New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-04
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

ONCE Committee. reported Dill proVidlng that 'no '
(which limits contracts in the PostOfce Department 70
one year shall not apply to mail locks and Keys mall
bags stamps stamped envelopes, postal cards or news
paper wrappers. He explained the motives for the o
showing that IL would be economical measure nrsI
in saving the annual advertisement for bids and seconu
in the fact that contracts can DO made on better terms
for four wears than for one year The bill was passed.
The House then took up the bill reported some dss
since from tho Banking Committee authori2ine tilo
National Bank OF Hagerstown Md TO change us oua
ton to Washington aud become the Citizens Nst'oha'
Mr.. PHELPS dIep.. N. ~, who reported the bl re-
ped 10 the made to 1t last week by Mr. mer
ram. ana satifzed Mr. Merriam for having made the
harmless bill the occasion OF grand TRADE against tns
had selected the wrong speeon out hcn Vi n, re
desk He bad, thought that the oid INTRO
tborize the removal OF the Governor Of the District
He might well have taken out his speech on the mill
tary career OF Cen Howard or on Ihe vnucat9H Ti
bank from HagerstOwn would not leave that Town OF
GOO inhabitants without banking iacltes, as II now
taxing real estate and not taxing personal properly
acted on the right principle or not was not No tbs
bill provided for an increase OF tho banks capital
would present larger field for taxation by the General
Mr. MERRIAM CRep., N. " expressed his delight
that his friend from NewJersey had had an opportunity
Of displaying his ingenuity and eOquence. but he would
not attempt 10 follow him In those fields, which would
carry him away from the merits OF the Din Ihe point
Of his objection to this bill the other day was that we
the Government had to pay on Its real estate large
proportion Of the taxes OF the District DdDk StOcR anu
other personal property was exempt.
Alter further argument by Messrs. LOWNDES rep,
Md, TODD rep, Pennl' and SHlPMAh (kep' d. O'I'
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
The House then went into Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Kellogg (Rep.. Comm in the Chair, on the Army
Appropriation bill
Mr.. BECK Dem, KY made speech criticisng the
action OF the Government in relation TO It's financial
policy and the depreciation OF currency. He charged
the deprecated Tor tho express pur
pose Of enrIchng the men who hold United states bonds
who bou ght them for greeubacks and did not then
pect be paid any other form 1t had been done for
premium on gold the already monstrous tariff imposed
On the country through which American commerce had
everything doubled 1t had been done for
ment gold gambler IN the markets OF the world ana
Whenever the Government would abandon this policy
and take its own paper for It's own debts that moment
the country would 70 the gold basis, but then
every bondhoder would camOr bad faith because he
would not get the premium on his interest ana every
protective mOnOpOst would clamor against II because
IL would diminish protection 10 the extent OF the
premium on gold. and the Government officials Wond
of the people would be destroyed But the people
OF the country were demanding It, ana they would iOrce
Mr.. HEREFORD Dem, W. Val spoke in favor of
economy in connection with the army, aiming his criI
eism particularly at che Battalion OF Engineers.
Mr.. COX Dem, n " discussed the relative cost OF
soldiers in the English and American armies the Amer
lean being 20 the English as three 70 one.
Mr.. HAWLEY QIep.. Comm asked him whether, he
would vote to reduce the pay Of the American soldier.
