New-York tribune., 1869-02-27
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


The House met at IL o'clock, when the jour
nal Of yesterday was read The report OF the Conference
Committee on the Diplomatic and Consular Appropria-
tOn b yesterday rejected by vote OF ss 10 49, not
IS to lc as erroneousy stated In Yesterdays report
Mr. sPALDING CRep., Ohio, from the Committee on
Appropriations reported the bill making appropriations
or sundry civil expenses Of the Government. .
On motion Of Mr.. SHERMAN tRep Omol the COMMIT
tee Oh Finance discharged from further consideration
Of the bill TO encourage building OF steamships III 'ho
Mr.. HENDRICKS Dem, Ind), from the Committee on
Public Lands reported, with amendments, the h grant
ing lands TO the State OF Wisconsin TO aid In the con
struCtOn OF ship Canal from Green Bay to Lake hchi
Mr.. STEWART Tep, New, from the Committee on
thOnzng certain land grants to Railroad Compaios in
Minnesota TO connect their lines with the Northern Pa
THE REDUCTION OF TIE ARMY.
The Committee Military Affairs submitted through
and pay Of the army, accom- aed by the evidence given
before it by the Secretary Of War and Gems. Thomas
staff Departments, and others. Tie Committee make
number Of recommendations for reforms The Stan De-
too much rank and power. The chiefs OF these Depart
meDts now hold themselves TO be independent OF the
General commanding the army and receive orders from
the Secretary OF War. They virtually command armies
OF their own separate from the army proper For eT'
control over 10000 civilian employees, and over 1000 de-
h % Tie ren6 e st Ss e sa
Departments shall be under the orders and supervision
of the General as much as the line. The Committee say
that there too much rank In he staff For instance IN
the line for every ten Second Leutenants there but
three field officers While In the Engineers 10 the same
number Of Leutenants there l2 field officers.
sOldatOn OF several OF the staff Departments Is
mended by which their expenses eau be reduced without
impairing their efficiency. The report recommends the
creation of supply Department out OF the Quartermas
ters Subsistence aud Pay Departments Two OF these
Departments purchase and distribute supplies ana
all three disburse money. This consolidation Ia recon-
datiOn OF the Ordnance and Artillery. and of the Eng
nee Teer and Signal Corp, sno ao r6SG o
the work performed by the Coast Survey now bureau
OF the Treasury Department Inc ehgiheers nave TOT
acer those made on the by the Coast Survey fe
report recommends the substitution OF annual salaries
for the communications and allowances that make up the
pay OF army officers The present system Of pay gives
officers on the STAFF or stationed In cities nearly Oneha
demns the abuse Of brevets which have been 50 inds
crinacly bestowed as 70 have value or meaning
cept showing the perssency OF those who posses then
In obtaining promotion Tor themselves through thelr
political friends in Washington They create confusion
and los OF proper ideas of relative rank leutenants
command captains; captains majors ana c0loneIsi ahd
Aeolonel NOT unireqnenty, mas Two or tnreo pIeySt
generals under him. The abolition OF all breyets already
conferred Is recommended, with legislation giving the
President power 20 confer ereyets on such officers as
The report 10 accompanied by statements showing the
present strength, distribution, and the condition OF Tie
army the posts occupied, aud the force IN each and
other information
The House then went into Committee of the Whole, Mr.
Price IN the CHAT and resumed consideration OF the Do
Mr.. MULLINS (Rep.. TENN moved appropriation
OF 10000 for Custom House aud POstOce building at
Nashville Tenn ana argued In support OF IT, Rejected
Mr. WINDOW (Rep., Num- moved al appropriation Of
s25, 900 for Custom HObse and PostOlc6 at ST. Paul.
MINI. Adopted.
Mr. AXTkL Dem, Cali moved an appropriation Of
5000 for the Branch Mint G San Francisco, Cal.
After remarks in opposition by Mr. SCOFIELD, who
had charge OF the bill AS memler OF tho Committee
Appropriations, the amendment vas rejected
Mr. HULBUKD rep, N. " moved an appropriation
of t2,j0O for the Custom House N Ogdensburg N. Y.
Adopted.
Mr. BURR Dem, nl) moved to reduce the item for the
regular supplies OF the Quarterqasers Department from
600 10 100000 and argued In support OF the motion
\ iha oii Of
Mr.. Burr, and explained the OF tho deficiency as
arising partly from the continuance OF the Indian war
longer tlan had been calculated On.
Mr. CHANLER tDem., N. ~ said that the Indian war
was mere fiction, carried On solely IN newspapers aud
telegraphlc dispatches. There no such thing.
Mr. sCOfIELD was willing TO admit that the present
indian war; IKE all preceding ones, got up 10y bad
white men, and enormously expensive In proportion 10
what was accomplished by Il; but the deficiency was
occasioned partly by 1t, and had TO be met Tie
amendment rejected.
Mr. CHANLER moved to strike ont the appropriation
OF 100000 Tor cavalry and artillery horses lie thought
the committee on Appropriations either determined
TO draw ron the Treasury certain net amount OF
expenses or ala not Know the facts OF the case I was
acting either IN completely IN ignorance and IL was
not satisfactory To be told that the Indian war was the
was rotten TO its base.
Mr. MULLINS defended tho Committee on Appropri.
ati0ns saying that he could ait quiet aud near it
impeached eiiher Of Ignorance crime and not only
said he Is the Committee accused Of Ignorance or OF COM
pei bat the Government 10 accused 0f being rotten ~