The Portland daily press., 1878-05-20
xLVth C0ngress-ReguIar Session
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON. may IL.
MI. Stevens from Georgia, asked that it be put
House yesterday when the vote was taken upon the
rotter resolution having paired with Mr.. Harris Of
massachusetts,; but for this, he would have voted
against the resolution.
Mr., Ellis from the committee on elections reported
resolution declaring that there had been no fair
free or peaceable election in the first Congressional
district OF South Carolina, and that neither Mr..
haIney, the sitting member, nor Mr.. Richards, the
contestant was elected to the seat. He will call up
the resolution Thursday.
Mr. Durham from the conference committee on the
committee unable to agree and further conference
was ordered and Messrs. Durham, Clymer and Smith
Oh rennsyySani ,., were appointed conierees.
the President transmitting communication from
the Secretary of State in regard to the fishery com
AFFAIRS so -
The Senate amendments to the pension bill were
not concurred in: Messrs. Lmith. of Pennsylvania,
Hewitt and Sparks were appointed conferees.
The House then went into committee of the whole
on the army appropriation bill.
MT. Hewitt OF New York explained the bill to the
house De said the reduction of expenditures In
the year 1877 had been $25,0OO,OOO.
M MT Foster said, 81 o beg pardon, the reduction
Mr.: Hewitt reafhrmed his statement, and added
that they should be still further reduced $25 OOO
Inc cost OF the army in 1850 he said, amounted to
and in 1877 lnfty cents. That made difference
Of between four and fine million dollars. The pend
ing bill effected saving Of 1851 O00 and that with
out touching the pay of a soldiers officer, and
without reducing The strength Of the army by a
single musket
Mr.. Hewitt thensaid that there is now no
danger OF Indian war. As to the use of the army
70 put down labor Strikes it was not in accordance
Keep an army to restrain any portion of the people
from exercising any just right. The right to strike
was Just right II those strises gave rise to dis
oroer IL was the duty Of the States Individually to
repress them What the government ought to do
was to organize a national miiltia system through
;s enS country. He was in favor of encouraging
lie paod toor die
oruef wnen the people are armed. As to communism
wnicn was haunted before Congress as reason why
footing here and never would have. 1"
Mr.. Hewitt did not believe those who comnosed the
as to aternze with mobs If the miia coud met
be trusted Republican institutions were ri failure.
He showed that while the pay proper Of the general
Of the army was $4,000 his actual pay with commu
tation allowance was ST. 900; pay proper of lieut..
general was S1100O his actual pay $i306s pay pro-
ps bis afs pay
his actual pay S. 174, and SO on all way down
The actual pay averaged from % to 80 per cent
the pay proper. Bill proposed to change all these
allowances Tor forage fuel and quarters Forage was
70 be supplied to those officers who used horses in
the pubic service and none would be supplied to
those who did no SO use horses. Quarters would be
supplied only at military stations in the field. Fuel
would be supplied by the government at the rate of
~ pei cord OF WOOD This would be penetaction to
omcers ana saving Of at least 100000 to the govern
ment He asserted that on the whole the provisions
oi the bill on the subject of conversation were
reduce the strength of the army by musket, did
not force out of the army single officer who chose
70 remain In It, and who ought TO remain in it, that
~ did not reduce the pay OF army but only cut off
allowances that are an abuse; that it leaves army
omcers with better pay than received in civil life for
equally important service that is received by
OTHERS Of the Davy; that the savings effected were
simply in administration, and might be largely increa-
sed and that by it would be nearly 81 COO OOO
Mr.. McCook replied TO Mr.. Hewitt
rose
Tho
.ne early part Of next week. Ihereupon the resolu-
ZION was adopted appointing MIR. Saylor speaker pro
sen; ~ was also arranged there should be evening
next week. fN-P''S' WI ''0~s