The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-09-15
He Prevents the Pay of Soldiers
from Being Raised
The "SOldiers' Friend" Opposes an
Increase of Pay ~

During the progress of the war many at
tempts were made by Democratic members
of the House of Representatives, to have
the pay of the private soldier increased
This was always met by snecrs from the
Abolition party, which claimed to monopo-
lie the soldier. and yet steadily refused to
do anything in his favor.
At length, in 1864, the families of soldiers
being in absolute necessity from the scanty
pay-S13 amonth-commOn decency point
ed out the prOpriety of a change. Yet it
fell to a Democrat to make the motion the
motion was killed by reference to the Mill
tary Committee, &C., rs the following rec
ord win show:
From the Congressional Globe of 1854, First Ses.
sion, ANNYIllth Congress- Part p page 1871,
April o. 1864
INCREASED FAY OF SOLDIERS.
Mr.. HOLMAN-I ask the unanimous con-
sent of the House to submit the following
resolution:
ResOlUed, That the Committee on Military
Affairs be instructed TO report to the House
bill to increase the pay of private soldiers
in the army, and that the same be made Il
special order for tO-DlOrrOio, and from then
until disposed of.
Mr.. SCHENCK--I move that the resou-
tion be referred to the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.
Mr.. HOLMAN-I have the floor but this
motion indicates the fate ofthis measure.
Mr.. Speaker, will state the object of the
the resolution. Unless some time is now
fixed for the consideration of the bill, it is
not likely that 1t win soon receive the at
tention of the House. The subject was
brought TO the attention of the House some
a. oil and ~ fa1 Ia.
sequence of the absence of the Chairman OF
the Military Committee. The House was
informed by the Chairman some weeks
since that a bill to increase the pay of the
private soldiers would be reported at All
early day after. The subject has been re-
ferred again and again 30 that Committee
yet no such bill has been reported. The
object is not only to require the Committee
to report the bill, but also to fix upon a
time when it shall be considered
In addition to the argument in favor OF
this increase OF pay, il may be urged In
favOrof early action on the subject that those
who entered the service upon small bounties
are rapidly reaching the termination ofthat
service; and rs an act of Justice to them, II
the pay of the private soldier Is to be in
creased, 1t ought to be done at the earliest
moment. Many of those 1t is true have re.
enlisted under the increased DOunties but
many others just as patriotic worn out by
war, or controlled by other consideration.
are unable to re-enlist. The subject hai
not been brought before the House prema-
turely. 1t was one of the first subjects &c
which the attention of the Committee on
Military affairs was called. And now after
four months not a step Of progress had been
made. The Military Committee still decline
TO act. If the House wishes to increase the
pay it must instruct the Committee.
hope that the House will not consent TO q
reference of the resolution. That is but q
defeat of the measure; every gentleman
understands that. If the Chairman on
Military affairs thinks that the subject
cannot be acted on tomorrow, let him
suggest another day. disclaim any in
tenti0n to Interfere with the business OF
that Committee or to censure its action
Mr. GRINNEI4L--I ask the gentleman to
f0dH until we have ascertained what revenue
we are to raise by the tax and tariff bills.
Mr.. HOLMAN-I shall wait for no such
purpose. | have objection to postponinp
action on this subject for one hour. You are
increasing the pay of every class of office
holders, you are eXpending millions fol
other purposes, aud yet the gentleman
from Iowa proposes that before we In.
crease the pay of the private soldier we
look after the subject Of revenue.
After some colloquy between GRIENELL
HOLMAN, WAsHBURSE and SCHENcK, and Z
furious reply from SomENoK who was ir.
ritated beyond measure at this exposure
from HOLMAN of his neglect or his hypoc-
risy, the motion to refer was put and car
rled-the Democrats all voting no; the Re
publlcans yes-SCHESoK promising to re-
port bill at an early day, which would