The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-03-13

Interview on the Army, on the Tax on
whisky and Tobacco and other SUBJ
ICincinnati Commercially

Cincinnati Commercially
A reporter for the Commercial, finding
that General Banning was in the city yester-
day, hunted him up, and suggested an inter-
view. The general said:
II came to bring my family; l want my
children to commence school with the spring
session. l will start back Saturday evening
so as to be in the house Monday morning. L
have few minutes to spare-what can do
for your
Reporter want to ask your opinion as
to what further legislation, if any, will be
had concerning the tax on whisky and to-
bacco.
Answer-I think Mr.. Carlisle's bill ex-
tending the bonded period On spirits will be
passed in some shape. could not now give
an opinion of any value as to what length of
time the period will be extended. The bill
is now in the hands Of subcommittee of
ways and means, of which Hr. Tucker of
Virginia and Mr.. Burchard of Illinois. are
members Both these gentlemen told me
they were in favor of extension.
A bill will be passed this month so as to
cover the spirits that otherwise would have
to be withdrawn next month. This measure
meets with the approval of the commissioner
of internal revenue. ] had talk with Mr..
Foster on Wednesday. He told me he would
support such a measure. i am In hopes the
matter will come into the house and be dis
posed of early next week. Mr.. Sayler has
been untiring in his efforts to secure early
and favorable action. The eastern members
oppose any reduction in the tax on spirits or
tobacco, for fear of the reimposition of the
income tax Western men are divided.
There will be no reduction at this session of
congress of the tax on spirits. As to the tax
on tobacco that question remains undecided;
1T Is pending in the ways and means COM
mittee.
Question-What about the tariff bill?
Answer-Mr. Woods bill, which makes
many radical changes, is being considered
by the committee on ways and means in
secret session, so that | know very little
more about it than the public. 1t is be-
lieved, however, that the bill will be very
materially changed before 1t Is reported to
the house.
Question-How about your bill to estab-
lish a mint out here; will it pass?
Answer hope so. The matter is pend
ing before Mr.. Alexander Stephens COM
mittee on coinage, weights and measures. |
was before the committee the other dav by
invitation. The committee have fixed
Wednesday next as the time for the presenta-
ton of the claims of the various cities
Chicago, ST. Louis Kansas City and other
places being competitors with US. [ think
the committee, after hearing what is to be
said in behalf of the points named, will
send a subcommittee to look over the
ground and report. 1t is likely that the
committee will recommend the establish
ment of at least one additional mint at some
point in the west. Our people ought to be
stir themselves, and make proper presenta-
ton of our claims. Cincinnati Is the center
of population and the business of the
country, and in every way the best point for
the proposed now mint that could be Sc
lected.
Question-How about your army bills?
Answer-There are three of them-one
reducing the pay of all commissioned officers
on an average of about 20 per cent, which
still leaves them about Is per cent. more
than was paid to officers during the war who
did the fighting This bill saves a million
and a quarter of money per annum, and
leaves all the officers well and generously
paid.
The second bill increases the pay of Ger
tain non-commissioned officers, a very
meritorieus class, now but poorly paid. This
increased expenditure will only amount to
about $50 900 year.
The third is the moro important of all the
bills. 1t is bill to reorganize the army,
and seeks to meet the difficulty that now
renders our army most expensive and
inefficient one We have officers enough to
officer eighty or hundred thousand men,
and regimental and company organizations
correspondIngly out OF proportion. Our
army, according TO a statement made to
congress at the extra session, consisted of
q, 9O2 men, including all non-combatants.
such as extra duty men, etc.
This report states that 1,611 men were on
miscellaneous duty and o,976 were on extra
duty. Making this and other deductions
there were left only 1876 men, according
TO the report of the adjutant general to con-
gress, with about 9, 300 officers. Take from
the l6, 3l5 men the five sergeants and eight
corporals to company, and we have very
few privates left and our army is most
ridiculous affair. 1t costs us more to pay
the commissioned officers of our army than
it does to pay all the enlisted men. We
nave companies in our army made up OF
commissioned and non-commissiOned of.
ficers An officer who testified before the
military committee of last congress said that
he had seen a commissioned officer 60 on
parade with his company, which consisted
of the officer and covering sergeant. This
testimony will be found in my report to the
last congress. The pay of the officers Of our
army is entirely too large.
Question-How much did you reduce
General Sherman's pay? What caused his
statement?
Answer do not know what was the oc-
caslon of General Sherman's statement. He
must have been in very bad humor, to say
the least, when interviewed. His pay,
nearly $4,000 per annum, has been cut
down by the committee TO $40 ,0c0, which, in
my opinion, is as much as he should receive.
1t is as much as is paid to any officer of the
government, except the president himself.
Question-What is the truth in the report
of the large pay to officers incities?
Answer-The officers on duty in the cities
get, by way of communication for quarters,
forage and fuel, much more money than
officers on duty on the frontier. A colonel
on duty in Washington receives for quarters