The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-18
THE ARMY BILL IN ITS FINAL FORM.
I. II a Reform Measure or the Coptrary.s

UNI tOhhhNfONDENl Fab II 10 hEfOhms
WASHINGTON, June 1G-The Army bill has
been reported to both Houses and its passage
may DO considered certain Upon 1t the House
has gained n substantial victory. 1t is not all
that should be done 1t is more than has ever
before been done Credit is due for this to Mr..
Hewitt. The Army bill. as he reported it. was
the most consistent scheme Of army reform yet
presented to either branch of the Legislature.
Tho same bill rs he brings it out Of conference
saves more vital reforms now, and nsures moro
reform in tho future, than any conference report
on an army bill hitherto made.
The Democrats Of the House went into confer
ence aware that Democratic Senators had sur
rendered at discretion to the Military Ring Party
principles have small support on the Democratic
side Of the Senate. The practical difficulty was
to prevent this defeat in tho Senate from be-
coming n rout in the House. The first question
was reorganization. The SENATE by Il three
fourths vote referred all questions Of army re-
organization to II Commission of Major. Gem
erals. This the House refused to accept. 1t
secures II commission it can control-nvc Rep
rescntatiyes and three Senator'S 1t shifts the
dead weight Of the army lobby from opposition
OF reform TO support Of reform by forbidding all
promotions and appointment till tho report Of
this committee Is acted upon.
Army officers will themselves be moro anxious
to secure an early reorganization than any
other class. Till existing abuses are reformed
the army stands spcllbound. The second point
Of difference was the army allowances. There
the Senate yields. They aro cut out. This re-
duccs the vauo received by commissioned
officers twenty per cent. II saves million dol
lars yearly. 1t simplncs accounts. Mon can
now tell what an officer receives His pay sim
pie covers the sum. The allowances are al
lowed i'm actual service I'm tho field
The third point Of difference was the uso OF
the army. Here the House gains much. The
principle that Congress controls tho army is
now expressly recognized. It is made in terms
crime to use the army except IA expressly
provided by law. No latitude is allowed. The
law must be followed. This Is much Unless
the Senate yielded this the House conferees pro-
posed to let the bill lapse. The Senate yielded.
Tho important matter Of the reduction Of the
army remains untouched. There the House
wholly failed. The Senate was willing. or pro-
tossed TO be willing. to permit the bill 20 fail
sooner than permit reduction; and so brittle Is
the Democratic majority in the House on all
questions ~ real economy that it is extremely
doubtful whether the House would have sus-
tanned the committee in making any reduction.
SO in regard to the transfer of the Indian
Bureau TO the War Department tho House
yields. A.MG
ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT CONDEMNS THE bill
A. SHAMEFUL SURRENDER.
WASHINGTON. June IG. Every reform in the
Army bin ~ passed. by the House has been
shamcfully surrendered at the dictntion Of tho
Senate. by conference committee Of which Mr.
Abram 5. Hewitt WAS Chairman. and suisse
uucntly by the approving vote of n majority Of
the body. The reforms at best were small. but
such as they wore. hardly "A shadow Of thcm re-
mains. Though this result excites Just indig-
milton. II does not cause great surprise. Mr.
Hewitt belongs % the class Of public men
known "a compromisers. who may be called the
pests Of sound legislation, anl the worst enc
mics Of the principles they Uroiess to advocate.
He il ono of tho reformers WHO has been most
efficient in defeating reform.
MIR. Hewitt was chiefly instrumental in con-
doninG tho crime Of the Fraudulent Admins
,ration. in assuming to maintain the army up
10 IT, maximum point without dollar Of appro-
printion for that object hy & ,ngrcss. II the is
sue hal boon vigorously made at the extra Sos
sion. and the fuli power of the legislative branch
Il the Government asserted against the en-
croachments OF the Executive. an example at
least would have been set that must have do
TERED any repetition Of the offence Mr. Hewitt
counselled submission. AMI his advice was
adopted. This substantially approved the mon
strous doctrine that whenever Congress secs NJ
| for any reason whatever. 10 refuse supplies for
tho army, the navy or the civil service the IN
ecutiye may. Of his own motion. use the public
credit AMI issue certificates Of Indebtedness to
an unlimited EXTENT
The Army hill. H. II passed tho House con-
tanned several distinctive features which are
worthy ~ notice now. Tho number OF enlisted
| mon was reduced To- 10000. or double the force
actually needed The Indian Bureau wins
transferred TO the War Department. and the
| use Of troops rs a posse comfah,s was ex-
plicitly forbidden. Mr.. Hcwltts conference
| committee reported in favor Of retaining the
army at $4,000 enlisted men Of referring the
| Indian Bureau 10 II commission. and Of retain
| INK the shadow Of the provision in regard To
the posse cofiia'us. By abandoning the sub
stance. rs was clearly shown by Mr.. Hooker
and Mr. House, in the brief discussion that was
permitted on the report
But the most extraordinary part Of this per-
! tormance WAS the declaration Of Mr.. Hewitt
| that certain projected reforms would be pre-
vented 10y the failure II the bill, and. therefore.
! he and his associates had concluded 1t best to
| give up the only reforms which the House had
sanctioned Better have dsbanded the army
entirely. than 10 have thus yielded tho right Of
the representatives ofthe people TO enforce pro-
lection against unlawful use of the army. and TO
demand retrenchmcnt against tho wilful ex-
travagance Of tho Senate. So much for com
promising principle.
After this surrender II WAS in order for the
House 10 bow down before the dictation Of the
Senate on the Legislative bin. 10y admitting the
right If that chamber 10 fix the salaries of its
own officers without regard to the quality or
quantity of service rendered. or the pay Of cor
responding employees in the House The SEN
ate now costs abou, four thousand dollars a
head exclusive of pay and mileage. against
something over ono thousand dollars II head
for the House. And still the cry Is for more
more.' Every session adds to the aggregate OK
pousc. owing 10 the inventive genius Of Scna-
tors for encouragiug prod lHlity; and when the
question is raised. the House retreats Hna
almost bcgs pardon for having yenturcd to dis
pute Senatorial privileges.
Increased Immigration.
The incroose in immigration for the nV,
months ct the. current year over the correspondent.