The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-20
The Standing Army.

The Standing Army.
Thrcc causes conspircd Ia defeat the re-
duction OF the army in the House VI Repre-
scntativcs. and gave the Republicans a vie
tory by which the expenditures Of the cur
rent fiscal year will be increased many mil
lions Of dollars, and the abuses Of the exist
ing system will be- continued They were,
first, the unsatisfactory action of the Com
mttee ON Appropriations; secondly, the
want Of discipline and unity ON the part Of
the majority; and thirdly, the detection of
five Democratic members from Texas in
company with WILLIAMS of Michigan. Lur-
TKELL Of California and WILLIAMS of Della
ware, who united with the solid Republican
vote and transferred the majority from one
eidc tO the other.
This signal defeat of the committee ex-
cites no surprise. In fact, ii was expected,
after the imperfect manner In which the bill
was presented to the House. the cxtraordi-
nary dispute about the most material facts
on the floor, and the declaration Of Mr..
HEWITT, member Of the committee Let
liz provide for the support Of the army rs
we find it. according to the actual number
In service, irdhOm q,H stion as to whether it
Is twenty thousand, fifteen thousand or
twenty-five thousand
!. When the bill was under discussion, Mr..
ATKINS stated 10 the House that "nO living
man On the earth knows how many men are
to-day III thc field 1t came out that the
appropriation vas based on the verbal state
mcnts 81 Gen. SHERMAN Gen. TOWNSEND.
ana Others, VINO were cOntradicted on the
Ioor by the official tigure~ ~ the War Oflicc.
produced by Mr. BANNING, Chairman of the
Military Committee. 1t was assumed lint
not established by any evidence that the
army averaged twenty-five Thousand irom
the LIST Of July to the LIST OF November, ana
that assumption may be said 10 have gov
erncd the action of the committee.
No attempt was made to investigate the
contracts which the War Department had
unlawlully entered into for half the fiscal
year, covering the whole of the extra and
part of the regular session. for the support
OF the army at its maximum strength, or
the usurpation by the Executive OF fuuc-
tons exclusively belonging to Congress
Not an authentic figure was exhibited 81 the
Hous" showing the numbers If the army,
until Mr.. BASSING contradicted the conflict
Ing statements of mcnbcrs OF the com
mittee
loosely, and to appropriate twcnty-siX mill
lions "withort question Is it surprising
that under this state Of facts, and in the alb
sonce of clearly defined and Affirmative
policy, there should Toe a want Of unity, and
that individuals who had grcfs to revenge
OF supposed interests to serve should have
wandered on 2 There was no lead worthy
OF the name, no rally of the forces, and no
tact in the management of the bill. On the
other hand, the Republicans stood united
FOR every possible increase Of the army, and
were outspokon for every additional dollar
of expenditure. Tho! never hinched, and
they had no dcscrters
H. The Democratic majority is thirteen on
full vote. About ,wu-thirds Of the whole
number are new members, many Of whom
suppose themselves 10 be born leaders, and
who have yet to learn that discipline In
p~"ty is as essential to success as dis
eipllhe Ia On army. With efficient com
maud, tins majority, even under the admit
ted disadvantage, could have boon held I'm
hand, and prevented from Committing the
great blunder for which it will be held re-
sponsiblc by the country.
Ill. Eight Democratic votes defaultod on
the final test, and five Of them came from
Texas, whore a public opinion has been
created, without regard to party, in favor of
tie largest army that can be obtained, and
the concentration Of most Of it along the Rio
Gland" The other three have given no
reason for their course. All Of them, with
out exception, supported the bill Of the last
Session for reduction Of the army to 1000
men.
II Is an opon secret that these members
from Texas are dissatisfied with the organ
ization Of the House. and as much may, per
haps, be said of the others who acted with
them ON the Army bill. They hold the bal
hncc Of power in the House, and by cooper
ating, can defeat any measure they may
choose to oppose, when the Republicans are
willing to rnite with thom, or they are in
clined 10 90 over to their opponents.
After this experience, little is to be hoped
Tom the Committee on Appropriations as
now constituted, and which was announced
T. the country WITTY such a blast of trum-
pots. Allowing the Speaker the best lnten-
tions, his choice of nNn has proved 10 be a
failure. The committee cannot command n
full party vote in the House, and that is
faial, no matter what carsc may bo alleged
Tor the want Of conlldoncN or the refusal Ia
follow the present feeble lcsd. 1t is enough
thal the vote rcyoits and giyEs the minority
Control.
III presence Of such a result, 1t Is absurd
I" suppose, unless these men clnnrn front
thai the army VIII be reduced nt the ROM
Lar session, or that reform will he khc order
:" We day. 1t is tho first stop thar costs
That s'cp has been taken, and it is not like.
~ I" hc ro'.aood The hopes that centred