New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-02-24
Banning,s Army Bill.
A Washington dispatch GAYS:

a washington utspaLcn Gays:
General Banning's new army reduction
bill is creating cOmmotiOn among military
people here, who eritieise it as an unWar-
IRnted attack upon the national police or.
ganizatiOn. The bill is as follows:
Be it enacted, etc., That there shall not
be any enlistment in the army until the
number of enlisted men shall have been re-
duced to 10000; that the number of cav.
airy regiments is hereby reduced to eight,
and the number of infantry regiments to
sixteen, and the Secretary of War, as soon
as the requirements of the service will per
NIT, holding in view the least expense on
account Of transportation, shall cause the
reduction TO be made by merging enlisted
men into other organizations either of their
own or other regiments by consolidation
into companies or otherwise, and the assign
ment of commissioned officers to duty with
the consolidated companies or with other
regiments of their respective arms; pro-
Vided that the officers of the discontinued
regiments may be assigned to other reRi-
ments of their respective arms according TO
their dates of commission as vacancies NAV
occur. Any officer of the discontinued reRi-
ments not liable to be brought before the
board authorized by section eighteen of this
act may, on his own application, be honor
ably discharged with one years pay for each
ana every term of eight years' service. pro-
plicatiOn be placed on the retired list of the
army. That the President is hereby au.
thorized to assemble from time to time, as
occasion may require, board of not less
than three nor more than five officers such
board being hereby vested with the powers
of a court Of inquiry and courtmartial
whose duty it shall be 70 examine the pro.
priety of the conduct, capacity and eff
cheney of any officer of the army, inclusive
of the retired officers, who MAY be reported
to the board. Upon such report, If adverse
to such officer, after q revision of the prO.
ceedings, like to that of q court of inquiry
or q eourtmartial, and approved BY the
President OF the United States, the commits
sion OF such officer shall be vacated, and
provided always that no officer shall be
eligible as 9 member offsaid board whose
rank or promotion would in any way be
affected BY its proceedings, and two mem
bers Rt least If practicable, shall be of equal
rank with the officer to be examined, and
the members of said board shall be sworn
to an honest and impartial discharge Of
their duties.
The bill met with vigorous opposition in
its ineipieney by the members Of General
Banning's House Military Committee, and
II was ordered TO be reported only after a
sharp contest and by bare majority of the
committee. 1t is understood between Gen
eFal Banning and the chairman Of the Ap-
preparations Committee that the bill is to
70 in formally to the latter committee and
appear before the House as legislation At
tached TO the army appropriation bill.
General sherman stated to-day in CONVEX
satiOn thai In all probability any apprOpri-
alton bill inoumbered with such an extra
ordinary piece Of legislation IS this would
be defeated IN the Senate If not in the
House. In givisg expression to this de-
cided opinion be evidently spoke with an
thOrtty, having previously been In consul
tation with Senator Sherman, Secretary Of
Var Cameron, and General Logan, chair
man Of the Senate Military COMMITTEES.
An extra session OF Congress seems. in
the estimation Of General Sherman, newt
able. and the department would therefore
prefer the defeat Of the appropriation, with
its proposed army m0dilieation, BY the
present Congress, and trust TO the new
Congress- for an appropriation with less
ediOuo conditions. Al any rate, it is aot
considered likely thar the Senate viii con
sent 20 the change proposed IN the army.
II changes are made, the infantry, cavalry
and artillery viii b greatly diaprOpOR-
Toned. according 70 tho Views Of General.
Sherman ae tkeze viii be half as many
cavalry, and nearly third "a many arlil-
lefy ~ inl4ntFy. One eaynlgyman 70 eight
i1IoutEsm men N considered as = fair proper
tlon, while nlurIhe7 reduction In the num-
Der cl ths re9alaE 4teIIloIy lores, II The
1ri1Ial a q1mt. VIII he 5 proper enc %
'Ile4,s. IS f11 R1f|cns rNt1s Be made