Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-02-17

der the pretext of economy, Con-
gress has commenced again its
fierce hue and cry against that suffer
ing, because ever the congressional
scapegoat, the army. Reduction
of the army-Muster out of useless
oficers-and kindred so called
abuses, are vehemendy discussed,
and sought to be decided by the sell
fish clamors of loud mouthed dema-
gogues. No plea of justice or ne
cessity is advocated by them, that
can stand for an instant, as such,
before the light of investigation and
facts. The people are not altogether
blinded by this fierce onslaught, this
ruse de quere, to conceal their parti
zan plots and plunderings by leg
islation, ostensibly to eeonomlze in
a point, where the economy is a
mere sham, and effective, and at
the same time legalize measures,
which are to say the least, misappro-
priations, and therefore extrava-
gance.
After the recent consolidation of
the Regiments, 622 officers were
without assignments, in a short time
81 of this number were assigned TO
the various arms of the service, as
vacances occurred, this reduced the
number to 535. Now commenced
that rapid reduction, consequent
upon designations, Court Martial
dismissals and death, which by the
end of October numbered 25, still
further reducing the number await
ing orders to $40. This number has
been gradually disappearing to the
present date, until only 100 are un-
assigned.
Congress has legislated officers of
the army, to positions as professors
of tactics, in civil colleges, and no
word of disfavor is launched against
these pet local interests.
About 100 officers are on duty
reconstructing the South, under the
august shadow of Congressional au-
thority, and these can but be well
employed, as no word of censure is
heard as to that branch of army
duty, from our economizing law
makers.
Also 60 or more officers are attend
ing to the troublesome duties Of the
Indian Burean, and it will be well
done when the entire supervision of
Indian affairs is transferred to the
army, and its present swindling
cliques consigned to oblivion. Con-
gress proposes TO increase the retired |
list of the army, to the number of
250, it now consists Of III officers,
an addition of 73 to that
number at once.
Now, under these conditions only
81 unemployed officers will be left |
to deal with. Our economizers pro-
pose to give them from one year to
two years pay, and turn them adrift.
Marvel of justice. Miracle of econo-
my. These 81 officers would under
the usual casualties of the service
have been assigned to permanent |
and necessary duty long before any
such amounts had been paid them
for their services. While men whose |
lives have been given to military |
and who under the supposed |
shelter of the national honor, have
accepted her service as q profession,
are threatened with dismissal, by
Congress who no longer requires !
their services for protection; men
whose record is bright, and unsul-
lied. We see the confirmation to new
in the army, of men
dishonorably dismissed, brought
about by what measures, we must
|
leave our readers to surmise. Such
at Il period Of reduction
and economy, are not only unjust
but disgraceful
This cry of enormous expenditures
for and inutility of the army is so
patent humbug, to be used in the
name of economy, that we look
around for the evidences of an hon.
est effort in that direction. No
sooner does that honest effort put in
an appearance under the leadership
of Representative Dawes, then ex-
travagance is seen personified in the
loudest army reformer; he is the de-
fender Of gigantic estimates, the
patron of useless capital, police and
other unnecessary items, covering
to which the expenses for
a few weeks of eighty seven unas.
signed officers would be only a sim
gle drop, to the volume Of occaa.
Every year, tens of thousands of
dollars are appropriated by Con-
gress, ostensibly, to assist the poor
of Washington. Thirty thousand
dollars has just been voted by the
Senate for that purpose. 1t is time
that the national money should
cease to be used for ministerinor IN |,