Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-05-11
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
TuEsDAL MAY 10, 1870.


memorial Of tho Grand Army Of the Republic
asking that authority may be given % eend
soldiers pensions through the Post Ofiice DC
partment by means Of money orders. TIC
ferTod 70 Committee on Pensions. n,
Mr.. Williams, from tho Committee on Fl
nance, reported bill to refund certain duties
paid on Russian hemp.
Mr.. Williams stated that the majority Of the
committee favored this bill. The circum-
stances were that 80 duty per ton had been
charged upon Russia hemp, whereas s25 per
ton was charged upon Manila hemp. This
was believed to be In violation Of treaty stlpu-
lations, and this bill was accordingly to refund
the excess.
Mr.. Sherman did not concur In the view
that any Of the duties which had already been
collected ought 10 be refunded, but he thought
that In future not moro than f25 per ton
should DO collected, and he now reported
from the Committee on Finance bill to that
effect. .|...|f.
Mr.. Patterson introduced bill to incorporate
the Loan and Trust Company OF tho United
States. Referred TO Committee on the District
of Columbia.
Mr.. Wilson called up the bill 10 reduce the
number Of officers In tho army, and for other
purposes, a substitute for the entire bill hay-
Ing been reported by the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.
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.
Mr.. Wilson said the House bin did not TO
duce the number of men, but only the officers
The present number of enlisted men was about
1900, and this substitute proposed reduc-
ton OF 10000, which would DO saving OF six
or seven millions.
Mr.. Pomeroy said this would not save TO the
Treasury dollar, as BY the bill the army was
moi to DO reduced until more than a year from
this time, and Congress would be In session
again before that time. The Secretary Of War
was here constantly telling Senators that the
army ought not to be reduced.
Mr.. Wilson said said within the next year
the terms Of enlistment of some 1900 or
10000 men would expire, and II was discre-
tlonary with the President TO reduce the army
II the needs Of the country would permit II;
and II we did not have an Indian war he did
not think there was any doubt about the re-
duction being practicable, so as TO bring the
army down, rank and file, TO IS, 900 men. The
cost Of each man averaged about t650, and II
10000 were dispensed with the saving would
be "a, SOC, 900.
Mr.. Pomeroy did not approve of this fca-
ture OF the bill. II the army was TO be re-
duced II should be done instanter
Mr.. Ross opposed any reduction In tho army,
ut least until there was some different line Of
Indian policy adopted. As II was now, force
was the only means by which the Indians
were kept down. Now, when the Western
Representatives applied TO the Executive for
that there were no troops available. Itwould
not do TO peril the interests Of the country In
the West to tho amount of millions for the
purpose Of saving few hundred thousands
here,
Mr.. Wilson said that at the close Of the re-
bellion we had 1,034, 900 men In arms. In
1900 We reduced tho army TO 81, 900 or g, 900
men, but with a prOyiso that II could be In
creased 10 $1,000 II had been steadily de-
creased since, and 1t was thought that 1t could
still be decreased.
II was agreed, after some discussion, To pass
over this section; and as the blil was read SOC
ton by section, that Mr.. Wilson, the chair
man, Of the Committee on Military Ahalrs
would explain the provisions.
The second, third and fourth sections were
read. They provide for the honorable dis
charge Of officers who may apply before DC
according TO the time they have been In the
service; 10 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, Discretionary
with the President, but not 10 exceed 800.
Mr.. Wilson said, by the consolidation OF
infantry regiments, there were now about $50
superflnous officers, including Is colOnels, IL
lieutenant colonies aud 81 majors. Out Of
these $50 II 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 O vacancy occurs and no longer.
Mr.. Warner construed this as a reflection
upon the present occupants OF those positions,
as indicating that there was no real necessity
for such officers, .. HH-'
Mr.. Wilson said there was nd reflection In.
tended upon those distinguished officers, but
we must begin somewhere; and II one Of them
should die, there would be great pressure "a
I'LL the vacancy.
Sections six and seven provide that whcn
Nha NJ lar Ia Ia Nf
three and brgadler generals to six, no nddi'
tiOnal appointments shall be made.
Mr.. Wilson said the House bill proposed q
muster out Of the service two major gcnerali
and two brigadler generals. By the death Of
General Thomas, the number Of major gen
erals was reduced to four; and Il would be al
extremely diffleult matter 10 select one among
officers who had done so well to be mustered
out. The number of brigadlcr generals nov
was eight. ...
Section ten, abollshlng the grades Of rcgi
mental cOmmissary sergeant and regimenta
hospital steward, Mr.. Wilson said had thu
sanction of Gen. Grant.
The fifteenth section fixes the pay Of TIT
officers of the army as follows; General
Sl2, cooper annum; lieutenant general, tl0 900
major general, "a 5ooi brigadler general
5000; major, s2,5co; captain, mounted
$4,000; not mounted, q 800 adjutant, o., 800
and so on.
Mr.. Wilson said there had been a great CT,
about reducing the allowances Of the arm!
officers and 70 give them stated salary
present system which was the result Of lOnl
experience, was the best. The committee hai
made some changes I'm the salaries rs provides
in the House bill; but an accurate compute
ton showed that by this new system ther
would be an increase Of nearly 100000.
Mr.. Stewart said II this was the case II wouli
be economy to strike out this section,
Mr.. Wilson, In answer to an Inquiry Of Mr.
Trumbul, said that this section proposed b
dispense with all allowances, communication
&c, to the officers, and that their only com
pensation should be their stated pay.
Section sixteen provides that the pay AM
allowances OF enlisted men shall continue a
now fixed by law, and makes II unlawful 70
any officer TO use an enlisted man as a serypn
In any case whatever.
Mr.. Wilson said II had been q common prac
tlce for officers 10 use enlisted men as servants
Itnover ought to have been allowed, and shout
now be prohibited.
Section twenty-one prohibits any officer o
the active list from holding any civil Office
Mr.. Wilson stated that the House bill ais
prohibited officers on tho retired list froI
holding civil office, but the committee did nc
think Il proper TO include them.
Mr. Trumbull asked why not, and indicate
that he favored the House proposition.
Mr. Wilson thought II would be rather har
To prohibit retired officers, who may baYe loI
a leg In his countrys service from taking an
little Office TO which his neighbors might d.
sire to elect him.
The twenty-sixth section provides that II
students at West Point shall not be require
to pursue their studies on Sunday, nor tai
part In drills or paTades on that day.
The bill having been read through was d
ClaTed open to amendment
Mr. Ross moved to amend the second 90
ton by extending tho time In which Office
may apply TO be discharged from the seryit
from October l, 1870 TO October l, 1871.
Mr.. Wilson though until October, 1870 wi
long enough. To give these officers an homo
able discharge with pay and allowances q
cOrdlng to the time for which they hay
served, was such generosity as no nation hd
ever extended before.
Mr.. Nyo repudiated this whole theory.
was great injustice to the hOnored soldie
who had saved this country, now that they a
disabled, to kick them out Of the service. Thu
are 10 have one or two years pay, says u
senator from Massachusetts,. Why that VI