New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-06
MIR. HEWITTS AMY BILL.

MR. HEWITT'S ARMY BILL.
A CONSOLIDATION OF THE FORTY REGIMENTS OF
THE LINE INTO TwENTY-sIX, THE MUSTER OUT
OF MANY OFFICERS, AND A REDUCTION OF
PAY PROPOSED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrsrl
WASHINGTON. Nay 5.-MT. Abram 5. Hewitt who
as a subcommittee, has been engaged for several
weeks in the preparation Of the Army Appropriation
Bill has completed his work and will report it tothe
fall committee OH Tuesday.
In constructing the bill Mr. Hewitt has been
governed by the following considerations: FIRST
he was unwilling to reduce the effective
force of the Army below what 1t now u.s.
BY this he means that he was unwilling to recon-
mend any legislation to reduce the actual number
ofmuskcs now available. With the present ncmlnaI
standard Of % 900 men, but with actual standard
during the past two or three years OF $4,000 men,
the number of available muskets has only been
about 13 500. The bill, as he intends TO report it,
will make this number available with nominal
army of 20, 600 men, while If the number should
remain nominally at present his bill would make
available 1sS 500 muskets.
Secondly Mr.. Hewitt was unwilling to increase
the force Of the Army in proportion to the popua-
ton of the United States above what it was n;1 $50
Thus, if the Army numbered 1900 men IN 1SG0.
when the population of the country was - OOO0 600
in 1878, when the population IS estimated at
4GOOO,O0O, the military establishment of the
country ought not he thinks, to be increased more
than 1881, or about so per cent.
Thirdly. the cost of maintaining the Army in
1880, Mr.. Hewitt thinks ougEt not to he in
creased to more than it was III 1850, in any
greater proportion than the population of the coun-
try has increased in the meantime.
Fourthy, in making changes, Mr.. Hewitt has
been unwilling to agree to anything which would
do injustice to those officers of the Army who
entered the profession for life and who led 10
believe that their employment would continue SO
long as they fitted TO fill their respective POSI-
tons.
Taking these several propositions as a guide Mr.
Hewitt has accepted such portions of the Banning
bill as are in harmony with them. Such other
propositions as by modification could be brought
into harmony with them have been modified. Such
portions violate the principles laid down in these
propositions have been rejected. The Military
Committees plan OF recognizing the Army, so far
as il has been adopted. Mr.. Hewitt disclaims all
! sponsbilty for. He Is not military man and does
not claim to be expert i'll military matters. He has,
! therefore, adopted the work of the Military Com
mlttee, which was appointed for the purpose Of
| aiming this question, modifying it only where it
! comes i'll conflict with the principles he laid down
when lie began his work!
The force of the Army under Mr.. Hewitts bill, it
is understood will be about 10000 men, but tho
number Of regiments will be reduced frUin forty to
twenty-six. This reduction in the number of rcgi-
ments has been opposed by nearly every mill
tary officer who has been consulted. All OF
them have advised that the forty regiments
now existing be filled up and that the army be
raised to standard of 10000 men; but when Mr..
Hewitt has assured the gentlemen that neither
party in the House OF Representatives would agree
to such increase of the Army and that the Demo-
Gratis would insist on its reduction TO 20. 900 men,
the officers referred to have universally agreed that
il would he better 10 reduce the number of rcgi-
ments than to contine the present system of or
ganization.
The Military Committee in its bill proposed to
assign all officers for whom there are no details TO
supernumerary list and at the close of year 10
muster out Of the service those who are no longer
needed. This. Mr.. Hewitt thought would be
an injustice TO deserving men; and in his
bin he therefore proposes TO Offer to all
officers who VIII resign years paw and
allowances. If they have been ten years in the
service, then he would give them two years pay
and allowances. If their term Of service has been
fifteen years, three years pay and allowances and
if it has been twenty years, four years pay and al
owances. II there still remain officers who are I'M
4
resign he would send them before board and If
il should report adversely on their retention would
muster them out. The remaining officers on the
supemumerary list Mr. Hewitt, by his bill would
continue in the service, directing the President to
assign them to civil duties until their services are
needed in the Army.
The subject Of the pay Of officers has been to
which Mr.. Hewitt has gwen great attention. Sup
posing the cost Of living in 1860 and 1873 to be
about the same, the pay of officers now. he thinks,
ought not to be greatly increased over what ii
eighteen OF twenty years ago. But in fact the pay
and allowances of Army officers al present about
80 per cent greater than they were before the begin
ming of the war; and very much greater than the
pay and allowances of officers of the Navy.
Mr. Hewitt thinks, therefore, that reduction of 20
per cent the pay and allowances can be made
without hardship and that the compensation Of
Army officers will then average greater than that of
men holding positions Of similar responsibility in
private life, and will be more nearly assmiatcd 10
that of officers of the Navy of corresponding rank
cost Of the Army for the next fiscal year, including
the extra pay and allowances given to men who re-
sgn,wOuld be greater than for the present year,
and that after $40 the annual cost of the Army Will
be reduced 100000
This is an outline Of the theory on which the
Army Bill has been constructed. OF course there has
been great labor in bringing its details into har
mCny with this theory.
WHY TILDEN DIDN'T SWEAR IN.