The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-09

gress before tho beginning OF tho present fiscal year.
II any one desires TO complain or that action
II was legitimate subject OF Judicial Inquiry Ho
planned that tho estimate OF the War Department for
tho present year amounted to $50 $780, 600, while tho
bill appropriated s25 100 oOo decrease OF So 600 900
from tho appropriation Of last year. Tho bill had
been drawn up upon tho basis OF $4,000 for tho
nrs four mouths OF tho year and 20 600 for tho
remaining eight months. The General OF the Army
had been before tho committee, and he stated posi-
l,voy that there were less than 10000 men In tho
Mr. Foster, trcpl OF ONO, said that, according to
his recollection, the General Of tho Army had only
whatovor
Mr. BLousr, ldon.l Of Ca. said that so fnr from
morely stating his opinion tho General had made a
every soldier
Mr. ATKINS tconiinuinc) said that he was still In
favor Of reducing the army to $4,000 men, but no dd
not think this WAS tho proper tme to do So since tho
army had beon so long without pay aud question
OF ieducing tho force might delay the passage of the
bll WITH regard 10 the restriction placed upon last
years p nc said that II had been lott Of the pres
cnt Dill because the committee did not feel that In
WOW Of recent events, In view OF tho action
tho Presidou. IN carrying out tho
doctrine Of non-intcryeniion ana In allowing tho
States TO regulate their affairs in their way
was necessary TO place tho restricting clause In tho
present Dill lilo supposed that somo OF his friends
would find fault with the committee Tor that om,s-
sion. but be declared that II the circumstances
nave stood squarcy by the restriction matter what
thc consequences might DO.
In answer TO a question by Mr.. Hooker, OF Missis-
sippi Mr.. Singleton, OF Mss,ss,pp Ia member OF tho
Appropriation Committed said that General Shcr-
man had appeared before that ommu,cr, and had
sssscd mat a Tho timc of tho Presidential
ton therc were tho Southern Statcs four
Of 800 men each, two OF which had boon since with
drawn.
Dir. ScnLEIcnER, (dem.) OF Tcxas, inquired whether
the committee had taken the trouble to examine
whether the strength oil Tho army sufficient for
the protection Of the border.
Mr.. ATKINS replied that in his opinion the army was
suniccntly large for that purpose.
Mr. FOSTER, oil ONO "a member Of tho Appropria-
ton Comnittce), remarked IN reply to Mr.. Scniccher
that tho committee had taken pans to inform itself
on the subject ana TINT a Tho officers had said that
tho present forco not sufficient
i. Mr. AIkiSs said no would now yiod ten minutes to
me gentleman from Now York tMr Wood
MIR. WooD said tnat he had no disposition to partic-
pate In the debate on this bii. Tho remarks which
he proposed 70 submit had reference to tho general
condition oil tho expenditures and receipts OF tho
government but as his statement would occupy
longer than ten minutes no would take some otn
opportunity TO express his views.
SPEECH OF MR.. FosrER
Mv. FOSTER said that II the opinion OF the
General OF tho Army that on the LIST OF November
thcte wcro not moro than 10000 men In the army
To-day, however, statement had boon read from tho
PAynaser General asking Tor Increase OF the pay
number OF mon, his information beng That tho
present orco IS about - 600 mon. The difficulty
,n.c Which the COMMITTEE on Appropriations
nau hion arose from tho TACT that II felt Is TO DO Its
bounden duty to reduce the appropriations for tho
army and TO reduce tho army itself Tho members Of
tho minority had no dosro to embarrass Tho action OF
tho majority. They believed, however, that iorco
Of 20 00 men was as small the Tho country
warranted They wcro not disposed 10 mako taclIous
opposition 70 the action OF the majority. They would
perhaps test tho sense OF the House on QUO or Two
Questions but not further they had not the hoart
do SO whon they knew that officers of the army up to
This dato had lust perhaps $780, interest by delay
and cnreiessncss on tho House They had
500 OOO interest within ihc last three weeks and
losing 81, 900 . day. His own Impression was that
Congress ought 10 mako appropriation Tor Is 900
mon. me provision Tor loss Number was an invita-
ton 10 Indian hostites ana Mexican raids. He pre-
dictod that Deficiency Dli tor ut least So 500 900
would havo 10 DO passed. tor this years support OF tho
army.
