The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-09


There being no Chaplain, there was no
prayer.
The House went into Committee OF the Whole
Mr.. Cox DEM y. " in the chair. upon the
Army Appropriation bill. General debate was
limited to two hours.
Mr.. Atkins Dem, Tcnn) Chairman Of the
Appropriation Committee said that he did not
regard it within the province of the committee
u inquire into the action of Rutherford b.
Hayes in not calling an extra session Of Con-
Gress before the beginning of the present fiscal
year II any one desires TO complain OF that
action. II was a legitimate subject Of judicial in
1ury. The estimate of the War Department
for the present year amounted to $50 100000.
while the bill Appropriated s25,700.ooo. de-
crease OF 100000 from the appropriation Of
last year. The bill had been drawn w upon
the basis Of % coo men Tor the first four months
OF the year and 10000 men Tor the remaining
eight months. The General Of the army, hc-
lore tho committee, had asserted positively that
there were less than 10000 men IN the service
MIR. Foster Rep. Ohiol said that according TO
his recollection the General OF the army had
only stated his belief and did not profess 10
have any data whatever.
Mr.. Bount dem. Ca said that so far from
merely stating his opinion the General had
made report which showed the disposition OF
Mr.. Atkins said that he was still in favor Of
reducing the army to Is 600 men hut he did not
think this was the proper time 10 do 50. because
the army had been so long without pay. The
committee did not feel, IN yleWoi receni events.
out the Constitution. in carrying out the time
honored doctrine OF non-nterventlon. and in
allowing the States To regulate their own AFFAIRS
In their own way. that II was necessary 10 place
the restricting claus" OF last year Oill IN the
present BILL If the same circumstances "N ist"d
now as existed eight months ago, he would have
stood squarcly by the restriction, NO matter
Mr. Singleton dem. Miss said that Gen.
Sherman had appeared before that comnliit"e.
and had stated that at the time Of Mr.. HAYES
inauguration there were IN the southern states
four regiments If 300 iaen each, Two OF which
had since been Withdrawn
Mr.. Schleicher Dem. Texas inqulred whether
the committee had taken the trouble 10 examine
whether the strength OF the army was sufficient
for the protection OF the border,
Mr.. Atkins replied that in his opinion. the
army was sufficiently large for that PURPOSE.
Mr. Foster said that al the officers had said
that the present force was not sufficient
Mr.. Atkins yielded ten minutes 10 Mr.. Wood
tDem.. y. ~. VINO said that his spee,h had
penditures and receipts OF tho Government,
and he would take some Othertime to deliver IT,
General Of thc army mat on Nov. there were
not more than 2OOou men IN the army To-Day.
however, the Puymastcr-(rncral had asked Tor
an lnereas" oil the pay appropriation, asserting
that the present force J. about y 900 men. Inc
difficulty into which the committee had fallen
arose from the fat that II felt 10 De its duty 20
reduce the appropriations and 10 reduce the
army it5rf. Tho members Of the minority,
with no desire to emharrnss the acton oi the
majority. believed that force OF 10000 men
was a- sniall a. the needs Of tho country war
rantcd. The provision Tor a less nuiniwr was
an invitation a. Indian hostilitlcs and Mexican
raids. liz predicted that deficiency bill Tor at
least two and "a half million dollars would have
g. b. PASSED for tui5 years support Of tl" army.
Mr. Blackburn lDem. n.y. inquired whether
there Mas really any reduction oil force conIem-
Mr. Foster replied that there was an Increase
IN one way and a dccroa7c ~ another.
Mr. Atkins laid that If cavalry companies
were increased 90 100 men earh, the whole cav
airy force would be 10000 men; blu the lan-
guage Of the bill was mat ilry might be 30 re-
cruitcd, not that they .houldb be.
Mr.. Blackburn suggested that, as each Of tho
ten cavalry regiments consisted OF twelve COM
rpanies tho cavalry force would be- $1,000.
Mr.. Congcr Of Michigan asked whether there
moderatc rate 81 interest ON pay already due,
nnd instanced the caso OF soldiers widow who
had had to sell her claim for l,gy AZ eislt per
cent. Of the whole amount in order to bury her
Mr. Money Dem. Miss asked Mr.. Congcr to
give tho names and particulars, and WAS lce-
iured by Mr. COnger on his breach Of the cour-
Hescs Of the House Mr.. Money minated a
dMsHess II Mr c%niIrS s saiSS that this morn
ding the Alutant- General had told MN, from
1he best data, the army stood AT ABOUT E-4IV
men; numnally, it was 20 900 strong. lie
wished 10 ask the Chairman OF the Approprla-
tlOn COiamittfe II ne desired 20 keep II down 70
Joseph and Suing Bun When Gen. Gibbon
attacked Joseph he had six cQmpnnlo7 Of men
with but 100 men in all, and the Committee on
Appropriations made iLs appropriation on that
Mr. Durham tDem., n.y. snld thh' gentlemen
on the other side had endoaNorrd 10 place the
yes possibility Of the failure OF the Army bll
last year upon tho Democratic party Thcy
were entirely wrong.
lucky (ir. Durham had not understood the
General 10 say that the committee had better
1lisband the army than reduce Il 10 2uOuO
Mr.. Durham answered that the General had
N1presscd his desire to have 10000 men.
Mr. Foster said he was afraid this gentleman
must have mistaken Gen. Mcclellan Tor the Con
oral OF tho army.
Mr.. Durham replied that hewas not mistaken
but he did not wonder that Mcclellan WIS ring
Ing in tho ears Of the gentleman from OHIO,
Rutherford b. Hayes had stepped on the good
old Democratic ground Of non-interVentlOD
with the local government OF the States.
Mr.. Durham gave notice that. IN the leAt Army