The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-02-07
THE MILITARY ACADEMY.

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THE MILITARY ACADEMY.
A Discussion in the House over the ApprOpria-
tlOn for Its support rt-The Army Compared to
an Inverted Pyramid Because Of DisprOpOrtlOn
OF Officers.
Washington January 3l-Mr. Cox Dem, N, "
presented twelve petitions from several thousand
citizens of New York for the reconciliation Of
silver &c, He said that these petitions represent
ed the interests of no class especially unless 1t
were the laboriug class whose interests we're
bound up with this fiscal question. The Legisla-
ture of New York had been engaged in instruct
ing members of Congress on this matter 1t
would be well for 1t first to reconstruct itself into
a constitutional body by decent apportionment
according to the State constitution before repudi-
ating constitutional currency and the lessons of
legislation. He had already been taught his les.
son two years ago, when he reported the Silver
Subsidiary bill. He voted for the Matthews reso-
luton as an honest man who knew that coin
means silver, either in the law or out. His votes
now were in accord with his speeches then, and
since then he had been Thoroughly indorsed by
those whose instructions had weight-a cOnstit-
uency Of honest laborlng men.
Mr.. Wait (Rep Comm offered a resolution for
an increase Of the clerical force of the Pension
Office.
Mr.. Butler (Rep., Mass) said that the trouble
was not In the Pension Office, but in the Surgeon
| Generals office.
Mr.. Vance Dem, N. C.) offered resolution in.
structing the Judiciary Committee to investigate
charges of official misconduct in the adminstra'
ton OF justice in the Western District Court oi
North Carolina.
Mr. Waddell Dem, N C) reported back from
the Post Office Committee the bill fixing the pay
of lettercarriers in large cities at $1,000 for the
rstclass and $500 for the lower class of carriers
and in small cities ats8jO per annum. He wished
day set for It's consideration, but objection was
made.
The House went into Committee of the Whole
with Mr.. Blackburn Dem, KY in the chair, or
the Military Academy Appropriation bill.
Mr.. Durham (Dem., Ky.) explained the bill, Il
appropriated 1921 being SlA449 less than the
bill of last year The present bill appropriated
s15O00o for the pay of cadets which would not in
the least lessen the pay Of each cadet, although II
was $1,000 less than was appropriated last year
The Committee on Appropriations had avoided
making any unnecessary appropriations, and in
this It's first bill 1t had endeavored to keep down
| the expenditures for the Military Academy tC
what was actually requisite for the needs of the
institution. He explained that there was sec
ton in the bill providing that appointments oi
civilians to be second lieutenants should be made
only when more vacancies exist than could be
| filled by the assignment of the next graduating
class of cadets. The committee had also recon,
mended section providing that when once 9
cadet has been appointed and has matricuated
no other appointment from the same district
shall be made during the term for which such
cadet was appointed If vacancy should occul
therein from any cause other than death or phys
ical disability. The Secretary of War and Gen
eral Schofeld, the principal Of the Academy, Rp
proved of the provision.
favor of reducing the number Of cadets at West
Point There were about three hundred cadets
there, while $50 would be sufficient to fill all the
vacancies in the army
Mr.. Bragg (Dem,, Wis., concurred In Mr., Rea.
gans views, and criticised the bill.
| Mr.. COnger (Rep. Mich.) followed In the same
| line, and suggested that the other side of the
House was constantly showing in indirect ways
\ Its hostility to the army.
| Mr.. Bntler Rep Mass) favored West Point as
l
their military education should go into civil life
| and be ready when the necessity happened Ia
serve their country in war.
| Mr.. Phillips (Rep., Kan.) favored promotions
| from the ranks, and characterized the American
army as the most aristocratic army in the world
Mr.. Clymer Dem, Pa defended the commit
tee against charges of unfTiendliness to the army
The number of army officers was so large that the
army was likea an inverted pyramid. For an army
| of % 900 men there were now 2,1SS officers, staH
and line, on the active list. There were general
| l lieutenant general, major generals, II briga.
dier generals, nearly brigadier general to every
regiment; 67 colonies, 2l5 colonies to each regi.
ment; Sc lieutentant CoOnes, AZ lieutenant col.
onels to each regiment; 242 majors, 10 majors to
each regiment, 20 aid.de.camps, 59l captains
nearly three captains TO each company; 40 Rdju.
tants 40 regimental quartermasters, 5SS first lieu
| tenants, nearly three to each company, and 445
second leutenants, besides S)S officers on the re-
tired list, making the whole number of officers
267l such mOnstrous disprOportiOn that it could
not be endured.
The debate was continued by Mr. Potter (Dem
N, " Blount Dem,, Ga.) and Beebe (Dem., N W
but without action the committee rose,
Mr.. Harris (Dem., Va.) from the Committee on
Elections, reported in the California case against
Mr.. PaChecO, the sitting member, and in favor OF
Mr.. Wiggintod the contestant
Mr.. Wait presented the minority report, taking
| opposite grounds.
Mr.. Springer (Dem., ILL presented a separate
| report on his own account, although cOnCurTing
| In the resolution Of the majority.
The Speaker announced the appointment Of the
following members ofcOmmittees:
On Expenditures in the State Department
MeSsrs. Turner (Dem,, KY and Bundy (Rep.,
N. W
On Expenditures in the Navy Department
Messrs Prldemore Dem., Va and Williams (Rep.,
Oregon.
On Expenditures in the POst.Ofice Depart
nent-Messrs. Clark (Dem., Mo- and Mckinley
(Rep, o.
on Expenditures in the War Department
Messrs Dickey Dem, o. aud Reed (Rep,, Me-
On Expenditures in the Interior Department
Messrs. Patterson Dem, COLI aud Pound (Rep.t
Wis.,