Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-05-13
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
THURSDAY, Mar 10, 1870,
QENhTE

NnO bfthhWnter rmlrunnt OF DctANhNN "
build pier At Lewecs, Del, with request
that II DO placed on tho calendar
Mr.. Harlan introduced blu exomptlng
from taxation certain property ip the District
Of Columbia.
use Of public reservations In tho District Of
Columbia 10 the Island Institute.
The army BILL was taken up, the question
being on striking out the, frst section, reduc-
Ing the army to ~ 900 men; pending which Mr..
Pomeroy moved 10 strike out q, 900 and insert
10000 which was agreed 10. +Ir
Tho question then REQUIRED on striking out
the FIRST section Us amended; which was re-
jected-ayes 81, noes 81. I.l
Mr.. Ferry moved 70 strike out the eleventh
section, which provides for the appointment
OF aboard 10 retire officers who may be reported
as unit for the proper discharge Of their
duties.
Mr.. Ferry regarded this section as threat
70 turn out OF the service those officers who
did not resign In consequence Of the induce-
ments held out 10 them. He opposed the COM
pulsory retirement Of sick OF destitute officers.
In the discussion the opinion was expressed
that discrimination ought to be made be-
tween those who ought 10 be absolutely dis
missed from the service on account Of delln-
quehciea md those who had become dlsquAli-
fed by reason Of wounds or slckpcss incurred
In the discharge Of their duty, and
Mr.. Wilson moved an amendment TO the
section, TO meet this view, 10 the effect that
only such officers shall DO reported 10 the
board who are unfit for duty by runson Of other
causes than wounds or disease incurred In the
line Of duty.
Mr.. Cor6ett suggested how would Il be II
the disease was dellrium trcmens. Laughter.
Mr.. Wilson. Then Il would not have been
incurred In the line Of his duty
Tho amendment was agreed 10.
Mr.. Howard moved that every officer who
Ia reported for retirement shall have a hear
Ing before the boardj which was agreed 10.
The question was then taken on the motion
Of Mt. Ferry TO strike out the entire section;
which was not agreed 10.
Mr.. Sherman moved an amendment no
peallng all acts or parts 81 acts preventing re-
tired army officers from accepting or holding
a civil position. He instanced the case OF
General fessenden, son Of the late Senator,
who had lost a leg In the service, and whose
fellow-cltlzens had desired TO make him mayor
Of Portland.
He had also In his memory an officer Of hIgh
rank, who had nearly lost his nfe was now
breaehng through one lung, and whom the
people OF Ohio would be delighted 10 give any
Office In their gift, and yet these officers were
prohibited from taking any civil position. He
(Mr, g. could sec no Justice In denying re-
tired officer, who had done his country ser
vice, the right to hold ONCE. Their pay IL
not sufficient, and they are condemned 10
thing comes from vague Idea that the peO-
pie Of the United States are afraid OF military
men having control Of the Government, but
he thought Ii was time that we had outliyed
that Idea.
Mr.. Trmbull said we must have general
laws, although IL may be true that there are
cases OF individuals where II would seem hard
He opposed however, any participation by
army officers In the Government.
Mr.. Wilson, In answer to q question, said
there were now about 40 retired officers, and
this bill proposed to make 300.
Mr.. Thayer never wanted 10 see the day |
come when military officers should be allowed |
to take civil Office, or 10 be sent TO the halls
Of Congress, as suggested by Mr.. Sherman.
Mr.. Wilson In answer 10 a question Of Mr.
Anthony, said that General Butterneld, who
was colonel In the army, was legally APP
pointed so far as he knew, sub-treaaurer Of |
New York, but no thought that he should not
have been appointed, and II was all wrong
Mr.. Drake, from the Committee on Naval |
Affair, reported, by unanimous consent, bill
clrdA
Messrs Tumbull and CouklIng in dIscuas-
ing tho pending amendment, argued that Il |
was at variance with statutes and In violation |
with the Constitution 80 far rs 10 being ellgi- |
bio 10 Congress. |
Mr.. COnkling moved an amendment repeal |
Ing the act Of June 81, 1870, relating 10 retired
officers and providing upon their own appll- |
except service with troops, and 70 be detailed /
as proiessors In colleges, no additional com
pensation TO be allowed during such service, |
except actual expenses and mileage provided |
by law which was agreed 10.
