The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-23


commend to the Congressman who vote to
maintain the top-heavy proportions Of the
STAFF, and all the cumbersome and costly
machinery Of war; beyond infantry armed
with the Springfield musket the following
testimony Of Gen. MILES before the House
Committee on Military Affairs:
TuE CHArH~AS-what artillery had you with youi
GgS AmEs-I had steel gun. = brccch loader, very
light piece the only in in the United states
TnE CnAiRsAN-was 1t managed BY officers of the
ulleryi
Gts Nnss-rt was manned by a sergeant and detail
Of nfantrymcn
Tae CnAiRAAS-Thcn you did not have any Of the regu
lar artillery with your
GEN MmEs-No, sir.
THr Cn.RsAS-How many men or officers of the signal
Corps did you have with any Of your oxpeduons
GES MmEs--1 had none.
THN CnNRxAS-Ilow many officers Of the regular Com
missary Department did you have with you any Of
your cxpediuonsi
Cru MmEs-None
Tw CHAmSAS--How many officers OF the Engineer
Corps did you have with you any your cxpedonsi
GEs MItEs-Nonc.
Tar CHAiRs,N--IIow many officers of the Quarter
master Corps did you have with you any Of your
poditonsi
command att post and might make the same answer
IN regard to the Commissary Department
Tns CunHSAS-llow many Of the Adlutant Generals
Department.
GKs Murs-Nonc.
Tnt CHNrs,S-lIow many Judge AdvocAtesf
GIN MlLEs-Nonc.
TnS cnnRsAN-IIow many Of the regular surgeons did
you have with your
GtS Mmr-Usualiy one or two
Tns CnAmSAS-Did you have any contract ply sicians
with your
GEs Mtss-ycs bu, I do not remember the number on
Il a a. \
rmE CmAENAS-llow many Chaplains were along with
your
GsN MLrs-None.
Tnr cn.ns,S-llow many Of the Ordnance Corps did
you have with youi
GrS Mtrs-Nono.
rnF CH,RuAS-win you advise us how the duties Of
the Commssary the Quartermastcr the Engineer. the
ordnance and the Adiuiant General provided Tor
In your commandf
GsN MuKs-B, details from the line.
Ma McCooK-An of the signal offccr. with the cSccp
ton OF the chief signal onccr. detailed from the
line. are they mott
GHS Mmrs-Ycs sir.
Ma BR,ec-were no, the duties Of the several stan
officers DISCHARGED by the details made from the line
efficiently sf they had discharged by the officers
belougiuz to the stan propcri
GsN MLEs-Yes, sir.
Nh MAtsu-Dd you desire any ~ the ofncers Of the
stan TO be with in this expedition ami had you made
any efforts to obtain themi
GtN MitEs-l had no use for them. could make De
tails Of efficient officers To do the duty.
Tn cHAIEsAS-wcrc any OF the staff Of the Inspector
Generals Department with you On the expcdiuoni
GFS MiLKs--Nl, SIR
TIA cnnKNAS-or any Of the Pay Department.
GKN MiLH There were no raymastsrs with the com
mands hut they from the posts when the
returned there. and paid them there but Tor that
matter, the Quartcrmaser pays his employees and he
might a well pay the men
Tn cn,RS,S-rhcn you think that the payment Of
the troops might well be performed by the Quar,ermas
iers do Won noti
GKS Mius-I see reason why II could not be done
Mn MAisa-if the Quartcrmaster Is = detailed officer
from the line, would you still be Of the opinion that he
would be a proper onicer To act as Ray MASTER
Grs Missile pays civilians And presume there
would be no dnculiy in his paying soldiers
This testimony and the facts OF the case
underlying It, prove incontrovertibly that
for all purposes Of war agans; the Indians
lthe only armed foe the United States at pres
ent have any chance Of lighting the whole 81
the staff Of the army and all OF the artillery
are unnecessary. It proves that SO far as
actual lighting In the field Is concerned the
Signal Corps, the Artillery Corps, the Com
missary Department, the Judge Advocates
Bureau the Pay Department. the Quarter
master Corps. and the Ordnance Corps can
Just rs well be abolished or consolidated n =
not We hope that the taxpayers will make
a political catechism Of this testimony, and
drill candidates for Congress in it ia the
coming eutumnal nominations and elections
Pledge your representatives TO vote for the
reduction Of the army before you let them
go to Washington.