Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-02-19
A Lirely Time Orer West Point.

The House at o'clock, went into
Committee Of the Whole-Mr. Blackburn
(Dem. KY in the chair-upon the Mill
tary Academy Appropriation bill, the
pending amendment being TO strike out
the sections which allow additional pay
TO Frst-Lieutenauts acting as instructors
8. the institution.
Mr.. Bragg (Dem. Wis., supported the
amendment. He denied that those pre-
lessons received smaller salaries than
those given st the large colleges Of the
country.
Mr.. Durham (Dem. Ky) explained
that the law fixed the number Of pro-
iessors, and if the gentleman from Wis
consin ORR Bragg did not intend TO act
as demsgogue. why did he not bring
in = bill 10 diminish the number Alter
= while that gentleman would become so
economical that he would want 10 cut
down his own salary bot he apprehend-
ed that the gentleman from Wisconsin
did not think his salary too much for his
magnificent services.
Mr.. Atkins Dem. Tenn. defended the
Committee on Appropriations. The
gentleman from Wisconsin had talked.
the other day. about the blue blood OF
West Point. In his own opinion it was
red blood and not blue blood that ran in
the veins Of the graduates Of that Acat-
emy. Red blood had ran through the
veins OF Grant. Mcpherson, Robert L.
Lee and Stonewsll jackson.
Mr.. Bragg Dem. Wis., replied that
- So - "a {
mittee 20 reduce the force az West Point
il the Appropriation Committees made
appropriations TO run the factory for
making more officers than the Military
Committee thought necessary.
On behalf OF the latter committee, he
could only say that the principle Of ego
tism which makes every member defend
the bill OF his own committee had been
very thoroughly absorbed by another
committee of the House Laughter
10 regard to voting - reduce ms own
salary, when that question came up he
would be found voting aye
Mr.. Humphrey (Rep., Wis)-l arise
to privileged question. The extrays-
CANT side of the House is that on which
| sit. We have been attacked By the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Bragg
when We have not been introduced to
the other party. Laughter.
Mr.. Durham inquired whether Mr..
Bragg meant TO insinuate that the Com
mIttee Appropriations had appropriated
tor more men than were provided for
BY law.
Mr.. Bragg-No, sir; but the laws
which you were spdrticepS in making
provided for more than was necessary.
Mr.. Durham-I did not make the laws,
because | never was a member of the
Military Committee. and l charge you
with gross neglect OF duty.
The Chair (Mr. Blackburn The
member must address the Chair.
Mr.. Durham-I was addressing Il
will not say a more important parsonage.
Laughter.
The amendment was then defeated.
Mr.. Aiken (Dem., S. &. moved to |
amend so SIS to reduce the pay OF cadets
from $40 TO $500 He criticised the &C
ton OF the Appropriation Committee in
several OF its appropriations. In conclu-
sion, be said that West Point was an |
incubus on the people OF the country. II |
the people knew for what the 1915 600 |
was appropriated annually, in less thar
thirty days the House would be flooded !
with demands 20 put West Point under
the hammer, or to give it TO New-York,
and he was bold enough to say that he
would vote for either proposition.
Mr.. Hewitt (Dem., n. Y.)-No doubt;
the gentlemen, coming from the State be
does, would be glad to give West Point
TO anybody else. But West Point has
itself in the history of this
country, AID the people will never al
low it to 90 under the hammer, or be
closed up. Applause.
Mr.. House (Dem. ,Tenn.,) excitedly-
| think i. would better become the gen.
tleman rom New York to answer the
OF the gentleman from South
Carolina than to make the al captain
fttDa appeal of demagogue which SIAN
ders the representatives of the whole
Southern people. Applause on the
Democratic side.
Mr.. Durham (Dem., ky) defended
he West Point Academy, and said Con
yrssS should stand by /.
The amendment was then rejected. ,
and without further action the committee
.Us9, and the House, at 4,40, adjourned