New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-28
TIE PROPOSED REDUCTION or TIE ARMY.

| TO INFLUENCE Observation-Disclosures llIAI me
| ARMY CAN AND SHOULD BE REDUCED.
| fPRoM RGGCLAR CORREsPOSDESr OF THR TRiBUSsl
| WASHINGTON. Feb. ia great deal Of interest
| is manifested in Army circles over the bill boz
fore the House Military Committee providing
for the reduction Of The army and of tho num-
Der of its officers. The late reports by telegraph
as to the dangero Of an Indian war tend to increase
the interest. and these reports are made use
of to oppose the passage of the Committees bH
The bill is very vigorously opposed by all who are
friendly to the Army and many Of them allege that
| a general war is inevitable. The sentiment Of the
House at the same time 20 be in favor Of tho
passage of the bill. Tho opinions of some of the
leading men in Congress on this bill are appended:
Senator sherman believes it unwise TO reduce the
army. II seems to be fully occupied all the the tme
but as economy desired, he thinks that recruiting
| might be discontinued for awhile. The Army APP
| preparation bill seems 10 him 10 he Substantially
right He thinks the Indian troubles are very
| threatening and that il wOnld not only be unsafe
but hazardous TO withdraw any troops from the
frontier. He thinks many Of the great evils in the
Indian service would be avered if the Bureau could
be transferred 20 the War Department.
Gen. Garfield could not say that al indian war
was improbable. He dscredited the reports from
the Indian country in many particulars, and ihought
they were exaggerated Many OF these reports were.
10 use his own expression " drummed up with the
! object OF preventing the contemplated decrease in
| the army. He had received letters, some of them
! from peace policy men, rs well rs from opposite
sources alleging that the writers had knowledge,
some time ago. tina. movement was to DO made
whereby indian affairs might become complicated to
such an extent rs would enable those opposed TO
| any reduction Of the army to secure basis upon
which TO start reports to the effect that an indian
! war was imminent and that tho army was IN de-
| maud. Gen Garfield believes that the army can
| safely he reduced. The staff can he consolidated
without detrment to the service. The Inspector
! Generals aud Comnissary- Generals Departments
! can be united. He saw no good reason why one
| department should furnish both classes of supplies.
| Yhe consolidation Of these Departments would DO
! great saving to the Government
| Mr. Dawes on being asked what he thought OF
the prospects of an Indian war; said 1t was his
opinion that it would resu; in a war on the Army
Appropriation bit that would be about the only
damage done He thought the army couId be ro-
duced and that il was safe 10 do so at this time
Gen. Butler had no idea that tie reports from tho
Iudian country Yortendcd war. His op.D.on was
that these trouble, were begun and kept mp solely in
the interest Of those who desired to defeat the pres
ent Army Appropriation bill. He had no faith
whatever in these exaggerated reports from the In
dian country.
Senator Cameron ridiculed the idea Of an Indian
war and said that whenever the people ont among
the Indians wanted money, trouble was made among
the Indians. and reports ike the present ones
startled the country and appropriations asked
for in anticipation Of the necessity Of lighting tina
Indians The army, he thought. ought to he 49,
duced The country can well allow II at this time
He was in favor OF this but was not quite certain
whether the House bill providing for 1t would 20
through both Houses.
| Senator Morrill, Of Vermont did net believe that
the reports from the Indian country were eXagger-
! ated He denied the assertion that they were sent
| over the country to influence the Army Appropra-
ton bill. He had no doubt that murders had been
| committed and be thought the Indian question had
| assumed such shape that it would be wrong TO
| make auy reduction in the army &C the present
| time. We need all the army We have, aud il would
| be impolitic to reduce its numbers.
Senator Morrill, of Maine said that the Indians
were on. of supplies they were in a destitute and
| starving condition. Our appropriations are in
adequate TO keep them, and there was not tho least
chance Of securing any deficiency appropriations
for them Not being provided for on their rescrya-
| tons, they left them in order to hunt game.
| and that meant to get shot them
selves by United States troops 10 is
the old story of violating pledges Of faith
made with them. He had been a close observer Of
Indian affairs for the past eight years. and just such
troubles as the present had occurred from time to
time the Indians always getting the worst Of il. 10
did not believe that any combination Of Indian
tribes could he formed, and there not the least
danger Of an Indian war as the result of the present
difficulties. What ought to be done with the
Indians Is to remove them TO the Indian Territory
south Of Kansas territory larger than the whole
of New-Engand. Keep them there, aud civilization
and citizenship would result from it, and the army
could be cut down. At present there was work for
the entire army although it might be to engage in
the infamous business of fighting the Indians.
Place these Indians in the aboye-named territory,
and no army would be required except TO protect
our Notifications.
Judge Lawrence Of Ohio is strongly in favor OK
reducing the army and the number Of army officers.
and will favor the bill of the Military COMMITTEE OF
will support any other to accomplish this object As
for the Indian war; he said that, Of course it does
not exist except in the minds Of the army officers.
the Indian contractors, and those interested in
Indian supplies If the army is reduced all these
persons are likely to suffer in pecuniary The
Judee saws that an Indian war Is always ineyi-
table, when there is talk of reducing the army bus
the wars are of the kind in which nobody is
/ killed. He thinks the present excitement had its
| rise in New-lork, and that it was q regularly
planned movement on the part of the Indian rob
beers. There Is no reason why we should pay seven
or eight millions year tor the care OF bali million
Indians Ii is hardly necessary, no thinks, TO keep
army 10 watch the Indians and 70 support board
ng-hOuses and taiors and all the arts OF CIVILIZATION
beside III they arc tO be treated IN peacein man.
| ner, withdraw the army bat 1t are TO keep an
armed force 10 menace them wlth let the peace sup
plies be cut OF. There is 10 use IN using the peace
| policy and the war policy nc the same time Tho
Indians ought e. be producers instead of consumerS
least they ought 10 be- self tlu. thGT