The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-27
FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS-.
~ 2 E1lt WASHINGTON, June 26.
ast.-a 49, SENATE.

Military Affairs, reported house VII w
eouslize the bounties Of soldiers in the
late war for the Union. The bill is
amended by striking out from the list OF
<benefieiaries u all sailors and marines,
slaves and Indians, and also by emitting
the requirement that bounties received
under the State law shall be deducted
from the total OF eight and one-third dol.
lars for each month OF service PROVIDED
by the bill. -.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Maine, called up the
message of the President IN regard 10
continuing the unexpended balances and
sppropr,stions into the next fiscal year,
and moved that it be referred to the
committee on Appropriations, which was
50 ordered.
Mr.. Spencer, from the Committee on
District of Columbia, to which was re-
committed the bill providing for the as
sessment and collection OF taxes Tor the
support of the government OF the DIS
trict of Columbia, reported Dill con,
tipuins in force during the next fiscal
wear the tax bill passed at the last session,
with an addition providing that the taxes
shall be- raid in December and June IN
s.esd of October and December, AMI pro-
viding that cemeteries, free public LIBRA
ries and charitable institutions shall be
exempt from taxation as well us the other
institutions mentioned in the old law.
He asked for the immediate considera-
ton of the bill, and it was discussed at
some length.
The Chair laid before the Senate the
unfinished business, it being the bill 10
restore the ranking privilege, but 1t was
lad aside and the bill making approprl-
atoms tor the support of the army Tor the
fiscal year was taken up.
Mr.. Allison explained the provisions
of the bill, and said that the committee
had not felt authorized 10 examine into
the subject OF reorganization ofthe army,
and therefore reported IN favor OF strik-
ing out the first section OF the bill as 1t
came from the House, which proposed to
reorganiZe the army. The com.
mittee added S3,27S,090 to the amount
of the bill as it came from the House, or
$l,237, 468 less that the appropriation for
the present fiscal year. The House pro
posed TO reduce the army in numbers as
we'll as in the compensation of officers
The committee had nothing to do with
that question and therefore had added the
appropriations to carry out the existing
law, besides the proposition to reduce the
army in this bill differed from the indie
pendent bill for that purpose recently
passed by the House.
The question being ON the amendment
reported by the committee to strike out
the first eight sections reorgsnlZlng the
army, Mr.. Logan, chairman OF the Com
nttee on Military Affairs, said his COM
lnttee had considered the House bill to
reduce the army; but they had determin
ed that ut this time of the session 1t would
be inexpedient to bring the bill before
the Senate, and therefore determined
to postpone it until the next SEES
sion. The Committee on Military Affairs
would examine the question OF reduc.
ton of the salaries of officers; also the
number Of men in the army at the same
time, but it could not be SO on this ques
non.
After discussion the Chair laid before
the Senate the special order, being the
House bill for the issue OF coin, and the
substitute for that bill reported by the
Senate Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Sherman said he did not desire tC
have that bill displace an appropriation
bill; he therefore moved the special order
maintain its place from day to day, will
the understanding that it shall not dis
place any appropriation bill. 30 ordered
The consideration OF the army appro'
priatlon bill was then resumed.
The amendment proposed by the com
mittee to strike out eight sections reor
gsnizing the army, reducing the pay
&c, was agreed to. Yeas "a; nays IL
Mr.. Maxey voted with the Republicans
II the affirmative.
The House bill provided that II" none!
appropriated BY the act shall be paid fol
recruiting the army beyond the number
OFF,, 600 enlisted men. The COmmitte,
on Appropriations reported an amend
raent to make the number o
enlisted men $4,000, including lr
dian scouts and hospital stew
ards, and paoviding that nothing
in the act shall be construed to prevent
enlstments for the signal service, which
shall hereafter be maintained rs now or
ganized, and with the force Of enlisted
men now provided for by law. Th'
amendment was agreed to.
The House bill also contained clsus'
providing that hereafter the number o
enlisted men in the signal service shall
not exceed $50. The Senate Commute,
on appropriations reported an amend
men TO strike out this clause, sni 1t wa
agreed TO.
The other amendments reported b,
the committee were agreed to, Us follows
increasing the appropriation for the pay
of the army from S9,l64,9SS to S9,96s,
574, providing that from and after thu
first day OF January next there shall b'
no more than forty paymasters In tho
army, the reduction to be made by drop
ping from the rolls the junior comman
ders till the maximum of iorty-slx Ii
reached.
The other amendments reported by
the committee were agreed to
follows: Increasing the appropriation
for the pay of contract surgeon:
from $l07, 100 to 2l5573; increasing III,
appropriation tor the subsistence depart
ment from 81, 9Os,6S6 to S2200,000; in
creasing the appropriation for the
,quartermsster's department from $500
co. to $4,000 600 and that for the pur
chase of horses for the cavalry and ar
tllery from Sl04,7s4 TO S250,0OO; in
creasing the appropriation for the trans
portation of the army from S2,Sl7 ,SO4
to $3,900000 and for the hire o
officers, quarters from SS17 500 to $500,
600. The committee also reported :
proyiso allowing 100000 OF the amount
appropriated tor the hire of officer,
quarters 10 be used for the constructor
OF military posts or departments Mt sue
places rs may be selected by the sec
retsryi of war; and, all the existing
military posts, the maintenance OF
which may be rendered unnecessary by
the erection of new posts, shall be
abandoned as soon as practicable
Agreed to. ...