The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-05
CONSOLIDATION in THE ARMY.
Proposed Creation Of a New Department OF
Disbursement and Supplies.
the QuARTeRMAS1ERs' QUARRELS.
The Wool Manufacturing Interest
and Their Demands.

The Military Committee OF the House are extern
sively circulating among army officers circular OF
inquiry respecting the feasibility and prOprety OF
consolidating the staff corps OF me army, sucn as
the Pay and Oommissary with the Quartermaster's
Department, the Ordnance with the Artillery ana
the Inspectors with the AdJutant Generals Depart
ment; also whether the direction aud control OF the
star should not be in the General Of the Army in
stead Of the Secretary of War; whether star officers
are not too independent OF the command
ers Of the geographical military Depart
ments in which they are serving; whether
II better to connne officers to certain branches OF
the stan or to allow and require freedom OF trans
Ter and detan between various branches OF the
army, and whether commanding officers should
not be allowed TO select their adjutants from any
part Of the army, as they do their aides, instead
Of keeping up separate star department to supply
commanders with their chiefs Of star by q rigid
system OF regular detall.
WhIle the committee is collecting Information re.
spectng the star az large General Socum men,
Der Of the committee, is drafting bill, under It's
Instructions to merge the corps OF quartermasters,
cOmmisssries and paymasters into Department
Of Disbursements and Supplies The details
Of the bill are not yet perfected, SO
Tar as concerns the number and grade OF the officers
but there is little doubt that, for the purpose Of
Ofcers concerned In the bill to carry it through the
senate, the number Of officers as at nrst provided
will be fixed more with view TO reducing the
number Of 0ficers IN danger Of being mustered out
than to the actual needs OF the service. This
measure OF compromise is again to be counteracted
In the interests OF ultimate economy by provision
Id the bill that after the first appointments are
made no vacancies shall be filed till each grade Is
reduced to minimum number. The grade Of
military storekeeper Will unquestionably be apol.
lshed II any star legislation at all gets through.
The storekeepers, who came originally into
the service with expectations suited to
the humble duties assigned them, have lobbied
themselves into full blown captains in rank and
qnartermasters in function, and they will now have
70 stand the penalty Of forcing themselves from
their native Obscurity.
The quarrel between the 'ins'' and 'outs" Of the
Quartermaster's Department Is In fair way to be
compromised by the passage OF an act confirming
the otncers promoted in 1866 In the then con-
ierred on them and granting 10 the overslaughed
Oe1cers all The rank Of which they were then and
subsequently deprived. Senator Logan has under
taken the charge ri the bill and this actiop
part Is regarded a conclusive admission OF the
impossibity Of settling the matter In any other
way than by such compromise. The chief argu-
ment raised against this compromise Is that some OF
promoted BY Andy Johnson will be benefited beyond
their deserts; but If the Supply bill become law 1T
Is suggested that they can be ousted under the
musterlngo out clause. by the Consolidation bill,
TOO, another batch OF superannuate TED officials will
be carried into the retired list.
DaIness and Deficiency in the House.
After the call OF the States and Territories for
bills and resolutions In the House to-day the usual
confusion and activity OF members displayed In
endeav0rlng to suspend the rules and pass various
bills and resolutions, and Mr.. GARFIELD was obliged
to call for the yeas and nays upon motion to go
into Committee OF the Whole on the Deficiency bill
before lie could accomplish 1t. Mr.. Wood, OF New
York, took the opportunity to pay his respects to
General Howard, as he always does when the occa.
sion offers. Mr.. Cox was funny again over the ap-
preparation for keeping the horses Of the Marine
Corps, which was the occasion OF some little dis
Cussion over the worth and efficiency Of this
branch OF the naval service, which brought to light
NO truth nor disturbed the appropriation asked
for Altogether the proceedings were undressing
and dull.
The Wool Manufncf u-ing Interest.
Mr.. Edward Harris, woollen manufacturer, OF
WOonsOcket. r. l., appeared before the Committee
Of Ways and Means this morning, In behalf or
twenty-eght wOoen manufacturing corporations
and Individual firms OF Rhode Island, Massachu.
sets, New York anu California and presented
memorial setting forth their Views in relation the
tariff duties on woods and woollens. The memorial
is signed by the largest wooen manufacturers
In the Uniten States, including twenty -egnt
signatures representing 2ee sets OF cards
and an annual production of $500, 600
worth Of goods. 1t represents that the nufactu-
rers are seriously embarrassed by the high duties
and especially by the SPECIFIC duties wool by
the duties on other articles used in the manufacture
and by the unjust specific duties on manufactured
products. 1t prays for q removal of all duties
upon wool and reduction OF duties upon all
manufactured woolen goods TO thrty per cent
ad valorem. The statement OF Mr.. Harris
first quotes the report OF the Executive Committee
OF Inc National Association OF Woolen Manufactu-
rers In May, 1895, which states the woollen manu-
facturers would prefer total abolition OF the
specific duties, provided they can nave their raw
material free and actual net protect ON or twenty
I'VE per cent. IL then sets forth facts from
duties on wool ranging from 81 to lis per
cent, and for compensation has duty
on cloth OF only 90 to 30 per cent, while the
maker OF carpets and blankets pays only rs to
81 per cent on his raw material, and has to aid
him duty on carpets OF 10 per cent aud on
blankets OF 100 per cent. 1t then shows the eject
OF shrnkage, increasing the inequality OF duties so
that the cloth manufacturer pays SIG 81 duty 10
get thirty three pounds Of wool left after securing.
or 80 cents to tile pound, while the carpet
maker pays 81 so to get eighty.hve pounds
left, after securing, or 80 cents 10 the
pound. Ii then argues that the fine woods
necessary to give to cloth such substance and
finish that IL Will be accepted In foreign cloth are
not grown in this country, and If 1t could
be used would largely increase the con-
sumption OF American wool Facts are next pre-
sented showing the nuctuatng eject OF specific
nuties On wool and on cloth. which is such that If
inc price OF wool abroad changes from 10 to 80
cents the duty on wool shrnks from 70 to AZ per
cent while tho duty on the cloth made from that
WOOL only shrnks from l05 TO so per cent.
elaborate comparisons are given to prove
.na' the manufacturer Is now worse of than