The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-14
Mr.. Hcwitt's sham Reform Bill.

| Mr.. Hcwitt's Sham Reform Bill.
When the Army bill was passed at the eS-
ira session. and the Illegal acts of the
Fraudulent Administration, in maintaining
n maximum force Of twenty-five thousand
mon, from the LIST Of July forward, without
the authority of Congress- and without
money, were condoned, great promises were
made Of economy for the ensuing fiscal year
| Those promises are not redeemed in the bill
prepared by Mr.. HEWITT, which is now he
fore the House. It IL constructed in the
main on the basis Of the bill of Mr. BANNING
| Of the Military Committee, but falls short
Of the rctrcnchmcnt which the latter pro-
posed by two millions Of dollars in round
numbers
II is useless to discuss details when the
fundamental idea is wrong. Everybody
knows the army is top-hcavy, and that the
country is now taxed and has been for many
years. to support at an enormous expense
an army of officers who are useless and
wholly disproportioncd in numbers to any
force that will ever bc tolerated IN time "
Seace. BY concerted action and various de-
vices the army has succeeded in escaping
the rctronchmcnt applied to every other
branch OF the public service
Two opposing IDEAS now confront each
other in regard to the military establish
mont. One proposes radical reduction 81
the army 10 peace basis with ten thousand
men, which. If adopted. would carry down
the overload II officers. The other subs AN
| TALLY proposes t. keep up n standing army
| Of twenty thousand men. with recruits OF
| five hundred more. and to gradually weed
| out the superintendent officers, as in the bill
Of Mr.. HEWITT. II the latter proposition loo
| accepted, reform in any large sense may a.
| we'll he abandoned. for the officers have
learned by experience how 10 take care 81
Themselves in Congress.
The sham Of consolidating regiments and
retiring certain officers upon the report OF
boards Interested in keeping up the fullest
| complement, will deceive nobody az n meas
| ure Of real reduction in the expenditures
| The people have their eyes wide open, and
they see first large army which il not
needed In any way and a multitude Of OIL
| GERS with phantom commands. They know
the average cost Of every private in the
ranks when the bills are all footed up, is
fully one thousand dollars a year. II IS
simple calculations easily made. and quito as
easily understood, that million OF dollars
will be saved for every thousand men re-
duccd in the army. Hence they demand
reduction, which, without any eyasions or
complicated accounts will cut on twelve or
fifteen millions Of dollars at a single dash,
and compel more rotrcnchmcui in the immc-
date future
The old story Of an Indian war, and of the
hostile intentions of SITTING BULL, is in
vented and put in circulation now that the
! E,
House 1t has happened regularly for years
that some such tale has been sprung on
Congress in the nick Of time to prevent
economy, by furnishing pretcXt for keep
ing up the army Meanwhile, Gen SHERMAN
and the military clique at Washington
| spread out new posts in every possible
direction, 10 create II demand for more
troops, while another interest in Texas
which dlscards party in the prosecution OF
its selfish aims, manages TO foment irrta-
| tion on the border and does not scruplc to
charge it to Mexican account.
Every dollar expended for the army now
or for any other branch Of the public SER
vice, beyond the actual needs OF the coun-
try is criminal extravaganza for which
| there should be no forbcarancc extended by
n suffering people. One Of the false argu-
ments employed 10y the conspirators for
seating HAYES in the Office 20 which TILDEN
was elected was that with a settlement of
the Presidential question, no matter how
made, peace would be secured and pros
perity would inevitably follow. The record
Of the last year Is one Of the sovcrest in trial
and distress known to our history, and the
very last quarter exceeds the worst in the
long and gloomy catalogue Of bankruptcy
| and ruin
The Republicans threaten to oppose solid
| ~ any reduction of the army, and fraction
Of Democrats, mostly from Texas, who look
| forward To annexation and meanwhile to
| largo expenditures from n force of five thou
sand men on the line of the Rio Grandc, are
ready to join with their political opponents
in this shameless prodigality. We hope to
sec the test made SO clear In the House
upon distinct amendment TO reduce the
army to the very lowest point, that every
members vote will be seen and known TO his
constituents, so that when the reckoning
comes next fall the journals OF the House
will answer all excuses, and drive ont Of
Congress every treacherous or defaultlng
| Representative.