.
Mr.. COnkling replied that whom he had to learn
the rules Of propriety from the gentleman from
Maine, (he did not mean to speak profanely) God
help him He declared that he was perfectly re-
sponsble, here or elsewhere for whatever he might
say and as for the statement that he had Mad any
personal issue with Gen. Fry he wanted to sly
that It was false. Mr.. COnkling repeated this
with great emphasis.
Mr.. Blaine called the gentleman to order. He
added that he did understand what the gentleman
meant by avowing his responsibility "here else
where" In the days when the seats on the other
side were filed that kind Of phrase was understood
to mean duel. [Laughter.l He was willing that
the gentleman from Now York should indulge in
his cheap swagger
After some further desultory discussion
Mr. Stevens offered the following, as substitute
for the twentieth sectonj and 1t was agreed to by
the Housei
Sec. 20. Aud be IL further enacted, That the
provost marshal's bureau shall be continued only SC
long as, in the judgment Of the Secretary Of War,
may be necessary to close up the business thereof
not exceeding, however, six months after the pas
sage Of this act.