The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-27
Our AImy-The Army Bill.

From the Times.
We are glad to see that Congress is expending
so much labor in considering the army bill,
although we think it quite unnecessary to de-
bate at this time such questions as whether
West Point has been a nursery of treason" and
though we consider it quite unfortunate that
personal disputes such as that between Mr..
Conkling and Mr.. Blaine on Tuesday, should
have place in the discussion, we hope that no
motion to postpone action upon this bill tlll
next session will be entertained and we trust
that, though the discussion of each section will
be thorough, the bill, as whole, will be acted
upon before adjournment, in order that 1t may
become Law, and that the military establish
ment of the country may, as soon as possible,
be fixed on permanent peace basis. IL is
injurious and expensive to have the matter
unsettled. 1t has been impossible, thus far,
to complete the work OF reducing the army, or
to BRING 1t into fixed and proper shape, because
no definite opinion could be formed as to the
action Of Congress on many important points.
Not to speak OF the prime question as to the
magnitude of The permanent iorce ITSELF
there we're minor questions-as, for example,
that of negro soldiers that of the We
teran Reserve Corps, that of the Provost
Marshals Bureau, and others bearing upon
numerous other rinterests-which had necessarily
to be decided by Congress before the Executive
authorizes could proceed much further than
they had done at the close of last yearin bringing
the DOuy anu I'LL lueulDeIs W Luc SIZE
and form that the country required. These
things once fixed by legislation, it will take but
short time as matters now stand, to bring the
army and all its parts TO the terms and. condi.
tions designated by the act; and to reduce the
military expenditures if not as low as the esti-
mate made by the Secretary of War IN December
last, yet to a point very much below the heavy
aggregate OF the present time. Postponement or
delay in action by CONGRESS now viii leave
everything unsettled for at least another year,
and besides numerous other evils involved, will
entail many heavy and useless expenses upon
the country. . ...,...... 49,.
House, as developed in the debates and action
thus far, are not of a sufficiently serious char
acter, or upon points OF sufficient importance,
to make it difficult matter for the two
bodies to come to a settlement concerning
them. There would be no value in an on
hand opinion as to the merits of the Senate
bill, in detail, and the bill of Mr.. Schenck
We believe that the preferences of army Off
GERS, as well as of members OF Congress, are
diverse ming several of the provisions
and sections OF the two bills but there are III
both OF them such near resemblance IN the
really fundamental features, that no great length
OF time should be required for definite and
satisfactory conclusion. II is no great moment
whether we have eight negro infantry regiments
as provided by the Senate BILL or ten, as in the
House blll-whether the Veteran Reserve Corp:
be retained in its present shape, or Justice bC
done TO its members IN some other way-wha
shall be the proportion of volunteer" anC
Irregular" officers, etc. etc. We take it that
interesting though these questions may be tC
those Immediately involved, it is not worth
while delaying action upon the Army bill be
cause OF differences on them. ...r ...Y.l
Mr.. Schenck stated, on introducing his bill
two weeks ago, that it was framed in con
formity with the views of Lieutenant Genera
Grant, and was sanctioned blythe Secnetary o
War, IN so tar as regarded the number-of th
standing army. This Is fundamental point
and we a1e glad that, concerning il, the TIVE
bills agree very closely, and that both are 8,
moderate. The Senate, said Mr.. Schenck hxet
thu number oil infantry regiments at ffty, ant
the House Committee at tfty-hye. This is
military force with the magnitude of which tn
country Will not find fault and the burden q
which-will not be oppressive upon the people
On the other fundamental points, With whic
the general public are specially concerned
there is great resemb blance in the two bills, an
evidently not much difference of opinion in tn
two bodies. We repeat therefore, the hoI
that the consideration OF this important praet
cal measure OF our permanent peace establis
ment will not cease to engage the attention
Congress until an agreement is arrived at r
Ralding its terms and its fixed laws.