The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

WASHINGTON, May Is 1878.
Mr.. STEPHENS OF Georgia, asked that it be put upon
the record that he absent leave OF the House
| Yesterday when the was taken upon what is
known the Potter resolution aud was paired with
Mr. Harris, OF Massachusetts. But for the pair no
would have voted against that resolution as Stood
ELEcTIos.
Mr. ELLIS, OF Louisiana from the ommittee on
Elections reported resolution declaring that there
had been no fair, free and peaccab,e election tho
First Congressional district OF South Carolina and
that neither Dir. Rainey Qhe sitting mombep Mr..
Richardson (the contestan) entitled to the seat.
He stated he would call the resolution up next Thurs
day.
The Speaker appointed Messrs Sparks, Singleton
and Baker OF Indiana conerees on The Indian APP
preparation bill.
Mr.. DURHAM, OF Kentucky, from tho Conference
Committee the Military Academy Appropriation
bill, reported that the committee had been unable
TO agree. further conference was ordered and
Messrs. Durham. Clymer and Smith OF Pennsylvania
were appointed conieroes.
The Speaker laid before the House message from
the President transmitting communication from tho
Secretary OF State in regard Fishery Commis-
sion. Referred TO the Committee Foreign Affairs.
Mr. THRocKMoIroS, Of Texas, from the Committee
on Territories, reported bill for the election OF
delegate to the House OF Representatives from tho
Indian Territory. Printed and recommtted.
| On motion of Mr. SMITH, OF Pennselvania, the Sem
| ute amendments to the Pension Appropriation bill
were non-copcurred on, and Messrs. smith, of Penn
sylvaania; Hewitt, OF Now York, and Sparks wero
appointed CONT rees on that bin.
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
The House then, at i've minutes past twelve, went
into Committee or the Whole slr. Springer, OF ILL.,
mons, IN the chair on the Army Appropriation bin
Mr.. HEWITT. OF New York, tho member OF the APP
made statement. He opened with a description
Of tho magnificent natural endowmcnts Of
the country, ana sa,a 'nat i there was was
be unknown, IT was this one Nothing
but individual legislative folly could
prevent it from becoming the richest and most pros
porous country The face OF the globe. He regarded
the crucial test OF craftsmanship to DO Tho reduction
OF the burdens OF taxation, that the hand OF labor
might reap It's reward keep II when earned That
idea had been the pole star which the Committee
Appropriations had set before It,. The reduction OF
expenditures in the year 1877 had been s25 100000.
Mr.. FOSTER, OF Ohic--l beg pardon. fhe reduction
does not amount to ST., 100000
Mr. HEWITT reaflrmed his statement and added
that the expenditures should be still further reduced
SIS 600 ooo The cost OF the army in 1860, he said,
amounted to fory-fye cents per head OF the entire
population and in 1877 to fityour cents. That made
difference OF between S4,0o0,0Oo and $4,000 900.
Tho pending bill effected saving OF So S7l 000 and
that without touching the pay OF soldier OIL
Ger anu without reducing the strength OF the army
minis ration aud that was the direction in which an
appropriation committee should proceed.
GARFIELD CRITICISED.
He denied that that committee the democratic
party influenced its action by hostility to
CRITICISED e.
| Piled to Mr. Gardelds article in the last two
bers Of the No, american Reriew. and stated that in
that article he lMr Garfield had descended 70 tho
the army contained now as compared WITH 1860.
surplus OF GOT officers and ,22s men. On the OF
OF the present posts being useless, there
was also surplus in tho strength OF the army.
He thought that there danger of In.
dian war. As to tho use OF the army put
labor strikes he said that II was not In accordance
with the republican principles OF the government to
from exercising any just right. Tho right to strike
dcrs II the duty OF tho States individually
press them.
