New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-15
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
REORGANIZATION OF STAFF DEPARTMENTS IN
THE ARMY

REORGANIZATION OF STAFF DEPARTMENTS IN
THE ARMY.
WASHINGTON June IA 1874
The Military Committee had the floor in the Sen
ate for several hours yesterday, and consumed most
of the time IN the passage of private bills. An i'm
portant bill fixing the status of the staff depart
ments in the army was agreed to, though Senator
West later in the day made motion to reconsider
its passage. The bill provides that the Inspector
Generals Department shall hereafter consist of tve
officers-one colonel, two observation-disclosures, and
two majors-the Secretary of War being allowed to
detail in addition four officers of the hne 10
act as assistant Inspectors general The bureau OF
Military Justice is to consist of Judge Advocate
General and four Judges-Advocate. In the subslst-
ence Department there are to be three Assistant
Commissaries- General of Subsistence ot the TANK
of Lieutenant-Colonel instead of two, and twelve
Commissaries of Subsistence with the rank OF Cap
tain. instead of sixteen. The Medical Department
is to be organized as follows: One SUPERINTENDENT
with the rank of Brgadier-General, one Assistant
Surgeon-General and Chief Medical Purveyor with
the rank of Colonel; Assistant Medical Purveyors
with the rank of Lieutenant-C Colonel; 81 surgeons
with the rank of Major $50 Assistant Surgeons with
the rank of Lieutenants of Cavalry for the frst
years of service and with that of Captains OF Cava
nv after years of service; and four Medical
is limited to 49, The Ordnance Department is to be
reorganized AZ follows: Chief of Ordnance, with
the rank of Brgadier-General colonies. heuten-
ant-coonels. 10 majors 20 captains, 10 hrsteuteh-
ants No officer is to be mustered OUT OF the
to bring the staff departments down 70 tnese
standards. but vacancies are to be hlled untH
the number shall be reduced as provided for IN tins
act. - .r,ou s1S%
The following General Appropriation bills have
become laws: The Army, the Navy, the Fortihca-
ton, the Military Academy and the Consular ana
Diplomatic. The Legislative, Executive and JUDI
cial BILL the Indian BILL the Deficiency bill, and the
Pension BILL lare either in conference or are pending
on amendments They could all be disposed
of in a day or two. The Miscellaneous Appro-
priation bill will probably reach the Senate
from the House on Monday The Pension
bill is pending on one small amendment
having passed both Houses. The River and harpor
bill has been reported to the Senate with amend
ments. The Post-Ofice Appropriation bill has yet
to be acted on by the Senate. The Committee on
TRANSFORMATION to the Seaboard will not recommend
the passage of the ST. Philip Canal BILL but propose,
instead that the President be authorized to appoint
a Board of Engineers-two from the army, two from
the Coast Survey and three from civil lfe-to make
a Thorough survey and examination OF both the
canal and jetty plans of improvement and
report to Congress. Fifty thousand collars
are tn he appropriated for that purpose. Owing to
the approach OF the end or the session tne sIann9
committees of Congress viii be no further called
upou for reports. The Committees on APPROPRIATIONS
and of WAYS and Means can report for reference put
suspension OF the rules is necessary ior actp 60 on
their bills. The Committee on Printing and En-
rolled Bills privileged to report at any time' as
are also Committees OF Conference.
FACTS As TO THE TRAFFIC IN ITALIAN
CHILDREN.
Senator Conkling will call up in day OF two the
House bill to forbid the traffic in Italian Children
Can't. Moreno who has been most instrumental IN
calling the attention of Congress TO this matter, has
published in The Sunday Gazette of to-day some cor
respOndence between himself and Representative
Negley of Pennsylvania. In his letter Moreno calls
attention to the fact that thousands of Italians
have been induced to leave their homes by the false
concentrations that large grants of land will be
piyen them in mider climate than their own, with
the chance of finding gold mines OF of realizing fab
ulons fortunes within few years.
"On their arrival" he says they are under the con-
troll OF their deceivers, and thrown by them into the
streets as organ grinders some with httiedancn9'
girl OF monkey others TO black boots Others 10 sweep
The streets others to pick up or dirty papers and
the lnirm and the old men aud women are put as Deg
cars at the corners OF streets and churches Others
also are sent around houses and offices with false
certificate in hand OF losses by fire or water or papal or
Government prosecutions in their native country
others are compelled to play the part OF the bhnd etc.
etc etc. and every evening they have to give an ac-
count their earnings through the day to their e-
ployers."
THE INDEBTEDNESS OF PACIFIC RAILROAD
COMPANIES TO THE GOVERNMENT
The hill uroviding for the collection of moneys
duo the United States from the Pacific Railroad
Comnauies. as passed by the Senate, Is as follows:
That the Secretary Of the Treasury be and hereby Is
directed TO require payment OF the railroad companies
their and assigns or the successors or assigns
~ nv or either OF SAID companies OF all sums of money
due or 10 become due the United States, for the per
ceptum of the net earnings provided for by the act ell
titled An act to aid 10 the construction OF railroad
and telegraph line from the Missouri River
10 the Pacific Ocean. and to secure to the
covernment the use Of the same, for postal military,
and other purposes" approved July l. 1862 or by any
other act or acts relation TO the companies therein
named or any other such company or companies; aud
in case either OF such railroad companies shall neglect
or refuse TO pay the came within sixty days after
demand therefor made upon the Treasurer OF such rail-
road company the Secretary OF the Treasury shal GER
,fv that fact to the AttorneyGenera who shall there
upon institute the necessary suits and proceedings to
collect and otherwise Obtain redress in respect OF the
same IN the proper Circuit Courts Of the United States
and prosecute the with all convenient dispatch to
a final termination.
THE OPPOSITION TO CIVIL SERVICE nErORM.
Mr. Butler Of Mass. awaited himself of the per-
mission given to him yesterday under suspension of
the rules, TO oTer to-day amendment to the Sun
dry Civil Appropriation bill, repeating in terms, the
law under which the Civil Service Commission was
organized. To that Mr. Kasson of Iowa offered sup
Elementary proposition requiring heads of depart
ments to prescribe and publish rules for ascertanng
the qualifications of applicants for Office and TO give
appointments only persons having qualifications of
honesty, efficiency. and fidelity and not reward
for mere party zeal and making an honorable mill
tary record additional quafcation-the offices to
La TOO