The New York herald., 1869-02-27
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 1s6o
The House met at eleven O'Clock, when the
journal Of yesterday was read. The report Of the
Conference committee on the Diplomatic and Con
sular Appropriation bill yesterday rejected by
vote OF ss to 93 not As to 1o2 erroneousy stated
in yesterdays report
PETITIONS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Mr.. MILLER, (rep.) Of Pa, presented three petit
tons for a constitutional amendment recognizing
Almighty God as the source OF all authority in civil
government, &c.
APPROPRIATIONS FOE CIVIL EXPENSES.
Mr.. SPALprNG. (rep.) OF Ohio, from the Committee
on Appropriations, reported the bill making appro-
prations for sundry civil expenses OF the govern
ment, which was referred to the Committee OF the
Whole and made special order for tomorrow.
The @ Committee M on Military Afairs submistea tns'
through Its chairman mr. Garfeld), report on
the organization and pay Of the army, accompanied
by the evidence given before 1t by the Secretary OF
War and Generals Thomas, Hancock Mcdowell and
Terry, the chiefs OF the several star departments
Communications for reforms. the staff departments
II considers are too numerous and possess much
rank and power. the chiefs OF these departments
now hold themselves to be Independent OF the Gem
-erai commanding the army and receive orders from
armies Of their own separate rom the army proner
For example the Quartermaster General has under
his sole control ten thousand civilian employees
and over four thousand detailed enlisted men, q
larger force than the entire army before the war.
rne report recommends that the star department
shall be under the orders and supervision OF the
General as much as the Iae. The committee say
that there Is too much rank In the stan. For IN
sance IN the line or every ten second lieutenants
neers TO the same number OF lieutenants there are
forty-two neld officers. consolidation OF several
their expenses can be reduced without impaIr1n1
their efficiency. The report recommends the crea-
uon OF supply department out OF the quarternas-
ter's, subsistence and pay departments. Two OF
lnese departments now purchase and distribute
consolidation Is recommended by number
~cf prominent officers. The consolidation OF
me @ ordnance OF artillery and OF the eng-
ghe committee also think that the engineers could
% the work performed by the Coast Survey now a
hireau OF the treasury Department. The engineers
klve for years past made surveys the lakes OF tie
SINE character as those made the sea BY the
Goast survey. The report recommends the substitu-
Eon OF annual salaries for the Communications and al
lG yances that make up the pay OF army officers.
Rie present system OF pay gives officers the stan
a- stationed IN cities nearly one-half moro than those
serving IN the ied. The report condemns the abuse
OF prevets, which have been SO unfortunately be-
slowed as to have no value or meaning except as
showing the persistency OF those who possess them
in obtaining promotion for themselves through their
Political friends In Washington. They occasion con-
fusion and loss OF proper ideas Of relative rank.
1cutenanfe.cOmmand captains, captains majors ard
yculonels and colonel not unfrequently, has two
three brevet generals under him. The abolition
oi all breyets already conferred Is recommended,
wSn legislation giving the President power to con-
er brevets on such oicers have particularly dis
tin9uisned themselves in the field. The report is
rosmpaned ls,d by statements showing the present
repgh distribution and condition or the army the
p ISIS occupied aud the FORCE each; and other in
10 rmation
rhe Bonse then went into Committee OF the Whole
MI Price Ia the chair, and resumed consideration OF
IL. THE DEFICIENCY APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
nj. HULLfNs. trepl or Tenn, moved an approprla-
non oi $4,000 Tor q custom house and post ONCE
bulltvng at Nashville Tenn, and argued In support
Mr.. wrspoM. rep, or Mimi, moved an appropr,a-
tfon of $25o00 for custom house and most once nj
st. Paul. Minn. Adopted.
MIR. Ax1ELI, tdem.l Of Cal, moved an appropriation
OF $4,000 for the branch mint at san Franc,sco
Cal, ana argued IN support OF u on the ground that
an estimate or f250,0O0 had been made for IL and
fnat In the other items, the appropriation now
asked for was only one-baf the amount estimated
cisco Mint as compared win the Philadelphia Mint
After some remarks IN opposition by Mr.. ScoFiELp
yep.), Of Pa who had charge OF the bill a member
tG the Committee on Appropriations. the amendment
Vr. GuISrRp, rep, or n. y, moved an appropra.
t,ol Of s25oo for the Custom House OF ogdensburg
M ~ ADOPTED.
nr. BURR liem.) OF Ill, moved TO reduce the item
for The regular supplies or the Qnartermasters De-
partme 1t IRON t25o0 900 to s5ooooo and argued In
Mr. SEQ WELD replied 10 the objections OF Mr. Burr
and expla ued the cause OF the deficiency arising
partly from the continuance OF the Indian war
longer than lad bern calculated on.
Mr.. CHAELEe tdeln.) OF n. T., expressed his con-
the Indian war was mere fiction carried on solely
IN newspapers aud tele yraphic dispatches. There
was no such thing. There were not troops enough
OF tho borders OF the Indian Territory to constitute
q Dtigader generals command. The war was nc
ton, and IN respect 20 its actions almost farce.
Thc Hing OF the indian chief Black Kettle was q
mere piece OF treachcry Black Kettle being then at
peace with the government aud being shot down In
lis lodge In The midst " ns children and his wives.
Indian war, ike al preceding 0ncs, YVES Kot up by