The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1878-12-18
NEW SERIES---NO. 154
WASHINGTON LETTER.


SOLID WORK IN THE HOUSE, -TnE NEW
NGM BiLI--A GREAT REDUCTION OF THE
NUMBER or OFFICERS ,gD Mponr,,r
CHANGES IN oRdANizNrroy--NO FUTURE
EXCLUSION ON ACCOUNT OF CoNFIDFuArg
SERVICE.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec 18th, 1873.
OF course all the talk here, at present. is
about Mr. Blainc's great speech The senate
chamber from floor to ceiling, was crowd.
ed rs it never had been before, to hear him.
The speech had been anticipated and the
subject Of conversation among politicians,
and every man and woman in Washington
is II politician, for days before. For the
moment Grant presidential stock is quoted
at discount, and Senator Blaine appears
to have all the vantage that he held before
the Cincinnati convention. His speech was
prepared with great care, and he did no,
trust himself 10 extemporaneous delivery,
rs he had been his custom in the house,
where he accomplished as much by his ad
captandum style Of Speaking, as hc did by
the force Of argument The styles Of oratoIy
in the house and senate are very different
and it is evident that Mr.. Blaine has profit
ed by criticism Of the rampant elocution
that had proved SO effective
in tue house, but that is totally powerless
TO move the dignided heavy weights OF the
senate Senators Thurman and Lamar
made bricf impromptu replies to Dir.
Blaine, and each signifed his intention to
reply at greater length during the course of
the debate The political friends of Mr..
Blaine insist that it will be impossible TO
confutc his facts and arguments, while the
friends Of Thurman and Lamar believe that
he has been already conclusivcy answered,
and since the result has been only to con
| firm both Republicans and Democrats in
their previous convictions it is very difficult
for those who effect an aerial judicial posi-
ton, locum in arsorc, to see what has been
accomplished by all this sensational oratory
further than to bring Mr.. Blaine and Mr..
Thurman into more conspicuous leadership,
and promote their candidacy for the presi-
dincy of the United States in 1880.
Next to Mr. Baine's oratory, the Scn,a-
ton in political circles has been the pros
pectivc retirement from the cabinet of At
torney General evens, and now it is report
ed that Senator Matthews of Ohio will be
his successor. The term Of Mr.. Matthews
will expire on the 4th OF March and Hon.
George Pcndleton win succeed him. Mr.
Matthews is said to be enamored OF poiiti-
cal life, and very 10th to leave Washington
The president it is believed, will give him
the vacancy that will be made by the retire
mcnt of Dcvcns His nomination will meet
with opposition in the senate, but not suf-
ficient, it is said to prevent his contirma-
ton.
Siace last wrote the house has accom-
plished more solid work in the passage Of
the consular and fertilization bills, and the
new army bill, framed by ajoint committee
of the house and senate, will soon come up
for consideration; but since it contemplatcS
a great reduction of the number of officers,
and radical changes Of organization, il will
meet with stubborn resistance in both
houses. The bill does not affect the Cen
cral and Lieutenant General of the army,
but by the present law those offices will ey.
pirc with Generals Sherman and Sheridan.
The infantry regiments are to be reduced
from twenty five to eighteen the cavalry,
from ten to eight 1t is provided that each
regiment shall consist of four battalions.
Two battaions Of each infantry and arti
lery regiment are to be kept differed and
manned in full the third will have ITS full
compliment Of officers, but not Of men, while
the fourth will have neither officers or men
in time Of peace, but may be brought into
existence as congress may order. This will
make the regiments consist of two full bat
talions with officers for third battalion
while the men for the third, and both Off
GERS and men for the fourth, exist MS skele-
ton battalons, to be filled up only for the
occasion of war. The regiments
in tim, of peace will have about $50
men, each battalion consisting of four con-
panics or batteries. The army will remain
as now at $4,000 men, but the bill provides
for only two major-generals and only tour
brigadiers. II consolidatcs the adjutant
and inspector generals departments, and
makes reduction of six officers in the
two. The bureau Of military justice is RI.
duced six officers; the ordnance depart
mcnt 40; the pay department ~; meLica
department II commissionary department
II; quartcrmasler department ls The
engineer corpse and signal service remain
as they are Post choplains are reduced to
eight, and they must be recommended by
the church Of their denomination. The per.
mancnt staff will not contain any officer
below the rank Of major, all officers for
stuff duty Of lower rank must be detailed
Al. 4 hall L.. IL.