The Portland daily press., 1878-05-27
XLVth C0ngress-ReguIar Session.


WASHINGTON, May rs.
Mr.. Sargent called up the concurrent resout ion
tween China and the United States allowing uure
strcted emigration to this country from China might
of both governments and inviting the attention of
the executive to the subject. Passed.
the @
manent form of government for the District OF Coum
bia and spent the day upon it.
HOUSE.
A bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to
constitute superintendent of mints or assayers in
assay offices assistant easurers OF the United States
passed.
The House went into committee of the whole on
MIR. Hewitt withdrew his proposed amendment to
the 18th section to muster out officers reported unfit
for service and consented to the entire striking out
OF the section. but he moved an amendment to the
18th section embracing the same general provisions
In explaining it he said that the corresponding pro-
visions in his bill as originally drawn were more lib
eral than in this amendment, but they had been
ruled out under points of order. The amendment
was adopted.
number of amendments were offered to sections
16 or IT, which limit the number Of major generals to
one and brigadier generals to three, after those fig
Section l9which prohibits the promotion of officers
section % which prohibits detail to staff appoint
section Is which requires officers who have served As
years attained the age of 65 years to be placed
the retired list and section q aboshng the grade of
company wagner, were all struck out on points of
order.
A point of order was made against section 90
which provides that all military headquarters shall
be established and maintained only at points where
the government owns buildings and barracks, and
prohibits the payment Of rent for any military head
quarters. Point of order was overruled.
Mr.. Harrison argued against the section as one
that would not promote economy but expense in
tiers. he moved to strike out the section Rejected
The Both section having been read, fixing the pay
of army officers Mr. Hewitt moved tolamend the item
making the pay Of storekeeper $3.50 by excepting the
storekeeper at Springfield who is to receive the pay
and allowance ola Major. Agreed to-
Mr. Reagan moved to amend by reducing the pay
fixed in the bill as follows General Of The army
from $13,500 to $I0,000 Lieut.. General from 900
to $4,000: Major General from $500 to $1,000; Brig.
General from $500 to $4,000; Colonel fIom $500 to
5000; 1t Colonel from $4,000 to $270O; Major from
reduce their own pay before attacking the pay OF OFF,
Mr.. Reagan's reply was to the effect that members
Of Congress having such high and important duties
to perform and their votes and acts touching the
most vital interests Of the country, were not too
highly paid.
Mr.. Foster intimatcd that a Foster and Reagan,
Finley and Springer were hardly entitled to as
much pay as brigadier general.
Mr.. Banning-They do not get it,
Mr.. Foster remarked that no denied that the
pay Of the General and 1t General was high but it
vices of these officers in putting down the rebellion
and he was sorry that the general who had been
connected with the Confederate government should
have moved to reduce the pay of these two officers
especially.
Mr.. Banning remarked that the Confederacy knew
the need of economy.
Mr.. Garield-Do you speak for it?
Mr.. Banning-Yes, speak Tor it in that respect
and for your government too.
Mr.. McCook-Ca it 'ours."
of pay as all "cant' unless you take hold Of
your own salaries and reduce them.
Mr.. Harrison-The gentleman is loss particular as
to the salary Of members since the redistrictng Of
Mr. Reagan replied to Mr.. Fosters intimation
about the Confederacy and claimed that all the mem
bers were on the same footing and had the same
Mr.. Bragg moved to amend by fixing the pay of
General at $4,000, of It. General at $4,000, Major
General at $4,000 and Brigadier General at $4,000:
Mr. Reagan accepted the amendment as subSti-
tute Tor his own.
Mr.. Williams Of Mich. argued against any reduc-
ton below the sums fixed in the bill.
MIR. Banning SAID: These salaries are too large:
they are all out of proportion; they established
when the currency was 30, 40 and 30 per cent below
in the face of a member because he has served the
Confederacy resorts to an unworthy argument. The
country is tired of it, What the people want is
ductiOn of expenditures.
Mr. Foster repeated that the people wonld not ap-
prove the cutting down the salaries of army oficea
unless the Democrats cut down their own salaries.
Mr.. Tucker-Did not this House pass bill last
year reducing our salaries.
amount Of force Imaginable. When the Senate re-.
fused to concur you could not get enough to order
the yeas and nays upon the proposition My friend
Mr.. Morrison did nos rise to- order them, Mr..
Cox did not rise Qaughter) 1t was the most beau
tiful piece of farce'' ever seen in this country.
Mr.. Hewitt said that when the gentleman on the
other side sought to check economy by throwing a
dart into the face of any member who felt consran
ed to offer an amendment in that direction he COM
mitted an offence against good manners and against
courtesy which it was very hard to paliate.
Mr.. McCook argued against a reduction OF the pay
of General, Lieut. General, or Major General Han
cock. He would never vote for such reduction.
He would say that distinctly before his constituents
and was profoundly Indifferent to what they might
think in regard to it. He regretted that any such
proposition had been made.
Inc discussion was then closed and the committee
vCteo on the amendment, the first being reducing
ne pay OF gener al to $4,000. 1t rejected, 60 to
VI. An me other causef in the amendment were |
also rejected The pay of officers stands as fixed in
On motion Of Mr.. Dunnel the longevity nav was
extended to chaplanswho have beeniexcluded by the
bill.
No change was made in the section as to fuel and
forage.
quarters.
MT. Cox of New York offered as new section a
provision prohibiting musicians other enlisted |
men from engaging in other business for hire or
emolument. Adopted
Mr.. Scales, from The committee on Indian affairs,
offered new amendment. new section transfer
ing the charge OF Indian affairs from the Interior
Department to the War Department.
Without disposing the amendment the House