Speaking 10 the amendment Of Mr.. Sher- |
man, Mr.. Chandler said that Of all men In the |
world the retired army officers were the least
fitted TO do any work, and II was a mistake TO
suppose that they were capable Of performing /
the functions Of a civil office.
After further debate the amendment Of Mr.. |
Sherman wRs rejected.
Thu Vica prcsident anroIntab as the c,n,
mlttee Of conference on the pension appropri-
alton bill, Measr, Morrill,, Of Maine, Nye, and
Stockton
Mt Trumbull then moved to strike out the
words ION the active list from the 2lst sec
ton, which will make the section provide that |
no officer, either on the active or retired list
shall be allowed 10 hold q civil oiilcel
In answer TO question of Mr.. Thurman,
Mr.. Wilson stated that Gen. Slckles was now
holding his diplomatic appointment by virtue
of q years leave of absence, which had been
granted him. That leave would expire In
June, and then he would either have 10 come
home or resign In the army, He wAs not now
drawing his salary as an officer Of the army.
Mr. Sherman said that to adopt that amend
ment would be % prohibit the President from
ayailing himself o. the experience or ability
Of military officer In any civil position. Il
would have prevented Gen. Schoheld from
acting as Secretary of War; II would have
prevented Gen. Grant himself from acting as
Secretary of War Il would have kept Gen.
Slckles from going 10 Madrid.
Mr.. Sumner agreed that there was no ne
cessity to exclude retired officers from civil
service. .#..
Mr.. Trumbull stated that his amendment
restored the section TO the same shape In
which II passed the Houscr
The amendment was agreed TO by yeas "a,
nays 81.
Mr.. Buckingham moved TO strike out the
hfteenth section, which provides for . fixed
compensation for officers Of the army and
dlsPenses with all revenues Of all kinds.
Mr.. Corbeu moved To make the pay Of
chaplain 81 800 instead Of d, 400 as provided
In the bill; which was not agreed 10.
Mr.. Corbett then moved 20 make the pay
u, 600, which was agreed tO-yeas 80, nays rs
After further dlscnaslon, Mr. Thurman moved
TO reeomit the bill, which was not agreed to-
yeas IS, nays 81.
Mr.. Nye then moved to amend the fifteenth
section by providing that the pay Of General,
Lieutenant General, Major and Brlgadler Cen
erals, shall continue as now, which was agreed
Tho question then required on the motion
VI M, Buckingham TO strike out the entire
section; which was agreed to--yeas 81 naysl4
Mr.. Buckingham moved TO amend the Both
sectlon by repeating all laws prohibiting new
appointments and promotions In certain staff
corps and departments; which was agreed 10.
MT. Warner moved TO strike out the 5th
section, disseminating the offices Of general
and lieutenant general when q vacancy oc-
ours which was not agreed 10.
The bill having been considered In Commit
tee of the Whole waA reported 70 the Senate
when Mr.. Stewart moved 10 amend the hrut
section By providing that the army shall not
be reduced below 8h 900; which was mot agreed
10,
Mr.. Stewart then moved 10 strike out the
entire seetioni which was rejected-yeas 10
nays -.
The bin was then passed; and the Senate
At o p. m, adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House proceeded at once TO the eOnsId-
Grafton OF the bill reported yesterday from the
committee on The causes Of the decline Of
American commerce.
Mr., Allison, who yesterday made a point OF
order to send the bin TO tho Committee OF the
Whole on the ground that II made an appro-
prlAtlOn and Imposed taxes, withdrew that
point OF order upon Mr., Lynch who had
charge Of the blu consenting that amend
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