The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-28
RED TAPEIsM vINDICATOR.
How Private Hines Trousers Cost the
United states $1,000.
Washington POst.1

time in these beautiful columns of the bill in
troduced in the House by the Hon Arson G.
McCook, of New York, for the relief of Pri-
vate William Hines, Of Company +, Eigh-
on or about the eleventh day OF October, 1876
the trousers and blanket belonging to Private
Hines were destroyed by fire, which broke
out In his tent at Aiken, s. G. The amount OF
his loss in money was $S G5. He claimed
that the fire was purely accidental and that
he was entitled to have his blanket and
trousers gratuitously duplicated. The com
mandant Of the regiment, not wishing to
have Hines appear in Aiken with his lower
limbs exposed, issued him pair of regulation
blues and blanket of the approved shoddy
pattern. Here the trouble commenced, for
question was at once raised as to the authOri
ty of the government to make Hines pres
ent Of these articles The officers who had is
stood charged on the rolls Hines, of course,
received his brooches and blankets and went
off about his business A board of survey,
composed Of military officers, was convened
stroyed Hines tent was accidental, incendia-
ny or Providential, and nearly all the officers
In the regular army were brought into the
controversy one way and another. The mat
ter finally took the shape Of q bill, which was
introduced in the House by Mr.. McCook.
This bill simply iustifes the officer who
issued Hines his trousers and blanket gratu-
itOusly, and does not, as Is generally sup
posed, reimburse Hines directly for his loss.
The House Military Committee, which has
been giving the bill a careful consideration.
has finally made up a lengthy report, accom-
panied by all the army orders and indOrse
ments OF the claim. and printed copy of
this able document Is before us. The commit
Hines, as private in the army, had right to
be at Aiken, s. G., on the eleventh Of October,
1876. The army at that time was being used
to control the elections In the Southern States,
and there was grave constitutional question
as to Its right to be there The committee
decided that Hines was on duty at Aiken by
order of his superiOrs, and that, so far as he
and his trousers were concerned, the cOnstitu-
tiOnalty of the question could not enter. The
committee next satisfied itself from an exam
survey that the fire which destroyed Hines
tent originated in the top, and that nobody
was to blame. 1t was first thought that Hines
careless handling of a pipe brought on the ca
that he was not q smoker. All the evidence
went to show that Hines was sleeping quietly
in his tent in a disrobed state, as a gentleman
should, when the fire broke out, and that when
aroused he made gallant effort to save his
property The House Military Committee
very sensibly concluded that the officers who
furnished Hines with pair of trousers did
SO In order to maintain the dignity Of the
military branch OF the government, for at that
peculiar period it would have brought disre-
pute upon the country to have had even so
humble person as an army. private knock
ing about a Southern town In q trOuSerless
condition, and the committee, therefore, unall-
imously urge the passage of the bill. In con-
Guiding q very able and exhaustive report
the printing of which must have cost at least
$40 under our expensive SYSTEM, the commit
tee says:
The trouble with Hines began nearly eigh-
teen months since, and the papers only
reached the hands of your committee few
DAYS ago: and in placing the final determine
ton of the question with the Representatives
of the people, they feel that they are dis
charged from further responsibility. They
cannot. however, dismiss the subject without
Of checks and guards thrown around the issu
ing OF government property. The thought
less may call it red tape, or circum locution
but without it, Hines to-day would be in I'M
disputed possession of a pair Of trousers and
blanket, to which he would have no legal
title. AS it's the system has been vindicated
the right Of the United States to Hines
trousers fully established and his personal
and pecuniary responsibility determined.
Under all the circumstances, your committee
recommend the passage OF the bill.
1t is to this splendid vndication Of so-calcd
'red-tapeism' that we wish to call particular
attention. The time taken up in Investigating
and legslating in this case has cost the de-
paarttaments and the country genenally about
guards and checks which surround the hand
ling Of government property, this is quite
reasonable 1t may occur to some people,
though, that a regiment desiring to save the
time and money of the government might
one of the members loses pair OF trousers
and blanket by fire. However, we congrat-
ulate Representative McCook upon his sue
cess in pushing this bill for the relief of Hines,
and trust that favorable action in the House
will be secured at an early day.