The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-12
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WASHINGTON. July II, 1sf

Mr. boutwell,, (rep) OF Mass, from the Judiciary
Committee. reported bill to fix the times for hold
ing terms in the United states District Court in Vir
gina. Passed.
1t provides that the terms at Richmond and Nor
folk shall be held hereafter at stanton the second
Tuesday in April and October and at Wltheville the
fourth Tuesday Ill April and October
JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF CLAIMS.
Mr.. WILSON, rep.) of Iowa, from the same COM
mittee, reported Joint resolution 10 extend the
provisions of the act OF July a. 1864 restricting the
jurisdiction OF the Court OF Claims to the loyal
citizens OF the state of Arkansas. Passed.
THE PROPOSED BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSOURI RIVER
AT FORT LEAvENwORTH.
On motion OF Mr.. CLARKE, rep.) OF Kansas, the
Senate bill authorizing the construction OF bridge
across the Missouri river at Fort LeavenwOrth was
taken from the Speakers table for action.
Mr.. LOAN, (rep) OF Mo-. offered an amendment
authorizing the construction OF bridge across the
Missouri river at St. Joseph by the st. Joseph and
Denver City Railroad Company.
The amendment was agreed to and the bill passed
AN AMERICAN REGISTER TO A HAWAIIAN BRIG.
Mr.. AXTELL, (dem.) OF CAL, from the Committee
on Commerce, reported bill authorizing the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury to grant an American register
to the Hawaiian brig Victoria, owned in san Fran
cisco, CAL, which was passed.
THE SINKING FUND.
Mr.. PHELPS presented resolution 10 carry into
effect the fifth section of the act Of February rs,
1862, relative to the sinking fund, which was on his
motion, laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
THE PROPOSED REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.
The House proceeded to the unfinished business of
yesterday being the bill to reduce and fix the mill
tary peace establishment the question being on Mr..
Palne's amendment to the fifth section, modified by
him so that there shall after the 3st OF March, 1869,
be only six brigadier generals, TO be designated by
the President within ten days preceding that date
without regard to seniority The best six brgadier
generals are TO remain in commission.
Mr.. GARFIELD, (rep) OF Ohio, opposed the amend
ment on the ground that the selection of six brga-
der generals az 'the bestn would place stain
the name and honor of every man mustered out.
Mr.. BUTLER (rep) OF Mass, said that the question
was whether the army was or was not to he reduced
The bill provided that the number of generals should
not be reduced except by death or resignation or
there should be reduction OF the army, and
he wanted to begin by reduction OF the generals.
Every one OF them cost about twenty thousand dol
lars year with his reinue. IL was said That this
bill to reduce the army but If IL were passed in
its present form IL would be passed in his judgment
as an electioneering dodge and nothing else. The
est in the matter. If they were not, then the bill
should be passed as reported:
from the attack made on IL by Mr. GARFIELD and hoped
II would be sustained rs coming nearer tie meeting
the views OF the members on both sides and secur
ing the objects OF the Colmlttee on Military Affairs
J. without disposing OF the amendment to the NTH
considered its action OF last night in adopting the
amendment or Mr.. Butler to the fourth section re-
specing major generals and Mr. PAINE moved as a
substitute for Mr. Buffers amendment the follow
ing =
After the Bis, day Of March 1859 there shall be only three
major generals and the President shall within ten days
cedng said date designate without regard to seniority the
best three major generals to remain in commissions and the
States said date, within ten days thereafter.
The substitute was agreed to and then the fourth
section was struck out and Mr.. Paines amendment
substituted for it-yeas 70, nays 44-the democrats
voting generally In the affirmative.
similar amendment was agreed 10 as substitute
for the fth section providing for six brgader gene
rails.
The sixth section refers vacancies in the Office of
Adjutant General, Quartermaster General Commits
sary General OF Subsistence, Chief OF Ordnance,
Chief OF Engineers Paymaster General, Surgeon
General and the Bureau OF Military Justice directing
that they shall be filed ny the appointment or as
signment Of an officer who shall have the rank pay
and emoluments of colonel OF cavalry.
(rep OF ILL.,, declared that mere pretext TO reduce
the army was not the way to deal with the people
This bill did not reduce the army, although It pre-
tended TO do so; IL did not reduce IL either In num-
Der or dollars. He was In favor OF reducing the
army by reducing generals colonies and other
officers in the same ratio as the men,
Mr.. GARFIELD said there were now In the army
2,s5s commissioned officers. The bill proposed to
which was precisely the same thing AS ceaslng to
pay nearly 400 officers. He could not understand
the reason for saving that that was no reduction.
that hat number 70 $4,000. i was proposed 70
reduce the forty.hve regiments OF infantry
to thirty the ten regiments OF cavalry 10
seven and the five regiments OF artillery to four In
the face of these facts he could understand how
il could be charged that the Committee on Military
Affairs had brought in bill which pretended to re-
duce but did not reduce the army and It's expendi-
Mr. PILE (repl OF Mo-, remarked that the secre-
tary OF War had told him this morning that at the
vice for incompeioncy, drunkenness and immortality
onefourth OF all Of them would be got rid OF in twelve
months.
House proce sded TO vote on an amendment offered
by Mr. BTrLER, Of Macs reducing the present ncum-
bents OF the oices described In 1t to the rank and
paw OF colonel Of cavalry. The amendment was
agreed to-yeas IS nays 20.
Mr.. BUTLER moved an additional amendment,
modified by Mr.. Paine to reduce by one grade all the
Ctaff officers, which was agreed TO.
Mr. GARFIELD reported from the committee an
amendment reducing the stan in the Quariermasers
ordnance Department as follows:-One quartermas-
ter general. with the rank Of colonel; six deputy
quartermaster generals. with the RANK OF lieutenant
colonel: eight Quartermasiers, with the rank OF ma
ior: twelve assistant quartermasters with the rank
OF captain, thirty comssaries OF subsistence, with
the rank OF captain; twelve assistant paymaster
generals one psymaster and forty surgeons; forty
assistant surgeons. with the rank OF captain.
seyenty.nve In the Ordnance Department, two
colonies, three lieutenant colonies, seven majors,
eighteen captains fourteen first lieutenants and
eight second ieu,enants. The relieved officers to be
The amendment was agreed to, Mr.. BUTLER giving
notice that he would move to cut down all the on
GERS one half. He subsequently made that motion
az follows-That the whole number Of offcers, serv
ing IN the above named stan department shall be
reduced half; the oflicers retained TO be desg
mated by the General OF the Army and those not Sc
ectef TO be retained shall be mustered out on the
10th of March next. In arguing in support OF his
army that did the lighting In the war and he under.
took to prove from the Army Register that there
was not single regiment Of regular infantry VI ,hs
James. The last year Of the war they had al got
soft places somewhere.
question was taken on Mr. Buffers amendment and
Il was agreed to-yeas SO. nays 64--Rs substitute
for the amendment reported by Mr.: Garfield reduc.
ns the stan In the Quartermaster's and ordnance
departments. &C.
Er. GAaFiELD, on behalf Of the Committee on
Military Affairs reported an additional section pro-
viding that the Bureau OF Military Justice shall con-
sst OF Judge advocate general, with the rank Of
colonel one assistant Judge advocate general, with
the rank OF lieutenant colonel; eight assistant Judge
advocate generals, with the rank OF major which
was agreed 70. -
temporarily, which was agreed to.
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE BILL.
The Electoral College bill and amendments wefe
The snsnamsnss reported were read - follows:-.