The national Republican., 1869-02-08

chase Of this kind, then you may allow him
TO do any other act, care not what.
Mr.. Blaine. | ask the gentleman whether
he knew anything wrong In that Transaction,
and II he did 70 state u TO the Honss.
Mr.. Eldridge. now state 70 the gentle.
man that svery oct done without authority Of
M. Blanc. The wrons which tho ssn,ls-
man alleges Il That whsreas that building
was the scene Of that merciless tragedy cf
the 14th Of April, and while Congress was
not TO convene for nine months, The secre-
tary Of War stepped forward, and, using the
power Of the Government, said that the
bullding should not be devoted 10 profane
and possibly even obscene amusements. He
did that with the approval Of the vast loyal
masses In the United States, and should
regret to know that o gentleman, even on
that side Of the House, should object to that
action Of the Secretary Of War.
Mr.. Eldridge. l wish not to make any
charge against any gentlemani but repeat
that such acts ought not to be done without
authority Of law; and when the gentleman
from Maine says that II was place Of pro-
fame and obscene amusements, ask him
what he means to be understood by that.
Would the President OF the United States
have been assassinated In that building II he
had not been called there by love OF the
amusements to which the gentleman refers,
and on q day, too, which, some say, ought
not to be violated In such manner. deny
that q theatre is scene Of obscene amuse.
ments.
Mr.. Blaine. I modified 1t by the word
| ''possibly."
Mr.. shanks. The murder Of President Lin.
coin was itself an act Of war, and Ii was the
duty of the Secretary Of War to take such
steps as became q nation of war.
| Mr.. Blaine. think that this discussion
| has gone far enough. will close Il with
this remark, that think that II, at this late
day, the gentleman from Wisconsin, or any
other gentleman on that side Of the House
desired to criticisc acts which he may think
TO be outside Of the Constitution and outside
| OF the laws, he made very unfortunate sc.
lection when he attacked this act Of the
Secretary Of War; for, among the many acts
that commend the name Of Edwin NJ. Stan.
ton to the patriotic people OF the country fol
all time, that will have been among the last
that will be remembered with praise.
Mr.. Eldridge. He has done many more
that will commend him to eternal infamy.
Mr.. Robinson suggested that the building
should be turned over, In fee simple, TO the
family Of President Lincoln.
Mr.. Mullins gave his views on the subject
TO the great amusement and cdhcation o
the House.
Mr.. scoaeld made the point that the dis
cussion was out Of order, and the Chairman
so ruled.
The bill was considered ut length, bu
without disposing Of 1t the committee rose
The reductions made In the bill by the com
mlttee were as follows: Pay Of tho army
from tl5, ,000, 900 to t11, ,000, 900, commute
ton Of officers subsistence from $4,000 ,00t
to 81 SOC, 900, army transportation from eS,
800, 900 to e5,000, 900, recruiting service from
$500, 900 to el50, 900, subsistence In kind fol
troops from t5, 500, 900 TO 1850, 900, quar-
termaster's department from t5,000, 900 Il
$4,000, 900, cavalry and artillery horses from
t5,000, 900 to o., 500 900, mileage Of officer
from t200, 200 to tl00, 900, Communication o.
ofilcers' quarters from $4,000, 900 to s1 900,
900.
The ratio Of reduction was as genera
thing about one half. The appropriation
for military surveys was entirely stricken out
Mr.. Garfield, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, offered an amendment which
contemplatos the reduction Of the rank ant
file Of tho army to 10000 men, and tn,
reduction Of tho commissioned officers tC
670. The officers are to be reduced by grad
ual absorption. Il also provides for the con
solidation of the bureaus Of the War Depart
| ment.
Mr.. Buffers amendment provides for tn,
arrest and mastering out Of supernumerar.
| officers.
The House then, at p. IN, adjourned.