New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-06
The Last Hours Of ConRress,

thought that the consideration of this bill
would invite discussion. which would re-
suit in the loss of the bill. The committee
had, therefore, agreed to report q substi.
tute which was substantially the army ap-
Precipitation bill of last session, which had
been thoroughly discussed. The estimates
of the War Department amounted to $780,
GAG 900. The army bill last session apprO-
pfiated $27 ,62l 900, and the peudipg hill
proposed to appropriate $2l 1922 900. Hd
moved that the debate upon the bill be linn
tied to five minutes for each Senator de-
string to speak on the pending amendment.
Agreed 10.
Mr.. Wallace, of Pennsylvania, said it
would be seen by the substitute that the
Senate occupied the field here tofore Occu-
pied by the House of Representatives, or in
other wOrde it originated an appropriation
bill, as the substitute was new bill. The
bill Just passed by the House proposed
many changes, some of which were valu-
able, yet the Senate committee, by report
ing this substitute, we're refused a hearing
in the Senate. The House had thoroughly
considered the matter of using the army in
Louisiana, but the Senate committee by its
reports refused to allow the matter to be
considered in the Senate. Tue proper course
for the Senate would be to examine each
provision of the House bill, and adopt
amendments in cases where it might be
thought necessary to do 80. The Substitute
fixed the army at 20 coo enlisted men in
stead Of 1000, as proposed by the House
bill.
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, moved to
reduce the number of men from $4,000 to
10000, and said the adoption OF this amend
ment would result in an annual saving to
the government of between three and four
million dollars annually. He believed an
army of 90 600 men was large enough in
times of peace: the Indians were not 80
two, n aan Rh.rT lnI heaT
troops were wanted in the Southern States,
where good many were located.
Mr.. Logan, oil illinois, opposed ths amend
ment and said at every session OF Congress
there was some proposition upon an appro-
priatiOn bill cutting at the army. II was
| not an economical measure to be constantly
striking a. the private soldiers; why not say
| there should only be certain number of
officers. The soldier in the army Was the
cheapest part of IT, He did not believe our
army was large enough. L. should consist
of 10000 men, which would give about
| $4,000 effective men. An army of 10000
| wOdId leave an Elective force of not more
| than 1900. If it is desirable to Teorganize
| the army, let a commission be appointed to
| consider the matter aud report to Con-
gress.
Mr.. Blaine said the proposition of ths
| House was to reduce the army to 1900
men. Thirty five years ago, WHEN the In
diaus where nothing like 80 bad as they are
| nov, the army consisted OF l2,OOO men The
| army was smaller now considering he area
of the country and the points to be guarded,
| than it ever was before, and be thought it
| would be very imprudent in the last hours
| of the session to reduce the army rs pro-
posed. Probably the army could be re-
duced wi n safe J, but no Senator now had
any data upon which he could say it could
| be so reduced.
Mr.. BAysrd, of Delaware, said it was not
the coat of the army to which the people
| objected SO much, as thev did to the en-
| piJyment of the army. The people oil the
| country feared that the army had been
used for purposes dangerous to their llber-
ties, hence they objected to it. IL now
seemed to be generally understood that the
outgoing administration admitted that the
use of tue army in the Southern States was
net successful He hoped the day would
cOme when the laws would be enforced by
the military power only as last ref Ort
and then BY the militia OF the State instead
of the Federal army. Ten or twelve years
ago there were emergencies calling Tor a
large army, which, thank Heaven, NJ
longer existed. He therefore supported the
bill of the House OF Representatives.
Mr.. Blaine said he did not believe there
was lawyer on either side of the Chamber
who would say that the President of the
United States, the constitutional com
III Ander-n chief of the army, in some in
stances should command tho army anu IL
others should not
MI. Beyard argued that Congress haf
full power to regulate the use OF the army
The amendment Of Mr.. Davis was It ject
ed; yeas %, nays %, MIR. AleOTn voting
with the Democrats in the affirmative.
Mr.. Herman, of New York, opposed the
subs titute and c0ncurIed in the views eX
pressed by the Senator from Delaware Mr.
| TTn aruuad that GnOupa IA
power TO say that money appropriated
snoulI not be used for a certain purpose
1t WAS competent for Congress to disbauC
the army entirely if it thought proper tC
do so.
The substitute was agreed tO-yeas 81
nays %; a strict party vote. The bill VS.
raait u third time and passed.
Senators Window, Dorsey and Walla2C
were appointed mem hers of the conference
committee on the sundry civil appropria
tim bill.
senator Window, from the conference
committee ON the legislative, Judicial an
executive appropriation bill, submitted
report, and in explanation Thereon SAID ina
the House of Representatives undertoO
to reduce very large number of salarit
} which were fixed by the compromise act
= last wear. The Senate restored these ssi;
ries and the House conierees agreed in
7 very few cases that the salaries had bee
: reduced slightly. On the question OF r
dueing the Presidents salary the cOnfe
Q ence was unable to agree, the only amen'
Q ment disagreed to. He moved that II
: Senate agree 10 the report of the cOmmittt
= and insist upon its amendments in regar
. to the Presidents salary. So ordered. II
o also moved that new conference be aske
= for in regard to that amendment. Agree
i TO.
s Senators Blaine and Maxey we're a
a 1 On ha nf Tba SRnn
| TO the West Point Military Academy.
1 The Chair laid before the Senate a COZ
Y munication from the Secretary of War, i
Q closing letter from the Secretary of Il
l. Treasury, calling attention 70 2 recent d
j. cisi Ii IA tho Suplene CourG in regard
= land grant railroads, and suggesting Leg
! lation to secure the reduction TO which ti
q government is entitled for trarsportatiO
. etc. Referred,
IS Mr.. West, from the conference commits
}. on pOstoffice appropriation bills, submitt'
Z report that the conference had been u
,, able to agree upon the item increasing Z
}, appropriation Tor mail transportation
4 railroads. The Senate conference hi
d agreed to fix the amount at ~ 3O0,OOO b
1t the House conference insisted that the a
10 prOpriation should not exceed 50 200 ,OC
10 On account OF reducUlODs made last yea
K the mail service between the Atlantic al
a. great West was less efficient than u was
"a 1875. Although the difference between
/, Two committees was only 100000, Il mea
10 injury to the service, as the estimates OF
P0st0ffice Department for this service W
over 81, 600 900 The conference also TAI!
to agree upon the amendments in regard
the subsidies for mail service between 5
Francisco, China aud Japan, and betWe
IS New Orleans and Rio Janeiro.
After a long discussion, by vote OF yC
%, NAYS II, the Senate reeedad from