The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-02-12
General Butler as an Economist.

From tie ". Y. Journal OF Commerce.
When a man of General Buffers great en-
ergy and persistence takes up retrenchment
and economy as hobby, we feel confidence
that something will come Of it. In his new
role as foe to national extravaganza and
waste, his alliance will be warmly welcomed
by all those who in vain have sounded the
warnings ofimpending bankruptcy in the ears
of the Government for some time past. About
General Butler there are some things which it
is not pleasant to remember. But the Ameri-
can people are quick at forgetting; and the
errors OF General Buffers past will speedily
be lost sight of If he will but turn his talents
and great force of character into the right
channel. To have moved a repeal of the
Tenure-of- Office law and carried it is feather
in his cap; and, if he can now succeed in
cutting down the regular army to about half
its present size and ss wing $40 100000 or
10000, 900 year by it, he will be entitled to,
and will receive, high degree of praise from
men OF all parties, army officers, contractors,
and jobbing politicians alone excepted.
The United States army cost, for the last
year the enormous sum Of $123, 246, GAS, and
for the previous year $95, ,224 AIS. The great
increase in one year is attributed to campaign
ing against the Indians, most expensive
procedure, which has been, IL may be admit
ted, temporarily successful in tanning down
the ferocity of the redskins, but which must
not be relied on as regular resort year after
year. II would be cheaper for as to buy their
goodwill with unlimited blankets, beads,
provisions, and luxuries of various kinds,
than to fight them at this rate especially
when all we have to show for the outlay of
some $50, ,OO0, 600 are a few dozen dead war
riors, lot of captured squaws and pappooses,
droves Of horses, half of which are not worth
keeping, quantities OF mouldy buffalo robes
and other traps that have to be burnt to
prevent their spreading ugly contagious
among our men.
Into this bloated, unwieldy, unnecessary
| military establishment General Butler thrusts
the knife of REFORM ninding not where it
cuts; sparing neither high nor low. We will
glance at, a. his principal proposed amendments
OF the bill ''for the support OF the army"
To begin, he slashes at the Office of General,
declaring that vacant from the 4th of March,
| 1869. Then he provides that the Office of Leu
| tenant General shall continue until vacancy
shall occur in it, and no longer. The brevet
commission humbug is despatched at one
| swift stroke. The land now swaIms with
brevet major generals and brigadiers, many
| OF whom have won those nominal honOrs by
| fawnipg and begging, while far more aeserv-
ing officers superior to the arts of flattery and
| self advancement, are obliged to remain
colonels, majors, captains, and lieutenants,
| and are thought none the less OF by the public
| 1--WE may add because OF their non-promotion.
| General Butler proposes to choke off miscel-
| laneOus brevetiDg by provision that COM
| mission by brevet shall be conferred only for
| distinguished and mertoriOus conduct and
| important service in the presence of the
enemy, and within one year after the same is
| rendered, and shall bear date from the par
| ticular action or service for which the officer
was brevetted. This is excellent. The
msor-generals are to be cut down from five to
three; the brigadiers from nine to fve and
| the officers now holding the positions of adju-
tant. general, quartermaster- general, commits
sary- general, chief of ordnance, chief of engi-
neers, ,psymaster general, surgeon'general,
from the rank and pay of brigadier to those
! of colonel; and the whole number of officers
serving in the above-named staff departments
| or corps reduced one-half.
In another section OF the bill the cash COM
mutation OF quarters, fuel, forage, servants