The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-05
& Sun for the
The New Army BILL.


A sharp sense of disappointment is the
natural and just feeling OF the country in
regard to the Army bill reported from the
Committee on Appropriations. No subject
has been more thoroughly discussed during
the last six months than the necessity and
reasons for a large reduction in the present
military establishment, and none, perhaps,
is better understood by the people at large.
The public demand for rctrcnchmcnt was,
perhaps. made kccncr by the means through
which the army alone of the whole public
service escaped reduction in the general re-
forms Of the first session Of the late Con-
grcss, and the circumstances under which
the Supply hill was lost at the last session.
The right of the Executive TO keep up an
army without the explicit authority of Con
grcss and an appropriation for that object,
was the first question which this committee
was expected to consider N the absence of
n special investigation by tho House. In
Quiry into the contracts for supplies. which
extend to the 3lst Of December two and Il
half months after the meeting of Congress
and the certificates of Indebtedness issued
by sanction of the War Department without
color Of law, claimed prompt attention, AMI
was entitled to full consideration before n
dollar was recommended.
These subjects do not appear to have at
tracted the least notice though they involve
the power Of the Executive over the army
and the expenditure OF many millions Of dol
lars not authorized by law SO far a. the
action Of this committee is concerned it JUS
titles by silence the conduct of the Executive
and implicitly sanctions the maintenance of
la nf IiS.raf ion iuIarnp.l.uf
u! Congress. II he has offended the law. the
offence is practically condoned 10y the TAIL
ure to arraign his action.
Il may bc said that the duty Of the Conn
mittee on Appropriations does not include
review OF the powers Of tho Executive In this
connection. Abstractly that would he true;
but the question is forced upon the commit
tee by the fact that an army is found To cN-
ist which cannot lawfully exist without the
consent Of Congress, and for which no money
was appropriated. Who created it and how
has IL lived since the LIST of July, are Qucs-
lions that cannot be avoided. and require
answer. But If this point be evaded. Ger
tanly no doubt can be entertained as to the
duty of the committee in regard to the con-
tracts made aud the certificates issued. If
that duty has been discharged 10y any
searching inquiry, such a. should have been
made. it has been concealed from the public
The figures and statements Of Mr.. Nc
CRARY, Gen. SHERMAN, Gen. MEIGs, Gen.
TOWNSEND, and other officers. all person.
ally and directly interested in a large
standing army, seem to have been the basis
adopted for the unsatisfactory hill which Is
now before the House, and il likely 10 be
gagged through under the previous quc--
ton. That hill substantially approves. be-
cause it provides Tor, the expenditures, con-
tracts, and Jobs made since the 3lth Of June,
and authorizes n standing army OF more
than 22,0OO men. at an estimated cost OF
S2j,763,0O0 according 10 one computation,
and of $40, 100000 10y another
At the last session of Congress, Mr. At
KINs, now Chairman and then a member
of the Committee on Appropriations IT,
ported the Army bill, and in an able speech
gave the reasons for reduction from 2j.o0f
h. 1900 men. That bill appropriated S2l,-
993,7l9, or Sj769,2jl less than the present
hll which he has recommended to tho
House. 1t was passed by Il party vote. ano
rcanirmcd after the Senate had refused I,
sanction the proyiso forblddng the use o.
the troops for political objects.
The Democratic ina GRITTY stood commit
ted to this reform at least, which was ial
short of the public expectation, when tia
Congress expired. And now, after a laps
Of eight months, we find men claiming to h
strict cOnstruc tionists of the Constitution
champions of popular rights, opponents d
Executive Entertainments, and, above al
rigid economists, coming forward with a
Army bill made up mostly on the advice q
Interested officials and officers, which pro
poses, without any investigation, an incrcas
Of 5000 men, and of four millions of dollar
in round numbers to ice swclcd 10y iutur
deficiency, on the bill Of last Marchl
II this he a fair specimen Of the cconom
of the new Committee ON Appropriation.
for the selection 81 which Mr.. RANDALL ha
been commcndcd it il not the entertain
mout to which the friends Of reform wor
invited. They will neither give it thc
sanction nor their silence but viii go .ol
ward to n tribunal before which public me
must expect their acts to Toe criticised
there he fnltering anywhere, or the want
moral courage to redeem pledge suppos,
10 be made in good faith, it ought to be an
il will be exposed, so that the responsible
shall fall exactly where it belongs.
There was no need for haste in reportln
this hiil Congress was called together i'
the special purpose Of considering it. III
army 10 Illegally provided for until the 81
Of December, and the Off crS have arrange
indefinitely for their pay. Hence no prete
of necessity can D." set up FOR thrusting up,
the House a scheme which is condemned !
public opinion, and which ial-lic, prom
Of rctrcnchmcnt 1t is madc more ollcnsiy
too because the de (0ctO Secretary of ii
a