The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-02

| perS to the effect that most of the "kid"
gloves Of commerce are made from the skin
OF this rodent is probably untrue, since its
small size would preclude its use for any
| thing but gloves for children.
-asg ReGsTapefsn vineifeator.
HOW PRIVATE HINEs7s TROUSERS COST TUE
UNITED STATES $4,000.
Washington Post.I
! Some mention has been made from time
to time in these beautiful columns Of the
bill introduced in the House by the Hon.
Anson G. McCook, OF New York, for the
relief OF Private William Hines, Of Com
pany F, Eighteenth United states infantry.
1t seems that on or about the 18th day Of
October, 1876, the trousers and blanket be-
! longing to Private Hines were destroyed By
| fire, which broke out in his tent at Aiken,
S. G. The amount of his loss in money
was 1886. He claimed that the fire was
purely accidental, and that lie was
entitled to have his blanket and troll-
scrs gratuitously duplicated. The COM
mandant OF the regiment, not wishing to
have Hines appear in Aiken with his lower
limbs exposed, issued him pair of regula-
tion blues and blanket OF the approved
shoddy pattern. Here the trouble COM
q
as to the authority of the Government to
make Hines present OF these articles. The
officers who had issued them to him were
responsible, and they stood charged on the
rolls. Bines, Of course, received his
breeches and blankets and went off about
| his business. A board OF survey, composed
Of military officers, was convened to deter
mine whether the tire which destroyed
Illness tent was accidental, incendiary, or
providential, and nearly all the officers in
| the regular army were brought into the
controversy one way and another. The mat
ter finally took the shape OF bill, which
was introduced in the House by Mr.. Nc
Cook. This bill simply lustifes the officer
who issued Hines his. trousers and blanket
graruitously, and does not, as is generally
supposed, reimburse Hines directly for his
loss The House Military Committee, which
has been giving the bill careful considera-
ton, has finally made up lengthy report,
accompanied by all the army orders. and
endorsements OF the claim, and printed
COPY Of this able document is before
us. The committee was first called
upon to decide whether Hines, as pri-
yate in the army, had right to be at
Aiken, S. c., on the 18th Of October, 1876.
The army at that time was being used
to control the elections In the southern
States, and there was grave constitutional
question rs to its right to ethere. The
committee decided that Hines was on duty
at Aiken by order Of his superiors, and that
so far as he and his trousers were concerned
the constitutionalty of the question could
not enter. The committee next satisfied
itself, from an examination OF the testimony
of the Army Board OF Survey, that the fire
which destroyed Illness tent originated in
the top, and that nobody was to blame. 1t
was first thought that Illness careless
handling OF pipe brought Oh the catastro-
phe, but this was set aside by the proof that
he was not smoker. All the evidence
went to show that Hines was sleeping
quietly in his tent, in disrobed state,
as gentleman should, when the fire
broke out, and that when aroused he
made gallant effort to save his pro-
perty. The House Military Committee
very sensibly concluded that the. officers
who furnished Hines with a pair Of trousers
did so in order to maintain the dignity OF
the military branch of the Government, for
at that peculiar period it would have brought
dsrepute upon the country to have had
even so humble q person as an army private
knocking about Il southern town in trou-
serless condition, and the committee, there
| fore, unanimously urge the passage OF the
bill. In concluding very able and eX-
haustlve report (tEe printing OF which must
have cost at least SO under our expensive
system), the committee says:
The trouble with Hines began nearly
eighteen months since, and the papers only
reached the hands Of your committee few
day ago, and in placing the final determina-
ton of the question with the representatives
of the people they feel that they are dis
charged from further responsibility. They
cannot, however, dismiss the subject with
out calling attention to the almost perfect
! system G. checks and guards thrown around
the issuing of Government property. lhe
thoughtless may call it cred tape" or clr-
cumlocution, but without it Hines to-day
would be in undisputed possession OF pair
of trousers and blanket to which he Wotllu
have no legal title. AS it is, the system mas
been vindicated, the right OF the united
States to Illness trousers fully established,
and his personal and pecuniary response
bilitv determined. Under all the circum-
stances, your committee recommend the
passage OF the bill.
# IS to this splendid vindication OF So
called cred -tapeism" that we wish to call
particular attention. The time taken up IN
| investigating and legislating in this case has
cost the departments and the country gen.
erally about $4,000. In view OF the perfect
system of guards and checks which sur
round the handling Of. Government pro-
perty, this is quite reasonable. 1t may oc-
cur to some people, though, that a regiment
desiring to save the time and money OF the
Government might raise a collection or give
pound-party when one Of the members
loses q pair of trousers and blanket by
fire. However, we congratulate Represent
atiye McCook upon his success in pushing
this bill for the relief OF Hines, and trust
that favorable action in the House will be
secured at an early day.
| Zone OF the Frankfort house of Rothschlld
called on the Emperor William at the be-
pinnipe Of his illness. "You see," said the
Emperor, "I have passed my eightieth year,
and at That age one must begin TO think OF