Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-05-10
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
TUESDAY, Nav 10, lS0.

/ .f--. ~ TUESDAY, May 10, $50.
SENATE.-The Vice President laid before
the Senate memorial Of the Grand Army OF
the Republic, asking that authority may be
given TO send soldiers pensions through the
| Post once Department by mears Of money Or
MT. Williams, from Committee on Finance,
reported hdil to refund certain duties paid on
Mr.. Williams stated that the majority of the
committee favored this bill. The circumstances
/ we're that SO dnty per ton had been charged
upon Russia hemp, where's only s25 per ton
was charged upon MANILA hemp. Thus was be-
lieved to be in violation OF treaty stipulations
and this bill was accordingly to refund the ex-
cess.
Mr.. sherman did not concur in the view that
any Of the duties which had already b en- COL
1ected might be refunded; but he thought that
ooeeteS and he no" reporseS from a ths Uo1 o
mittee on Finance bill to that eject. -
MI. Patterson introduced bill TO incorporate
the Loan and Trust Company Of the United
States. Referred to Committee on District Of
Columbia. 49,
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine offered a resolution in
structing the Secretary of Interior to communi-
relative TO any invasion Of the Indian territory
so-called, BY the white citizens of the United
Mr. Wilson called up the bill 10 reduce the
number OF officers in the army, and for other
purI oses, substitute Tor the entire bill having
been reported BY the Committee on Military
The first section OF the substitute authorizes
the President TO reduce the number OF enlisted
men in the army to $4,000 on or before July 1,
1871. --.0 ..
MIR. Wilson said the House bill did not reduce
the number of men, but only the officers The
present number Of enlisted men was about IS 900,
and this substitute proposed q reduction of
10000 which would be saving of six or seven
millions. .--- ....r-. :.
Mr. Pomeroy said this would not save to the
Treasury dollar, as by the bin the army was
not to be reduced until more than a year from
This time, and Congress would be in session
ses0ss time ss Of War
army ought not to be reduced
Mr. Wilson said within the next year the term
Of enlistment OF some eighteen or twenty thoa-
sand n co would expire. and it was discretionary
with the President to reduce the army IL the
needs OF the country would permit it, and if we
did not have an Indian war he did not think
ton being practicable 20 as to bring the army
down, rank and file, to %, 600 men. The cost Of
each man averaged about $3.50, and if 10000
M men were dispensed with the saving would be
Mr.. Pomeroy did not approve of this feature
of the bill. Ii the army was to be reduced it
should be done instanter.
Mr.. Ross opposed any reduction in the army,
at least until there was some different line of
Indian policy adopted. As it was now, force
was the only means by which the Indians were
kept down. Now, when the Western represen-
tatives applied to the Executive for troops to
protect the frontier, they were told that there
peril the interests of the country in the West 10
the amount of millions for the purpose of saving
few hundred thousands here.
MIR. Wilson said that at the close Of the rebel
lion We had ,0S4 900 men in arms. In 1866 we
reduced the army to d, 900 or 5000 men, but
with proviso that II could be increased TO
S0,O06. 1t had been steadily decreased since
and it was thought that it could still be de-
creased.
1t was agreed, after some discussion. TO pass
over this section, and as the bill was read sec
ton 10y section, that Mr.. Wilson, the ChairmaD
OF the Committee on Military Affairs, should
explain the provisions.
The second, third, and fourth section. were
read. They provide for the honorable discharge
Of officers who may apply before October l. with
graduated pay and allowances, according to the
time they have been in the service; TO place on
the retired list on their own application officers
who may have been thirty years in the service;
and making the number Of officers to be retired
ceed 800. .E
Mr.. Wilson said by the consolidation of I'm,
fantry regiments there were now about 40 SUI
perfuous officers, including Is cOlonels, IS
lieutenant colonels, and 81 majors. Out of
these 4s0 it was thought that at least 100 might
be placed on the retired list.
The fifth section provides that the grade OF
general and lieutenant general shall continue
until vacancy occurs and no longer.
Mr. Warner construed this as arefiection upon
the present occupants of this position, indica-
ting that there was no real necessity for such
officers.
%,
must begin somewhere, and if one Of them
should die, there would be a great pressure to
ill the vacancy.
Sections 6 and provide that when the num-
Der of major generals is reduced to three and
brigadier generals to six no additional appoint
ment shall be made. Mr.. Wilson said the House
bill proposed to muster out of the service two
major generals and two brigadier generals. By
the death Of Gen. Thomas the number of major
generals was reduced to four, and it would be
an extremely difacuit matter to select one
among officers whs had done SO well to be mus
tered out. The number OF brigadier generals
tai commissary sergeant and regimental hospit-
81 steward Mr Wilson said, had the sanction of
The 18th section fixes the pay of the officers OF
the army as follows: General, sl2 900 per an
mum; Lieutenant General, so 900; Major Cen
eIal, q 500; Brigadier General, s., 600; Colonel,
Captain, mounted, g 600; not mounted a soO.
Adjutant, 81 500; &c, &c.
Mr.. Wilson said there had been q great cry
Gers and to give them q stated salary. Now. he
(Sir. W.) was of the opinion that the present
system, which was the result Of long experience.
was the best, The con,mittee had made some
Ianees In the salaries as proy.aacSS in the House
bill. But an accurate computation showedtll
by this new system there would be an increase
Of nearly e500,0o0. ? 20 ire7, -rH----r n ~
Mr.. Stewart said IL this was the case il would
be economy to strike out this section.
Mr.. Wilson, in answer to An inquiry OF Mr.. |
Irumbull, said that this section proposed to
dispense with al allowances, Communication,
SC, to the officers, and that their only compep-
sation should be their stated pay.
Section sixteen provides that the pay and
allowances Of enlisted men shall continue as
now fixed by law, and max es It unlawful for sny
officer to use IN enlisted man as servant in
any case Whatever. H-a p. ~
Mr.. Wilson said IL had been q common prac-
ttce for officers to nse enlisted men as servants.
1t never ought to have been allowed, and should
now be prohibited. E-E CEF sFy-E 100
Section u prohibits any officer on the active
list from holding any civil oAice. -
Mr.. Wilson stated that the House bill also
prohibited ofhcGs on the refined list from holsf-
ing civil ofhce, bat the committee did not think
il proper to include them. =
Mr.. Trumbull asked Why not and indicated
that he favored the House proposition.
Mr.. Wilson thought II would be rather hard
to prohibit retired officers, who may have lest
leg in his country's service, from taking anv
iitte once to which hh nciehbors might desire
The soth section provides that the students
at West Point shall be required to pursue their
studies on Sunday, nor take part in drills or
The bin having been read through was de-
clared open to amendment 49, -
Mr.. Ross moved to amend the Cd section by
extending the time IN which officers nav apply
a. - ~