The sun., 1878-11-28
Shall There BE a Standing Armyt

After a long struggle, beginning in the
Forty-fourth Congress, when the House Of
Representatives passed from Republican to
Democratic control the estimates Of the
Treasury are now made to conform nearly
20 the basis OF the appropriations. That is
20 say, instead Of making exorbitant de-
mands for the public service. and allowing
a large margin for reductions by Congress.
the departments have been gradually
brought To Il realizing sense that this game
cannot be longer played with success.
Sometimes gross deception is practised,
as was the case in the estimates and state
ments for the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing three years ago. when fully four
times the sum needed for that service was
voted upon faith in official figures that were
deliberately falsified in order Ia obtain an
enormous appropriation, for which there
was no necessity whatever. II was a trick
70 carry over a large excess into the next
year, and lay the foundation for a new
building outside the Treasury. which was
paraded a. an economy IN the administra-
tion OF that Office when, in fact, it was
fraud On Congress.
Compared with past years, the present es-
Inmates are better than usual; hut still they
require pruning, and in some respects they
demand what may bo called heroic treat
ment. For example the Secretary Of War
asks for ;3,GCe,o0o more than was appropri-
ated ior the current year, giving one Of the
familiar excuses for the desired Increase
In England the House of Commons rcgu-
latcs the supplies lor the public service upon
budget prepared 10 suit its needs. and
.tsI IA
contingent wants
Although the British army j. commanded
ny a member of ia" royal family aud every
noted family Ia the kingdom Is represented
in the service, no officer, no bureau, no
functlonary Of amy kind would dare to in-
tcriore with the measures pending before
Parliament or To- intrude an opinion rs to
their merits, without being invited. The
authority OF the legislative body IL accepted
az supreme, and every officer. no matter
what his rank may be-. bows before IL with
cut murmur. Here ON the other hand, the
chief officers OF the army, with few honor
able exceptions, assume not only To dictate
the policy Of Congress, but 10 dcnuuncc all
legislation that does not happen to conform
to their wishes.
IL has practically come TO this, that the
army asserts itself a. power wholly indie
pendent of Congress, and claims the right
10 prescribe the form Of it, organization
and the numbers 10 compose It's actual
force. This Military Ring alone was able.
by raising false ciy at the beginning Of
the Iorty-foulth Congress, to escape from
tie general rctronchmcnt. SO at the second
session. In the present Congress various
% 4 10
ccption. Every part of the public service eX-
ccpt thcarmy, at home and abroad, has been
suhicctcd To the discipline of economy, i'm
pcrativcly demanded by the suffering and
Impoverished condition of the people A
few glazing abuses, which could not be con-
tmucd without scandal, and which dis
hunorol the bcnciiciarics IN the army, were
eat of last year; but the great and costly
military machine with its magnificent stan
and supcrnumcrary officers remains intact
aad Is d -tanding roploach t. the advocates
81 reform and retrcnchment.
When the navy was reduced the country
was told, just as it has been told in regard
Ia the army, that what Was left OF that
branch Of the public defence would perish
Experience has demonstrated that, II the
navy Is TO be saved at all, IL will be by the
process Of severe scrutiny and strict su-
pclYision of expenditure. With redue-
ton OF more than onc-third OF the aver
age appropriations under SECOR ROBE
son, IL is moro efficient, in soundcr condition
and more crcditabo than at any time in the
last ten years. And this result was attained
by the Investigations OF Mr.. WHIrTHoRNt
and the backing lac received In the House
Tho saving would have been far greater but
for the treachcry Of WILLIS and his like.
There Is n commission now sitting on tho
army, but ite personnel does not give prom.
i1o of any such thorough reform a. public
opinion demands. II will patch up a bil
with no positive quality, and Intended t. sat
isfy the army first and the people next Al
such experiments Will fail, aud they vii
rcrye only tohasten the doom which the Nil
itary Ring, by their arrogance, contempt o
Ietronchment, and assumption Of superior
Ny, are daily provoking. ForbcarGEce hai
Leen mistaken ior timIdity, and the time II