The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-03-04


had thoroughly considered the matter
of using the army in Louisiana, but
the Senate committee, by its reports,
refused TO allow the matter to be con-
sidersd In the Senate, The proper
course for the Senate would be to ex-
anime each provision Of the House
bill and adopt amendments in cases
where 1t might be thought nee
essary to do 80. The substitute
fixed the army at $4,000
enlisted men, instead OF 1900 as pro-
posed by the House bill.
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, moved
to reduce the number of men from 25,-
900 to 10000, and said the adoption of
this amendment would result in an
annual saving to the government Of
between three and four millions dol
lars annually. He believed an army
OF 10000 men was large enough In
times of peace; the Indians were not
so troublesome now as they were, and
no troops We're wanted in the Southern
States, where good many were To-
Gated.
Mr. logan, OF Illinois, opposed the
amendment, He said at every session
of Congress there was some PROPOSE
ton upon an appropriation bill
cutting at the army. 1t was not
an economical measure to be con-
stantly striking at the private soldiers.
Why not say there should be only a
certain number OF officers? The sol
dier In the army was the cheapest part
OF 1t. He did not believe our army
was large enough. 1t should consist
of $4,000 men, which would give about
$4,000 effective men in the army Of
10000 men 1t would leave an effective
force of not more than 1900 men. If
TWAS desirable to reorganize the army,
let a commission he appointed to con-
slider the matter and report TO Con
gress.
Mr.. Blaine-The proposition Of the
House was to reduce the army to
1900 men. Thirty-ive years ago, when
the Indians were nothing like so
bad rs they are now. The army con-
sisted of twelve thousand men. The
army was smaller now, considering
the area Of the country and the points
to be guarded, than 1t ever was before.
He thought it would be very imprudent
In the last hours of the session to reduce
the army as proposed. Probably the
army could be reduced with safety, but
no senator now had any data upon
which he could say 1t could be 80 re-.
duced.
Mr.. Bayard, OF Delaware, said it was
not the cost of the army to which the
people objected 30 much as to
Its employment; the people
of the country feared the
army had been used for purposes dan.
gerous to their liberties, hence they
objected to IL now. 1t seemed to be
generally understood that the outgoing
administration admitted that the use
OF the army in Southern States was
not successful. He hoped the day
would come when the laws and mill
tary power would be enforced by the
military power only as a last resort,
and even then by the militia of the
State, instead of the Federal army.
Ten or twelve years ago there were
emergencies calling for a large army,
which, thank Heaven, no longer exis-
ted He, therefore, supported the bill
0ftho House Of Representatives.
Mr.. Blaine srid he didn't
believe there was lawyer
on either side OF the cham
Der who would say that the press
ident of the United States, the consti,
tutional commandment chief Of the
army, in some instances should com
mand the army and in others shoulC
not.
Mr.. Bayard argued that Congress
had full power to regulate the use o
the army.
The amendment of Mr.. Davis was
rejected; yeas rs, nays 80, Mr.. Alcorr
voting with the Democrats in til,
affirmative.
Mr.. Herman, of New York, opposed
the substitute and concurred in tn
/ views expressed by the senator from
Delaware, Mr.. Bayard. He argue,
that Congress had power to say tina
money appropriated should not b'
used for certain purpose. 1t was com
3 petent for Congress to disbani tn
. army entirely If it thought proper t
do so.
The substitute Of the committee wa
Q agreed to; yeas. 80, nays %, stlic
a party vote. The substitute was the
Q read third time and passed.
I Bills to remove the political disabil
1 tiles of Geo. Watson Carr, of West Vii
glnia, ]. s. Kennard, Of Georgia, inc
/. w. Harden, Of Texas, and G. II
t Holmes, of North Carolina, were take
y up and passed.