New-York tribune., 1874-02-09
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
THE PROPOSED REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.

CIRRLNI TOPICS Al IiE CAfllAl''
TIE PROPOSED REDUCTION or 1HE ARMY
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1874
There is apparently strong disposition among the
members OF the Military Committee and among the
new members OF the House to make q more trenchant
reduction OF the army than that proposed IN the Army
Appropratlon hill. Retrenchment in tins direction s
believed to be easy and popular IL does not limit the
patronage OF members, like all plans for ehechDg
saving by stopping the erection OF costly public build
incs or reducing the number OF ofce-hoiders In the
Departments or Custom-houses So, without much re
fecton on the subject the general feeling is that the
army the place apply the economic knife The plan
most talked Of is to down the rank and he to 10000
men, and reduce the total number OF regiments OF ali
arms 70 25 mastering out OF the service all the officers
thus rendered supernumerary, The Military Commit
tee have the subject under consideration, and have
directed their chairman to prepare bill but have not
formally discussed yet the extent or method OF re-
duction. One OF the most prominent OF the army
officers when recently before the House Military Com
mtee for consultation regarding the reduction Of the
army, sad there a company OF soldiers al Platts
burg, " Y. when asked whether they were needed
there, he said promptly that they were not. Then
why them since they are 30 much needed
on the Plains" asked member Of the Commtteei The
answer OF the old officer was tnat n the soldiers were
ordered away and the property placed in tho hands OF
sergeant the people Of the place would hnd fault and
scold about it, II Is reported that another general
officer Of the highest rank recently Informed some OF
the members of Congress that in the event of
Congress reducing the army 10 basis OF $4,000 men, the
troops would be all Withdrawn from the frontier, and
that the settlers would have to take OF themselves
This species Of lobbying the part OF army officers If
verv dstastefu 20 OF the members OF the House
Appropriations Committee.
THE PROTECTION or THE fRxAs FRoNTIrR.
The Committee Indian Affairs of the House OF Rep
reseutatves has made favorable report on tho bill TO
provide the better protection Of the frontier settle
ments OF Texas. against Indian and Mexican depreda-
tions by lines OF telegraph. Tho Committee say that
the importance OF the measure be overestmaed
II will the military posts upon an exposed from
tier with each other, and with the military headquarters
OF the district and OF division. II has been urgently
recommended by the General commanding the district
and by the General Of the Army and the Secretary OF
War and repeatedly called to the attention Of Congress-
nd as a matter OF economy. the same protection can
not otherwise be secured anything like the amount Of
cost TO the Government which is estimated by compe
officers 70 no css than the amount required 10 sup
port company Of cavalry tor one year The Com,
mittee urge upon Congress the Importance OF TINS
measure. the line, If built would connect the posts
between Red River and the Rio Grande at some con
vcnicnt point, with Austin, San Antonio, and Waco.
Az EXTENSIVE INDIAN MEASURE
tnl now before the Senate Committee Indian Al
fairs. introduced by ito Chairman. Mr.. Buckingham,
provides as follows:
Be ,naci,d &C. That The Secretary OF the Interior be snd hi,
% auic In accordance win treav spaacns and for the objects
Tor which originally appropriated ih une1pnde balances Of former ap
propson for said service which reme the books Of the Indian
0se, on the 3Oh Of jane 1873.
member OF OF the houses, who has taken unusual
pans 10 look into the affairs Of the Indian Bureau
that notwithstanding tho apparent simplicity and harm
eesness OF the BILL II would nevertheless take between
two and three millions OF dollars from the Treasury;
that II would 20 far 10 draw from the Treasury the
amounts OF uneXpended balances covered In since the
passage Of the act OF 1870 or course such Dill stands
no chance OF passing, aud only illustrates tho unwilling
ness OF the Departments 70 conform TO tho necessity OF
reform and economy which nov exists
THE FXPENDITUREs OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUS
TICE.
The House Committee Expenditures In the Depart
ment Of Justice at their meeting yesterday adopted
resolution that the Investigations TO be conducted by
the Committee shall be made at meetings regularly
held and that they shall the transactions and dis
bursements OF the Department OF Justice from Its or
ganzaton The Attorney General has been requested
10 appear before the Committee Wednesday next to
furnish such information may be deemed necessary
for the purpose OF enabling the Committee properly to
discharge its duties The investigation Will cover
large range OF expenditures Involving those OF United
states marshas and others IN the execution OF the En-
expenses generally OF the Judicial system The inyes
gallon has also for It's obJset the correction OF abuses
which may be found TO exist
THE PROPOSED PENSION FOR MEXICAN WAR VETE-
RAMS.
The House Committee invalid pensions have had
subcommittee at work for several days considering the
nronrety Of peDsonng the able bodied survivors OF the
Me,ioan war There are said to be members OF this
subcommittee who served IN that themselves and
who may fairly be supposed to favor the pensioning
sebeme; but majority of the members OF the Commit
fee appear TO think that in the present condition Of the
Treasury ts absurd seriously talk OF putting thou
sands of men on the pension rolls who are still In the
nrime OF ufe on account OF few months service
rendered in Mexico for which they werecompensaed at
tbc time with bounty aud bounty land. All the disabled
soldiers OF the Mexican war are already pcnsiOned. IL
h FOR those who home sound that s. month Is
asked.
THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATION
some OF the Senators opposed 10 the Senate taking
mart IN the investigation OF the affairs OF the
ment OF the District Columbia not only account
Thought tnat the select Committee Is sufficiently
able to conduct the investigation without the concur
renee Of the Senate II has been privately urged that
there Is manifest impoprety In the Senate taking part
I'm the Investigation. because II charges OF 1agrant
wrong should actually be established. involving the
official standing OF Of the persons accused of I'M
uroper conduct. might devolye upon the Senate TO
take action other than IN legislative capacity.
THE CAsK or SENATOR SPENCER.
The Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections
will resume the consideration OF the OF Senator
spenoer to morrow There is little prospect that any
arrangement will be nade 10 save time, trouble and
e,pense In connection with this inquiry, but the
oontrarr Senator Morton lie OF the opinion that the in
bss Fiftl Pare.