The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-18
The ARMY BILL.
Hon. John Reagan, of Texas, shows
why the Representatives from Texas
should Net Vote for An Increase Of
the Army.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Washington, June 5, 1878.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
Washington, June 5, 1878. !
Editors News-I see from the NeaOs Of June
that your Washington correspondent ar
raigns me for having voted for the reduction
and reorganization Of the army.
Will you allow me room in the NeCs for
brief reply?
Our army as now organized is overbur-
dened with supernumerary officers, is COM
posed mainly OF mere skeletons OF regiments
and companies, is, in fact, very largely an
army made up Of headquarters and details;
and is notoriousIy inefficient on these
accounts. 1t is at the same time the
most expensive army on the earth, accord
ing to size.
The Democrats In the House have been try
ing during the last and this Congress to re-
duce the expenditures of the government and
to relieve as far as they can the tax-em-
distress.
The Military Committee of the House at
this session prepared bill for the reOrganlza-
tion OF the army, reducing the maximum OF
the rank and file from 2500O to 10000 men,
and reducing the number OF regiments from
forty to thirty-one, and by filling up the regi-
ments and companies so as to give them an
efficient and useful organization, and SO en-
able them to be of real service in the defense
of the frontiers. It was the opinion OF the
Military Committee that the army so reOr-
ganized with maximum Of 10000 men would
give better protection to the frontier than the
present bad and inefficient organization with
a maximum of $4,000 men; and L concur IN
this belief. And this reorganization, In addl-
tiOn to securing greater efficiency IN the
army, would have reduced the cost OF It's an
nual support more than 5000, 600.
or the present army of q, 708 men about
5000 are east of the Mississippi river, where
there are no hostile Indians or other public
enemy. Their transfer to field where they
could be useful in the defense OF our frontiers
is to be controlled by the orders OF tie War
Department, and not by legislation Shall
we increase the army and the public expendl-
lures because the proper authorities fail to
make the proper use and distribution OF the
army?
And If we keep the army at $4,000 men, can
we expect larger or more efficient force tor
the protection of our frontie? Two years ago
our delegation, myself among them, joined
with the Republicans of the House to prevent
/ a reduction OF the army, upon the under
standing that we should have additional
| troops for the protection OF our frontier. We
succeeded in defeating this Democratic meas
ure for the reduction Of the public expendl-
lures. did so with much reluctance then.
This abandonment of our party on an I'M
portant measure ended in our being cheated
and getting no increase of force for the de-
| fense OF our frontier. did not choose to aban-
| don the Democratic party and vote with the
| Republicans again to defeat O. great reform
and reduction OF expenditures, and to be
| cheated again.
/ was present when Gen. Sherman was be-
ing examined by the Military Committee oi
/ the House on the organization, distribution
and use OF the army. The question was put
| to him as to whether the Texas frontier Oh
other parts OF our frontier settlements most