The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-05-23
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.

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| Fishery Commission. Referred
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole Mr. Springer of Illinois, in the Chair, on
the Army Appropriation bill,
Mr. Hewitt IN. ~ who has charge of the bill,
in his statement said he regarded the crucial test
of craftsmanship TO be reduction of the burdens
of taxation so that the hand of labor might reap
its reward. That IDA had been pole star which
the Committee on Appropriations had set before
IT, The reduction of expenditures in 1877 had
been S25 0O000O
Mr. Foster-I beg pardon. The reduction does
not amount to sl2O0O,0OO
Mr. Hewitt reafirmed his statement, and added
the expenditures should be still further reduced
S25 900 OOO. The cost OF the army In 1860 amount.
ed to 45 cents per head of the entire population,
and In 1877 to 54 cents. That made a difference
of between for and five millions. The pending
bill effected saving of SO GIL 900, and that with
out touching the pay of the soldier or of officer,
and without reducing the strength Of the army
by single musket saving was effected on the
administration. On the test Of population, the
army contained now Gas compared with '60) a sur.
plus of GOT officers aud OF 1928 men. On test of
army posts now and in go (5S Of present posts be-
ing uSeless) there was also surplus In the
strength of the army,
Army was $4,000, his actual pay with commuta.
ton allowanCes) was $4,000; pay proper of the
Lieutenant General S11 0OO actual pay SO, $685. pay
proper of Major General 81 5OO actual pay SO 5O4
pay proper of Colonel $500, or with longevity
pay 81 5OO actual pay s6177, and SO on all the way
down, the actual pay averaged from 25 to 50 per
cent over the pay proper The bill proposed to
change all these allowances for forage fuel and
ho tad toN
GERS who need horses in the public service, and
none would be supplied to those who did not so
use horses. Quarters would be supplied only at
military stations and in the field. Fuel would be
supplied by the Government at the rate of three
dollars per cord Of wood This would be bene-
faction To officers and saving Of at least $500 900
to the Government On the whole the provisions
Of the bill on the subject Of compensation were
liberal and ample. He claimed that the bill did
not reduce the strength of the army by one mus.
ket that It did not force out Of the army single
officer who chose TO remain In II; that 1t did not
reduce the pay of the army but only cutoff allow.
ances that are an abuse; that 1t leaves army Off
GERS with better pay than is received In civil lite
for equally important services or that is received
by officers Of the navy; that the savings effected
were simply In administration and can be largely
increased and that by II relief would be extend
ed 10 the Taxpayers to the amount Of nearly four
million dollars.
Mr.. McCOOk criticised the reductions proposed
Referring to the bill prepared by the Chairman
of the Committee on Military Affairs, he said
section in that bill providing for disbandment
of the army had been seriously contemp lated,
aud had received the sanction OF distinguished |
members of that committee, and possibly Of the !
appropriation Committee.
Mr.. Hewitt object to any such statement as |
to the Committee on Appropriations, 1t is en-.
tirely unfounded In fact.
Mr. McCook-I said possibly"
Mr.. Hewitt-I still object to the statement, and |
ask the gentleman 10 conhne himself to facts.
Mr. McCo0k-It Ia an uuquestioned fact that |
such section providing for the disbandment Of /
the army IN cAse Of the failure Of Congress to pass