Mr.. COX replied that no proposed to reduce tho
Mr. HAwLEY-would you reduce their payi
MIR. COX-I did not say that do not belong to the
War establishment and do not know what the pay
ought TO be- but will not vote that soldier or baYonet
shall he used for the purpose OF carrying out cOntnu
alton OF the usurpatOn OF louisiana This he said. WAS
outrage Tie people knew it, the House knew it, and
the President himself knew IT, This Louisiana business
q good deal like the body OF death clingng to the
Republican party They had had an Illustration lately
In the death OF the Siamese TWINS. When Eng died or
when Cndug 0lel, WhlCneYeH OF tlen OIeu HrSt, tne
other followed very So Louisiana was the twin
corpse of the Republican party. II they could not
yiye il by any decent Legislation tho army should not
be used for any such purpose There was no need OF
the army for with any foreign nation. American
from that quarter. He claimed that for all the pur
poses Of army force OF 1900 men formed good
Mr. WHEELER rep. n ~ replied to Mr.. Cox's crIti-
Of the relative expense Oi the English and Amer
can armies by saying that the disparity from the
two items Of difference in pay and cost of transporta
Mr. WHEELER who has charge Of the bill, closed the
debate which he said had taken wide range including
the subjects Of the currency free trade. and proecton
proper treatment OF the Indians etc. He proposed
cOntne his remarks 10 the pending measure. The bill
had been met it's very introduction 10y an assault from
the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr Hawleyl Ill adj
vised and i'll considered That mode Of characterizng the
deliberations OF standing committee Of the House was
matter OF personal taste and personal habit AT least
gentlemen Of the Committee Oh Appropriations were
of mediocre character and OF mediocre legislative
qualifications. He knew that member of the Com
mittee Cmeaning HIMSELF had devoted month Of pa
tent, hard labor TO the preparation OF the BILL studying
every item of II more closely than he had studied
any items in his own personal expenses. and he knew
that after the bill had been thus prepared 1t sub
United to the entire Committee and that then item by
em received the careful consideration and approval
Of that Committee and yet, thus considered, II came
into the House to be stgmazed by the gentleman from
Connecticut (ir. Hawley il-cOnsidered He quoted
from Mr.. Hawleys speech on the Centennial Commls-
sion, aud said that he like the in Maine who
in favor OF the Maine Liquor law but opposed TO
It's enforcement Thatgentemsn had remarked that The
Committee Appropriations begged for mercy; was II
to receive IT, or was 1t 10 remain oreSer under that
gentieman'S martial frownl Was there no hope for
economy Was there no balm in this Gead Was
there no physician heref Oh yes they were not utterly
without hope. Here the remedy proposed by the
gentleman from Connecticut. given in that Fourth OF
July style which seems to animate all that gentemans
efforts since he had become connected with the Centen
Mai Exhibition lLaughter.I Mr. Wheeler here read an
extract from Mr. Haweys speech TO The effect that the
question OF the reduction the army should referred
to the Committee on Military Affairs; the Committee
Military Affairs of which, as Artemus Ward would say,
the gentleman from Connecticut 10 (which" This
bill apprOpristes money enough to recruit ffty-two
hundred in the next fiscal year. The theory OF the
COMMITTEES on Appropriations is that these men shall go
the frontier regiments II they will not SUI
fee, will toll you where there plenty OF missing
ramrods Go 10 the houses OF the prominent officials In
Washington and take out of them the enlisted who
acting private servants and put the uniform
on them and send them their regiments. These two
sources-the who furnish the soc recruits the
men who are engaged as private servants degrading
the character OF soldiers In OF officials and
about the departments-w supply all the force that is
needed for the regular army.
Mr.. WARD (Rep., M asked Mr. Wheeler il he knew
how many enlisted men employed in the depart
ments and in tho houses OF officials.
Mr.. WHEELER-That is a record which do not care
make up Tho sources OF information open 10 the
gentleman well any other member OF the House.
Mr. HANCOCK. (Dem Texas opposed the reduction
OF the army II it should operate to withdraw protection
from the frontier settlements OF Texas.
Mr. WHEELER remarked that during I" the late un-
pleasantness Texas had cOntrved to furnish several
of the best gments TO tho Confederate army and
fhe same time defend her citizens the Indians
Mr. COBURN Rep., Ind contended that II per
fecty practicable 10 diminish the army far Texas
is concerned.
Mr. NIBLACK Dem, Ind) expressed his conviction
that the restriction OF recruiting would not result In the
saving Of four and half millions OF dollars as sug
gested.
Mr. HAwLEY Rep.. Comm felt. from the eXtraordi-
nary thunderbOlt that had fallen hin, that he must
have made a mistake In suggesting doubt as TO the