The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-03-05

- ~ y
II
| xILvTH CoNGREss-second Session.
-fStt::t = 2WAsHisdTsN, March3, 1871. 7
| q q !. !! 800 SENATE. = 5st
TheHo bill extending the Board Of
Claims Commission two years was passed.
The subsidy for the New Orleans and
Brazil mail steamers was stricken from the
post-ofice bill. 49, ~ u -:
i Mr.. Blaine called up the army bill. He
said the bill as It came from the House OF
Representatives contained n great deal OF
new legislation, and the Committee on Ap-
preparations thought that the consideration
OF this bill would invite discussion, which
would result in the loss OF the bill The
committee had, therefore, agreed to report
10 substitute, which was substantially the
army appropriation bill of last session,
which had been thoroughly discussed. The
estimates Of the War Department amounted
to S30, 94G,0 900. The army bill of last ses-
sion appropriated S27, 281 900, and the pend
ing bill proposed to appropriate $21, 1892, 900.
He moved that debate upon the bill be linn
ring to speak on the pending amendment,
7, Agreed to.
Mr.. Wallace, OF Pennsylvania, said Ii
wotlla be seen by the substitute that
the Senate occupied the field hereto
fore occupied by the House OF Repre-
sentatives, or, in other words, it origi-
mated an appropriation bill. as the substi-
tste was a new bill. The bill Just passed
by the House proposed many changes, some
Of which were valuable, yet the Senate COM
mittee by reporting this substitute refused
to consider them, and the representatives Of
the people by this substitute were re-
fused hearing in the Senate. The
House had thoroughly considered the
matter OF using the army in Louisi-
ana, but the Senate committee by its
report refused to allow the matter to be
considered in the Senate The proper
course for the Senate would be to examine
each provision OF the House bill and adopt
amen iments in cases where it might be
thought necessary to do so.
The substitute fixed the army at $4,000
enlisted men instead Of 1900, rs proposed
| by the House bill. ......-
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, moved to
reduce the number OF men from $4,000 to
%, 600, and said the adoption Of this amend.
ment would result in an annual saving to
the Government Of between three and' TOUR
million dollars. He believed an army OF
$4,000 men was large enough In time OF
| peace. The Indians were not so tssuble-'
some now as they had been, and no troops
were wanted in the southern states, Wherc
q good many were located
Mr.. Logan, OF Illinois, opposed the
| amendment, and said at every session 81
| Congress there was some pr0posltlon upon
an appropriation bill cutting at the army
It was not an economicalmeasure to be con-
stantly striking at the private soldiers. Why
not say sbere should be only a certain num-
Der of oHcers? The soldier in the army
was the cheapest part OF it. He did not
believe ssEr army was large enough 1t
should consist of $4,000 menu. which would
give abous $4,000 effective men, An army
OF &C, 900 would leave an effective force OF
not more than 1900 men. 1t It was de-
sirable to reSrganize the army let COM
mission be appointed to conSid5n the matter
and report to, Congress. ~.
| Mr.. Blaine said the proposition of the
| House was to reduce the army to 1900
men. Thirty-ave years ago, when the In
dians were nothing like so bad as they
ere now, the army consisted CT 1900.
The army was smaller now, considering
the area of the country and the points to be
guarded, than it ever was before. He
| thought it would be very imprudent in the
last hours OF the session to reduce the army
as proposed. Probably the army could be
4 reduced with safety, but no senator now
| had any data upon which he could say it
could be so reduced.
Mr.. Bayard, Of Delaware, said it was not
the cost OF the army to which the people
objected so much The people Of the eoun-
try feared the army had been used fofipur-
poses dangerous to their liberties, hence
they objected to it. 1t now seemed to be
generally understood that the outgoing Ad-
ministration admitted that the use CT the
army in the southern States was not success
full. He hoped the day would come when
the laws would be enforced by the military
power only as al last resort, and then by the
militia OF the State instead OF the Federal
army. Ten or twelve years ago there were
emergencies calling for large army, which,
thank heaven, no longer existed He
therefore supported the bill Of the uoase OF
Representatives. ..s...
Mr.. Blaine said he did not believe there
was a lawyer on either side Of the chamber
who would say that the President Ct the
United States-the constitutional COM
mander-in- chief OF the army-in some in
stances should command the army, in others
should not.
Mr.. Bayard argued that Congress had full
power to regulate the use-of the army.
The amendment of Mr.. Davis was re-
IlecIeu-yeaS, Zo, nays, % -ui' Saiool IL
voting with the Democrats in the afirma-
tive. .-
MIR. Herman, of New York, opposed the
substitute, and concurred in the views eX-
pressed by the senator from Delaware (AIr.
Bayardl. He argued that Congress had the
right to say that money appropriated should
not be used for certain purpose. 1t was
!, consistent for Congress to diSband the army
. entirely il it thought proper to do so.
The substitute OF the committee was
agreed to-yeas, 80; nays, ga strict party
vote The bill was then read third time
and passed.
Bills to remove the political disabilities OF
George Watson Carr, Of West Virginia; J.
S. Kennard, Of Georgia; John N. Hadcn, OF
Texas; and e. H. Holmes, Of North Caro-,
|. lima, were taken up and passed.
Mr.. Blaine reported substitute, and the
substitute was agreed to and adopted
yeas, 81; nays, %. Il goes to The confer
ence committee.
The bill making appropriations for awards
, Of the Southern Claims Commission was
passed, and goes to the President
Recess.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
A resolution that the investigation com
mittees be discharged from further consld
Grafton OF the matters committed to them
: and that persons held for contempt be dis
charged, was adopted
The members of the Louisiana Return
, ing Board have been released from custody
The Speaker has discretion about certifying
I them to the Criminal Court.
l It is in the discretion OF the Speaker tt
! certify the contumacious witnesses to TIT