New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-06
ment is in fact postponed until some bill on the sub
iect rs introduced.
AGGRESSIVE ACTION IN THE HOUSE.
ABOLITION OF THE MARINE CORPS PRoPosED-MR.
GOoDE WANTS TO KNOW IF THE NAvY-YARDs
HAVE uEIpR Tile RFPrRIICAN PARTY.

ABOLITION OF THE MARINE CORPS PBOPOShD-ah'
GOoDE WANTS TO KNOW IF THE NAvY-YARDs
HAVE HELPED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
WAsuINGToN Jan. 5.-The first barnacle upon the
public Treasury to be attacked by the Democrats in
the House to-day was that ornamental but almost
useless appendage to the Navy-the Marine Corps
This corps was established before the introduction
of steam machinery on board Of vessels of war ana
their protection by iron plates, and its only use AT
present is to perform guard duty that could as wen
as not be intrusted to sailors. In fact, the use OF
steam III our navy has relieved the sailors on Doard
of men-of-war from much labor they formerly
had to perform that their officers, anxious 10 retain
large COMPLIMENTS of men formerly assigned TO each
ship and to keep as many officers of the line as pos
sible employed, have, during late years. invented
new duties not known in the navy before. on
nearly all our naval vessels an additional watch has
been established, reducing the time men are re-
ouired to be on duty. but employing an additional
set of line officers Again, on many OF our ships OF
war the officers have introduced the battalion drill,
and sailors are every week exercised in the duties OF
the soldier, their wide pantaloons being confined
about the ankles, and they often present very
ludicrous appearance. Now it, instead OF being
Obliged to invent new and useless duties Tor sailors,
portion Of the crew of a ship of war were placed on
guard duty the battalion of marines might be re-
lieved without any additions to the number OF
sailors Ii necessary, the number of watches could
be reduced to what it formerly was without hard
ship to anyone. BY the abolition OF this Marine
Corps nearly $1,000,000 a year could be saved
which is now required for the pay, subsistence, &c
of the Corps beside what could he realized from the
sale of the real estate now used by it.
Another resolution directs the Committee to in
quro in relation to the cost of the eight sloops
of-war and whether any money appropriated for their
construction has been used indirectly to secure votes
for any political party. Mr.. Goode of Virginia, who
introduced the resolution, wrote it as to make the
inquiry whether money had been used in behalf OF
the Republican party but members on the other
side of the House indignantly demanded that both
parties should be included. 1t is suspected that in
this the Republicans put their foot in IT," for 1t
has been alleged that Democratic support in the
House for large naval appropriations has, on one or
two occasions, been secured by throwing the intu-
ence of certain nayy-yards i'll favor of Democratic
cand lates.
Besides these, general resolution, introduced by
Mr. Morrison, lays out some additional work in the
way OF investigating the navy for the Naval Com
mttee and Committee on Expenditures of the Navy
Department. The Republicans took the very wise
course to-day when these resolutions ordering inves
LEGATIONS were introduced of making no opposition