Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-11-13
FORTHWITH CONGRESS.
SENATE.
Extra Session

come from MIN. II did not profess to be q report
literally oil anything said by him, but protested to
be narrative of private conversation and il dis
claimed accuracy. lie desired to state that for
some months be had not held an interview for
publication with any one, save in one instance
and then in regard TO the usefulness and services
here of the dead senator from Indiana. 10 all
other instances he had declined to be interviewed
The Herald statement contained some remarks
which he had made in casual conversation at
times, and other remarks which he never made at
any time 1t sscribes to him forms of expression
quite indefinite TO say the least, words like these
In the presence of the gratifying and great
achievements of the republicans of New YORK, he
was in no mood TO utter, &C.
ID. w. voorhees, was sworn in as senator from
Indiana. to fill the vacancy caused by the death of
Morton.
Booth was appointed chairman Of com. on pa
tents, in place OF Wadieigh.
Davis was excused from further service on the
com. on pensions.
Saunders excused from the commit on
transportation routes to the seaboard.
A number of bills were introduced and referred
by Window, to establish department of com
merce.
Maxey submitted resolution instructing the
committee on military to inquire into the expedl-
ency OF constructing defensive works on the Rio
Glande frontier. Laid over.
The vice-President submitted communication
from the President, in answer to the Senate reso.
luton OF Oct 10, enclosing report OF the sec'y
lures by the navy dept from March 4, 1889, to
June 80, 1876; also announcing that q similar
statement for the war department is in prepare
ton.
Ordered to he printed and referred to the com.
on appropriations
lie also laid before the Senate a commuuica-
ton from tie President in compliance with the
Senate resolution of Oct. 3d. transmitting state
ment on the appropriations and expenditures on
account OF The army and navy pensions from
March 4, 1889, TO June 80, 1876.
Referred to com. appropriations.
Dawes called up the Senate bill to authorize the
taking OF certain parcels of land for public uses
at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Maryland
Avenues, on the west front of the Capitol ground,
which was amended and passed.
Sargent submitted resolution that the secreta-
ry of the navy be instructed to inform the Senate
whether further legislation was necessary to pro.
tect the active list of the navy from promotion of
officers physically unfit for duty at sea. Agreed
to.
The Senate at o'clock went into executive
session, and when the doors were re.opeued at
two o'clock, adjourned.
HOUSE.
Atkins had read paper from the adjutant gen.
efal, being copy of telegram sent to the chair
man OF the appropriation committee, Nov. 7th
giving the number recruited, and a statement
from the telegraph operator at the war depart
ment that he had the check of the operator at the
Capital for its receipt.
Atkins said that he had questioned the opera
tor, who denied having received any such des-
patch. He thought it due to the adjutant general
to have the paper read.
The House in regular order proceeded to the
consideration OF the army appropriation bill, as re-
ported nom the committee of the whole on Sat-
urday. The first amendment was that offered BY
Schelcher, striking out the clause prohibiting re-
cruiting of the army beyond the number of enlist
ed men on the rolls on the lst of November which
was coneurred in.
The House refused to concur in the amendment
prohibiting recruiting beyond the number the
rolls on the first of November except in the cav
airy service, and for employment on the Mexican
border.
The next amendment was Que offered by Gull |
berson, providing that force of four cavalry reg
ments be recruited to one hundred men in each |
company, the same to be employed in the defence |
of the Mexican and Indian frontiers of Texas, |
provided that nothing herein contained shall au-
thorize the recruiting OF the number of men on
the rolls including Indian scouts and hospital
stewards, beyon 10000, of whom four full cav
airy regiments be kept in service on the Mexican
frontier in Texas.
Concurred in; yeas 1873, nays l27.
The republicans voted solidly against the
amendment, and were joined by Giddings, Mills
and Schleicher of Texas.
The next amendment voted on was the follow
ing
Add the bill, section two, "that now and here
after officer selected, detailed, or assigned to
GER or upon any other duty whatsoever, shall be |
entitled to or receive any additional rank, pay or
allowance, by reason OF such selection, delail or
Assignment, and all laws and parts of laws in con- |
fict with the provisions Of this section hereby
repealed
Rejected; yeas l23 nays 1871.
The regular vote was given by the republicans, |
backed by Messrs. Blackburn and Carlisle Of Ky, |
Cook of Ga. Harrison of H., Eckhof Muller, |
Potter and Willis OF New York, and Randolph Of
Tenn. |
Garfield sent to the clerks desk and had read |
letter from the sec'y OF war, defending himself! |
from the charges made against him in Saturdays |
debate. in regard to recruiting of soldiers since
the army bill was before the committee ON appro- |
priations.
The sec'y claims that the enlistment of recruits |
is expressly authorized by law and that therefore
1t can be carried on even in the absence of ap-
preparation. Nevertheless, be had not deemed it |
best to continue the recruiting alter the first of
July--not for the want of authority, but because
he thought i. xpedient to muster men into
vice when there was no money to pay them. Or |
ders had been accordingly issued to stop recruit
ing on the first of July. Subsequently an urgent |
appeal had come from Maj. Gen. Mcdowell CON- |
manding the military division of the Pacific, ap- |
proved and urged by the general of the army, ask
ing authority to enlist recruits for the cavalry |
regiments engaged IN that department in carrying
on the then existing Indian war. The sec'y had
yielded TO that appeal, and recruiting had been
for short time permitted for that purpose.
The order for this recruiting was not only law
full, but urgent and necessary. This order for re-
cruiting has been counleI nanded as soon as the |
emergency seemed over, and no enlistments were
made since.
Banning, chairman Of the com. on military af- |
fairs sent to the clerks desk and had read tele-
gram received to day from the adjutant general |
stating that the recruiting returns showed that
1923 men had been enlisted since the LIST of July,
1871 and that the principal part of them had been
enlisted on the Pacific coast, by authority of the
General of the army, given on tie 9th of July, to
meet the exigenees of the Indian war.
Hewitt, member Of the appropriation CON-, |
criticised the secys letter, and said that the first
effort on tine part of the com. bad been to sscer-
tain the force of the army and the sec'y of war
had stated it in a telegram to be q, 1863. Then |
the General OF the army had come before the com.
and stated the number at 81 902, by the last re-
turn, but had declared his opinion that the army
had been reduced to less than 10000 men, by the
stoppage of enlistment, the expiration of service
and casualties. Then the adjt gen'l had come and
confirmed the statement of the General of the ar
my, and had stated specially that enistments were
stopped since the LIST of July.
BY telegram just now received from the adju-
tant general, the House had been informed that
recruiting had been resumed on the fifth of July,
and had terminated some time in August, and
that the fact had been known to the adjutant gen.
eral when he was before the committe, and yet he