The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-09
IIOISE.


At 1910 the House went into Com
mttee of the Whole, Mr.. Cox, o! New
York, in the chair, upon the army APP
Precipitation bill.
General debate upon the bill was
limited TO two hours, aud the House WAS
addressed by Mr.. Atkins, Chairman OF
the Appropriation Committee. he stat
cd he aid not regard it within the prov
lnce OF the committee TO inquire into the
action o. the President in not calling An
extra session OF Congress before the be-
ginning the present fiscal year. II WAS
however, q legitimate subject of Judicial
enquiry. He explained that an estimate
OF the war department for the present
fiscal year amounted to $40, O,5OO,OOO
while the bill appropriated S25,7OO,,
900, decrease OF 100000 from the ap-
preparation last year The bill had been
drawn upon the basis OF 220OO men tor
the first tour months OF the year, and
10000 for the remaining eight months
The General OF the army had been be.
fore the committee and had stated posi-
lively that there was less than 10000
men IN service st the present time. lie
[Atkinsl was in favor OF reducing the
army TO $1,000 men, but did not think
this was u proper time, since the army
had so long gone without pay: and
the question OF reducing the force
might delay the passage Of the
bill. With regard to the restriction
placed on last years bill, 1t has been
lett out because the committee did not
fee that, in view of recent events, and IN
view of the action of the Preslden. in
carrying out the Constitution, in carry,
ing out the time-honored doctrine OF
non-intervention, and in allowing the
States to regulate their own affairs, II
was not necessary TO place the restricting
clause in the present bill, but i the same
circumstances existed now rs eigh,
months ago, he would have stood square
lv by the restriction no matter what the
consequences might te.
In answer to question by Mr.
Hooker, Mr.. Singleton Ia member OF the
Appropriation Commltteey said thai
General Sherman had stated TO the com
mittee that al the time of the
Presidential Inauguration there were
in the Southern States four regiment:
of three hundred men esch, two oi
which have since been withdrawn.
Mr.. Schllcher asked whether the
strength of the army was sufficient fol
the protection Of the border.
Mr.. Atkins replied that the army was
sufficiently large Tor the purpose.
Mr.. Foster (member OF the Appropris'
tion Committee) said in reply TO Mr.
Schlecher that the committee had taker
the pains to inform itself on the subject
and sll the officers said the present torcc
was not sufficient.
Mr.. Atkins said he would now yield
ten minutes to Mr. Wood, but he Wood
SAID he had no disposition to participate
in debate on the bill, as the remark,
which he proposed to submit had re
ference to the general condition Of the
expenditures and receipts OF the
government, but rs MS statement
would occupy longer than ten minutes
he would take some other opportunity &c
express his views.
Mr.. Eoster said it was the opinion o.
the General OF the army that on the hrs
OF November there had not been more
than 10000 men in the army. TO-dsI
8 statement had been received from th'
Psvmaster General asking for sn IN
crease of the appropriation because OF
mistake made a. 10 the number Of men
h,s information being that the rresen
force was about 22,00e men. The diff
Guilty into which the Committee on Ap
preparations had fallen, arose iron
The tact that II felt It to be its bounded
duty to reduce the appropriations for IN
srmy, and 10 reduce the army ltseIi
, The members Of the minority hsd no de
sire 20 embsrrass the action OF the msjor
itv. They believed, however, that
force of $1,000 was as small as the need
OF me country warranted. They wer
not disposed to make fsctious opposition
to the action of the minority. The.
would, perhaps, test the sense OF the Hous
( in one or to two of the restrictions, ou'
not further. They had no heart to do s
when they knew the officers ot the arm.
up to this dste had lost perhaps $4,000
! in interest by delay and carelessuess on tn
part of the House They had lost $50
600 within the last week, and were losIn
$4,000 day. His own impression ws
that Congress ought to make sn spprc
pristion for 25OO0 men. Provision tc
a less number WAS sn invitation for Ii
dian hostilities snd Mexican raids. Il
predicted that deficiency bill for s