Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-27
House Of Representatives.

WASHINGTON, May 25.-NIr. Goode, chairman
of the committee education and labor, re
ported bill to apply the proceeds of the sale
of public lands to the education of the people,
Referred.
Mr.. Hartridge, by request, offered a resolu-
ton directing the committee post offices to
investigate the practicability Of preventing
frauds in the postal service. Referred.
The bill authorizing The secretary of the
treasury to constitute the superintendent of
minis or assayers in the assay Offices assistant
treasurers Of the United States passed.
The House then went into committee of the
whole, Mr.. Springer in the chair, on the army
appropriation bill.
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, withdrew his pro-
posed amendment to the fourteenth section,
for the muster out Of officers reported unfit for
service, and consented to the entire striking
out Of the section. He then moved an amend
ment to the fifteenth section, embracing the
Same general provisions. In explaining it, he
said the corresponding provisions in the bill as
originally drawn, were more liberal, but they
had been ruled out under points of order. The
bill had not been undertaken by him Of his
own choice. 1t had been assigned to him, and
he had found the army organized in such a
manner as that no business man could continue
to do business under such an organization with
out being ruined. He therefore suggested such
as would effect it. Economy, under the bill as
originally reported, had come in two forms
first, the consolidation of regiments; second,
the reduction Of men. The reduction of men
was minor question. He confessed that when
he approached that subject he had done so with
conviction that the army ought to be at least
rs ,000 and it was only after investigation he
had come to the conclusion that an army of
40 900 men was adequate to such services as
the army ought to be called upon to perform,
In that particular, however, the committee of
the whole overruled the committee on appro-
mittee on appropriations on the question of
consolidation by which two thirds Of the entire
saving would be effected.
MIR. Garfield said he was opposed to the
amendment, but that he did not consider it
liable to point of order.
Without discussion the amendment was
adopted.
The thirtieth section having been read, which
fixes the pay of army officers, Mr.. Hewitt IN
W moved to amend the item by making the
pay of storekeeper $1,000, and by excepting
the storekeeper at the armory at Springfield
Mass, who IS to receive the pay and allowances
of major. Agreed to.
Mr.. Reagan moved to amend the section by
reducing the pay fixed in the bill, as follows
General of the army from 1913, 500 to $40 600
lieutenant general from $1,000 to $4,000
major general from ST 500 to $6,O0O Brigade
Btueldl IIOul %o,COO W Pt,oOOS COlOHel Iron
$4,000 to $4,000; lieutenant colonel from SO, O0(
to $2,700; major from $4,000 to $4,000. H,
contrasted the pay for civil officials in Thu
country and of foreign armies with that O.
American officers, to show the disproportionat
pay of the latter. He denied he was prompted
by any hostility toward the army.
Mr.. McCook suggested that members of Con
gross should reduce their own pay before at
lacking the pay of officers Of the army.
Mr.. Reagan's reply was to the effect tina
members Of Congress, having such high ant
important duties to perform, and their vote
and acts touching the most vital interests O
the country, were not too highly paid.
Mr.. Foster intimated that a Foster and
Reagan, a Finley and Springer were hardl
entitled to as much pay bri gadier general
Mr.. Banning-They don't get it.
Mr.. Foster remarked that no one denied tina
the pay of the general and lieutenant genera
was high, but it had been so fixed as rewar
for distinguished services of those officers i
putting down the rebellion, and he was sorr
that gentleman who had been connected wit
the confederate government should have move
to reduce the pay of those two officers es
pecially.
MIR. Banning remarked that the confederac
knew the need of economy.
Mr.. Garield-Do you speak for it?
Mr.. Banning-Yes, speak for it in that re
spect and for your government too.
Mr.. McCook-call it ours.
Mr.. Foster-The people will consider the re
duction of pay rs all cant unless you take hol
of your own salaries and reduce them.
Mr.. Harrison-The gentleman is less particu
lar as to the salary of members since the re
distributing Of Ohio. Laughter.
Mr.. Regain replied to Mr.. Fosters intima