The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-29
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

WAsnrSoroS. April ~ 1874
TIE AnMx APPROPRIATION BlLL-RunoBs or
4 PaoPosxD REDUCTION or PAY-ArrrruDI
o. REPRESENTATIVES, ON TIE suByEcT.
There havc been rumors that the sob committee q
the House Appropriation Committee. 70 which mas
bosu assigned the preparation Of Army Appropsa-
lion bin. considering tho propriety OF tsckiug
General Bannine's latest reduction bill and General
Bssgg's pay bill on 10 the Appropriation bill, hoping
70 carry these measures 10 that why. General Ban-
ming states that he knows nothing Of sny such iassn-
tion and that no intends TO call up his bin tho car
Hest opportunity. Further inquiry. of Mr.. A. =.
Hewitt, chsirmaa OF the subcommittee, develops
tho following :-Mr. Hewitt said that he, with Mr.
Sparks Of Illinois. and MI Foster Of Ohio, compose
tho su,-oommissss named 10 prepare tho annual
Army Appropriated bin, but the committee had yss
held meeting and he could not tell what would DO
doua Mr.. Foster b absent, and he thcwttj had
promised thst the subject would NOT be acted upon
until Fosters return. he Of coasse, could not tell
what the subcommittee would do. but for himself
he was a. yet unable 10 act, hs has received
esrsaiu information from ths War Department
which had besn askc1 isr several weeks Ago The
Information required revised estimate OF appso-
priasons based the propositions embraced 10 the
Banuipe and Bragg bills. His own view 10 that the
whole country 10 suffering 90 severely from the
dmion Of finances that the price OF labor had steadily
fallon in every single iasssnos In tho whole country
tho army pay 10 now ~ high point. having been
stesiy increased from the outbreak Of she rebellion
on the ground OF ths great increase In the
cost Of living. Every other class Of sal.
aries had been reduced 10 the basis OF 1850,
and he sees no why tho army should not also
have is pay redscsd the Of living has sseady
declined In tho Same proportion 90 civilian salaries
The country suffering, and u he finds that any ex.
pcnscs OF tho government can. DO reduced without
npains the public service hc iSss u 10 bs his duty
10 urge II, although no IL as strong friend Of tho
army a. any man IN Congress- lie thoughs
that tho pay Of enlisted mea might DO
safely reduced 10 tho standard OF lsoo-sli
pcr month for privsscsbut said was not sure that
hrs views wss correct or would DO sustained by h,s
colleagues on the committee or In tho House. II was
suggested N him by ex-ofccr, who had served IN
tho volunteers ana regular army, that n general TO-
auction OF expenditures desired n would DO Of
greater benefit 10 the service 10 retain the
present pay Of privases but increase the pay Of
non-comm Isscned officers, ~ 10 make the pay OF
nrss sergeant least $50 per month, and thereby Ia
crease the sfclcncy Of the present force By making
the service desirable Tor . better olsss or enlisted
men, and make sach reduction from the psy OF line
cfnesrs a. would moro than mako up she difference.
He said he mad looked that question bu. Speaker
Randall had ADVISED him, on inquiry, that a. sppro-
prasion bills must be considered BY sections such &C
tioa would bring under the rule iorbIddng new
legislation no, In ths Interest Of economy, even
though such action produced reduction Of the gross
amount appropriated
The proposisiop 70 make shs Banning and Bragg
bills party measures vas attempted long since 10
the House democratic caucus, but fsilsd whom be-
came known that the entire Texas dslesasIoa Msssra
Lussrei and wssintos, Of California, williams, Of
Oregon: Passsrsos, Of Colorado; syisr. wiliama