ENCOURAGE rag MILITIA
II formed part oil the business OF tho general
government 10 supply by Its power any neglect on
the part OF the State to DO its duty. What tho
government ought TO do was TO organize national
mitia system throughout the country. He
favor of encouraging rifle clubs, Tor republican
were armed. As TO tho Communism which was
Haunted before Congress MS reason why the army
and never would have footing in this md unless
Congress should undertake TO police tho
S sDany done s' communs nS you'd break ' ons
IN every town in the country. But II Communism
should break out the presdons was authorized to call
out the militia II had been said that The militia
would sympathize with tho mob but he did not be-
levc 1t lie did not believe that those who
composed tho militia were so iguorant OF their
rights and duties cizensf ii thcy this whole
government was founded on deusios, and the
ciusion would be arrived NJ that the country
governed by absoluiism III tho militia could not DO
trusted republican institutions were a failure.
OFFICERS PAY AND ALLOWANCES.
Coming down practcai deta,ls OF the BILL no
spoke OF the manner in which the committee pro-
posed to deal with the allowances Tor forage fuel aud
quarters. Hc that wuc the pay proper OF tho
General OF the Army was Sl3 900 his actual pay
lwi;h commuta,ion aiowances) was 1000; the nay
proper tho Lieutenant General Is $l 600 his ual
pay Sl3, 0oG; tho pay proper Ut major general
$1,000, bis actual pay se,5o4; tho pay proper OF
his actual pay SG1.1, ana SO all tho way
down, the actual pay ranged from twenty 1--WE nfy
per cent over the pay proper. The bil proposed 10
change all these allowances forage fucl and quar-
tcrs Forage would be supplied 10 those officers who
used horses 10 the public service, and would
supplied to those who aid not SO use horses Quar-
ters would be supplied only AZ the military stations
and In the icd Fuel would be supplied by tho gov
ernmen, at the rate of So cord OF wood. TINS
would be- bcneiactiun 10 officers anu q saving ut
least s2O00o0 to the government He assorted that,
on the whole, the provisions OF the bill on the
subject OF compensation woro liberal aud ample.
In conclusion he claimed that tho hi DID
not reduce the strength Of tho army by Quo
musKet that IL did force oil tho army single
officer vino cnosc 10 remain 10 u anu VINO ought
remain IN 1t; that II 81 MOI reduce tho pay Of tho
army but only OF aIloxa that are an abuse;
that leaves tho army officers with better pay than
Is received in civil M. Tor equally important services
or that by ofiecrs OF the navy; that tho
savings effected were simpiv IN administration aud
be largely Increased aud that by II relief would
be extended TO Tue taxpayers 10 the amount OF nearly
CRITICISM on THE REDUCTION
Mr. McCooK, OF New York. next addressed the com.
mittec IN criticism oi reductions proposed ny bill
Whatever OF good the I'LL contained bad been drawn
studied tho subject o the army. Referring a bill
prepared W tho chairman OF the Committee on MILF
Affairs he sad that section In that b provld-
ing Tor tho disarmament VI the army had been
seriously contemplated and had received tho
sanction of distinguished members OF that committee
and possibly OF the Appropriations Committee
Mr.. hkwirr--l OBJECT TO any such statement MS 20
the Committee on Appropriations. II Is entirely un-
tUuudeu III fact
Mr. McCooK--l said possibly"
Mr.. HEWITT sill object to tho statement, and
ask the gentleman TO cobDnc himself 10 facts.
Mr. McCook-It Va an uuquestioncd tact that such
section (srovding Tor the disUandmenl OF the army
III case the failure of Congress pass tho Army
Appropriation bliI) was Incorporated IN an army bi
that discussed ana doenGed, and that for over
two mouths 1t was obstinatcly adhered To; and that
mould mako hesitate before agreeing to follow
other suggcs Ions IRON the same source, when
adopted by the Committee on Appropriations.
AT the close OF oMr. McCook's speech tho committee
rose.
PROVIDING sp.AKKR's ABsKSCE
The SPEAKER stated that no would be absent during
the early part OF next week. Thcrcuron resolution
was offered BY Mr. Eden I'M adopted appointing