The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-09
THE fRWY BILL.
A Day Of Talk -Biunders of n Committee
Do,Iring the Question Of Reduction.

WASHINGTON, Nov. S.-Tho debate In the
House to-day demonstrated the blundcr Of the
Committee on Appropriations in lodging tho
question of reducing the army Ivy acceptng the
figures OF tho War Department. and taking
things ns they arc In tho singular and in
consrauentnl debate to-day three things were
plain: the Republicans are satisfied with the
bill: The only Representatives who nre virtually
Interested in the army as defence are the
Representatives from Texas. who are wholly
dissatisfied with nm army NIL officers and no
men, all staff and no line: straightforward
Democrats who believe in reducing the army
now propose to oppose the present bill by
amendments in every stage. The committee
might hnvo Jared very well II the Republicans
had fought the bill, II It's changes had made 1t
more efficient II II reduced the size and cost Of
tho army. As the committees bill did none OF
these things. the debate dcgencratcd into Iro-
longcd wranglc. which. H. II continues. viii
bring Mr.. Blount. who has charge OF the bill. 20
the final Vot. without MAJOR " at his bnck.
Foster and Conger opened the debate for the
Republicans. both expressing the Intention q
the Republicans to accept tho bill and make tn,
most Ot it. During Cnngers speech. Money. q
young member from Mississippi. distinguishes
himself with n clever exposure OF Congert
clnp-trap concerning the suffering OF on nrs
and their families. 10y n pointed qu 'stion which
COngcr was unable 90 meet with any sat sfnc.
tory answer. Small ~ the army which the bill
will make there is this excellent rruson for
the sat slation OF the Republican side OF the
House: Its reductions do not touch tho oincrrs.
Republicans have u good deal of speaking avn
rathy with the private soldier. hut their voting
sympathics are with the officers. After the utl
routine debate upon the hill in general. thrrc iol-
lowed dehatr 10y speakers on two dts n prop.
ositons. Srhlcchcr made an amendment
striking out the prohibition OF farther enlist
menis Blackburn wanted tho Bill sent Dh'k
To- the committee TO discover II re,
duclon could not bc mad to 10000 mon. All
A tltfsr.
nm increased force of nshtns men. ana thry
had this strong point to make. that the House
wns asked to appropriate SUI stantiallN as nut
for S25.OOO. This increased expense Is du' 10
two iuts First, the proportion u Officers 70 be
paid for under this bill ~ very large; sc 'ond
the committee urop0s. 10 ln'rce-, the mps'
expensive branch ui the service. cavalry Tor tht
relief Of the I, KAN border. At the same time
Blackburn. B,ebr. and othNrs were nble to
make the Stlll stronger po nj thni TINS frontier
was defended in 1850 10y lall tn" men for near,
| their methods on one side and their lack o
economy ON the other the committee had ne
| clear reply t1 make. All liz members could say
was that the bill WIS a akeshiit. mad" 70 san
| the present emergency. uud they begged thcii
| friends to pass IL ~ n compromise.
Talk of this sort never Yields majority.
/ more ndroit leader than Mr. Atkins m ght have
! held his men IN hand. AMI lrt his opponents
! ruin Themselves 10y talking. hut to-day tue com
| nitter did as mu'h tilkng n amy one. and 90
i themselves into all sorts of close corners. Nom
/ OF them appeared TO have mustered the suller
| before them A. in all the debates in the prs n
! House. lack OF leadership WIS painfully ap
| parent. and II Is impossible To say what IN,
! result OF the icsultorV debate OF the next wecl
| Will be-. The members from Texas and Ar
! kansas appear TO Zee determined tO vote an in
| their proposition commands the full Republican
| vote II Will have majority Ci the House.