New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-15
A CAUCUS ON THE ARMY BILL.
Mr.. HEWITT SEEKS ADVICE FROM HIS PARTY Asso-
CIATEs-MR. wATTERsoN PRESENT.
.IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNR-I

CIATES-MR. WATTERS0N PRESENT.
TELEGRAPH TRBUNE-I
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE Democrats held
caucus this afternoon, between the day and even
ing sessions of the House. 1t was called by
the chairman, Mr.. Clymer, at the request
Of Mr.. Hewitt Of the Conference Committee
on the Army Appropriation Bill. The Democratic
Senators were invited to be present and several of
them attended, among them being Messrs. Lamar,
Hereford, Withers Bayard, Hill and Cockrell.
The first question that arose was whether Henry
Watterson should be allowed to remain during the
private consultation Of his party friends. Some
one asked unanimous consent that Mr.. Waiter
son, as a member of the XLIYth Congress,
should be allowed to remain in the caucus.
Mir. Hewitt objected. Warm appeals were made
to Mr.. Hewitt to withdraw his objection, but be
persisted little discussion arose, during which
Mr.. WattersOn left the caucus. He was subse-
Quently given the privileges of the floor by
twO-thirds vote. Mr.. Mckenzie remarked
that many of the newspapers had had
surprisingly accurate reports of the proceedings,
and it seemed to him that it would make very little
difference whether strangers were present or not.
Mr.. Hewitt stated the points of difference be
tween the House and Senate on the Army Bill, as
follows: The Senate would not yield the reduc-
ton Of the Army, the reorganization of it,
or the transfer of the Indian Bureau. but
it would agree to a commission to reorgan-
ize the Army. in which the House should
have the majority, and which should be shaped in
accordance with the views of that body. 1t would
also yield the point that no promotions or changes
shall be made in the Army until the report of that
commission is made, and Congress has acted upon
it, 1t further yielded the most of the propositions
with regard to the use Of the Army as a posse
cOmitatus.
Mr.. Hewitt asked TO be informed what the wishes
of the Democrats were in the premises.
At this point a member of the Texas delegation
asked if those present were to be bound by the
decisions of the caucus. He was informed that they
were not but in order that no question of this kind
might be raised those of the delegation who were
present withdrew.
Mr.. Withers was then called upon to state the po-
sion of the Democratic Senators on the subject and
to tell the caucus what the prospect was of the Se
ate yielding Mr.. Wtbers simply confirmed what
Mr.. Hewitt had said.
Mr.. Hartridge, of Georgia, made an eloquent
speech about the close in relation to the Of the
Army for civil purposes. in which he assertedthat
the Senate had so emasculated the House amend
ment as to render it practically nugatory.
Senator's Hill. Bayard and Others, present
combated that view Mr.. Clarkson N. Potter
also said that SO far as the reduction
of the Army and the transfer of the Indian Bureau
were concerned, all that was mere detail IN when
men might differ but far the use of the Army
| as a posse comitatus was concerned, it involved
| great principle. The House had forced an extra
session on that principle For himself while he
did not personally care about these propositions, he
! thought the caucus ought to stand by them.
The sense of the caucus seemed to be that 1t was
more important to preserve the principle embodied
in that amendment than to stand by the other ques-
! lions at issue between the House aud Senate.
Meanwhile members had been dropping out of the
! caucus one by one, until the number was largely
reduced. Several resolutions were offered but none
of any particular, importance; and before
vote was taken any of them
the point made that no quorum was present,
and the caucus thereupon adjourned. Subsequently
the Conference Committee agreed on the basis
which Mr.. Hewitt reported to the caucus, the Sem
ate having yielded little on the posse cOmitatus
prOyisO,