Mr. BLACKBURN, (dem.) OF XIV, inquired whether, as
tho blu authorized tho increase oil cavalry companies
10 loo mon there VAS really any reduction OF i0rce
contempa cd by the bill
Mr. FosrSR replied that there increase In
way and decrease In another but he would refer tho
gentleman 10 the Chairman OF tho committee.
MI ATKINS replied that II cavalry companies were
Increased 10 100 mon each tue whole cavalry force
would DO TO- 600 men, but the language OF tho bill was
that tho cavalry companies might be- recruited to 100
men each. not that they should be-
MI. BLACKBURN suggested that as each OF tho ten
cavalry Tegtmons consisted OF tWcve mpanios the
cavalry force would BIO IL, 000
M. CoSGER, rem OF Mich. asked whether thcro
ought not TO DO provision In the bill TO allow mod
OF interest pay already due and insianced
the case or soldiers widow who mad 10 sell her claim
for pay eight per whole amount In order
TO obtain means 10 bury her husDand.
Mr. MONEY, tdcn.) Of Miss, asked Mr. Copgcr to
give the names and particulars OF that case.
3
such alacry after the cpscs. Il Is enough foe "a
say that have had Information within the lasttweny
TOUR hours.
Mr.. MoSEY-If tho gentleman has any Information
ON tho subject respectfully ask him TOR IL.
Mr. CoSGER-Wili the gentleman contain his soul In
patience?
Mr.. MONEY! simply ask the gentleman for his IN
formation; doubt his ability to give t.
Mr.. CoNGER-it s barely possible that tho gentle
mau tax es this way 10 intimate that
have received Is incorrect II there Is a moro
courteous way 10 convey that idea. daughter
IN mill n1nn haQ han In I'm Hama
and learned It's courtcses bctter-tlaughter)-
Mr. MONEY! cannot learn thcin from tho gentle
MT CoSGgR continuing his scntepce) than to dis
puto tho statement OF member made informa on,
nc will not rise to request dates, names and crcum
stances All that 10 important In this case 10 that
such may exist Does the gentloman's omnis-
cicncc extend TO all this class OF enable
him TO deny the possbilityf
Mr.. MONEY! asked tho gentleman for his informa-
ton and no tails TO givo IL.
Tho CHAIRMAN TO Mr.. Congcr) Does Tho gentleman
yicd the floor 10 tho gentleman from Mississippi
Mr.. CoSoER-Certainy. suppose no wants to
apologize. Qaughtcr.)
affected not to hear, but no caused general ouburs,
OF laughter by stating, with an appearance OF gravity,
"The apology Is satisfactory"
Mr.. PHILLIPS, rep) OF Kansas, said that this
Ing the AdjutaDt General Dad told him that from the
best data army stood at about %, 600 mon;
inaily II was rs, 900 strong. lilo wished 10 ask the
chairman Of the Appropriation Committee " he de-
sired 10 keep aown TO the standard TO which u had
been reduced by Joseph and sitting Bull. When
OF with but 190 men IN all six, anu mo Commit
toe Appropriations made Its Appropriation hat
basis.
Mr.. DURHAM, (dem) OF KY, said that gentlemen on
the other side had cndcavorcd to place tho RESPONSE
bllity oil the failure Of tho Army bill last year
upon tho democratic party. They
tlrcy wrong; tho House had passed. the
BILL bnt tho Senate had refused to 40 80, and
1t was then the duty OF the President 10 call
tho extra session. Tho responsibility, therefore, II
there any, rested upon the republican party and
the President Tho General of tho Army bad stated
there wcrc lees thar twenty thousand In the
army.
Mr.. FOSTER asked II the gentleman from Kentucky
Mr. Durham) mad not understood tho General oil the
Army to say that tho committee had better disband
the army than reduce It to ~, 900 men.
Mr.. DURHAM answered that II tho committee had
pandercd 70 tho prciudiccs OF those who ikcd the
martial tramp OF untold thousands II would have IN
creased tho army TO 10000 mcn Tho General had
pres. ed his uesre to have 10000
Mr.. FOSTER said no was afraid the gentleman from
Kentucky MR. Durham) must bave mistaken General
Mcclellan Tor tho General OF tho Army.
Mr.. DURHAM replied that ne was not mistaken; bu,
he did wonder that Mcclellan was ringing In tho
ears OF tho gentleman from Ohio tMr. FOstcrl lie
did not think was necessary TO put tho restriction
clause OF last years bill into the present BILL since
the President had stepped tho good old democratic
ground OF non-intcrventon with the local government
q States. In hat 4