The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-03

1
North had only sixty.three; andif tn
Southern Democrats were parted from
their brethren OF the North the latte
would be controlled by Republicans, ant
no one could tell what would become o
them. Laughter. The Democrats o
the North were Democrats OF principle
II they had only been influenced b
loaves and fishes they could have sold ou
long ago to the Republicans. [Laughter1
The hour having expired, MIR. Martin
who has charge'o 'ot the bill, moved the pre-
yious question. fE \
Mr.. Conger desired 10 have Che time ioi
debate extended, but Mr.. Martin insisted
on the previous question, but II was moi
seconded and the bill went over till the
next morning hour.
Thearmy reorganization bill was called
up, but In the confusion the House re,
fused (yeas n, nays ll2) to consider that
bill and went into committee OF the whole
on the army appropriation bill. Inc -
Mr.. Hewitt, Of New York, having charge
OF the bill, explained It's provisions. Il
appropriated $50, ,747. 800, as against the es.
timatc OF $2O, ,045, 600 and the appropriation
last year Of S25, us, ,lS7. The reduction in
the army appropriations the last three
years amounted to $4,000. 900. They had
been reduced to a minimum, and Il any
saving was to be effected hereafter Il must
be by process OF reorganization and re.
construction. Reorganization could be
made 80 as MOTTO impairits efficiency With
an annual saving Of s., 100000. { n
Two great questions had been presented
to the Fourth-fourth Congress. The first
had been when the House had ag eed to the
settlement OF the present difficulty, and
had loyalty held to It's engagement. The
army appropriation bill, in which the
clause known as the posse Comitatus'
clause had been inserted. That bill had
failed to pass, because the House had re-
fused to yield, and to have done so would
have been a base surrender OF the right OF
the people to the Government OF the army.
To give the President complete control
over the army, would be to convert the
Government into centralized despotism.
During the extra session he had thought
1t would be a mistake to attempt any re-
organization or reduction and bill had
been brought into the House without any
reduction or without any assertion Of
the right OF the President TO control the
army. That haG been done purposely and
the bill passed and with it had passed for
ever, he hoped, 1.-The wreck which had sur.
rounded the late Presidential campaign
In the second session of the FOrty.hfth
Congress. The bill had come from the
Appropriation Committee without q pose
cOMitdtI1 clause, the committee preierrinc
to make the fight on the ground OF econ.
omy, but the questions OF money and
OF reorganization were utterly insignifi.
cant as compared with the provision offer.
ell by the gentleman from Kentucky, (NIr.
KNOTT and adopted by tho House, 10 for
bid the interference OF the army in elec-
tons. Should that provision be repealed? :?
NeverI No vote would ever be cast on
either side OF tho House for its repeal.
Mr.. Rook-I will vote for II. ,sftji
Mr.. Hewitt hoped the gentleman would
live long enough to devote himself to tho
study Of the undermost principle on which
the fabric OF constitutional law had been
built. Repeal this provisioni never. De-
fine it; yes. The provision might be too
broad; 1t might impede the proper action
OF the government, and it might become
necessary To defineit.
In conclusion, Mr. Hewitt said it was
his intention to oder an amendment re.
pealing that section of the law OF 1868
which allows the army TO spreserye the
peace at the polls, and he hoped that both
sides OF the House would agree in ex-
purging 1t from.the statute books and not
allow it, to remain blot on American
freedom. W p'- 7' ~ Pr
&Ir. Banning spoke in favor OF the army
reorganization bill. He would offer that
bill as an amendment to transportation
bill. The army to-day was q ridiculous
organization. Most OF tho companies OF
the infantry did not contain more than a
corporals guard. The bill was approved
by the line officers and. by ,manyiof the
staff officers, He sent up to the Clerks
desk and had read Q number OF letters
from officers Of the army faVoFinR the
passage OF the bill. II the bill were de.
ieated 1t would be defeated in the interest
Of the staff. 1t would be defeated in op.
position 10 the Army Commission, in op.
position TO tho recommendations OF all
officers of the line, and it would be de.
feated for the purpose Iof taking care Of
LHeSe kcllLleuleIl VI kIlG bLNh WlO llNeu III
comfortable houses, gave good dinners
and ppSpr did any service. "A
Mr.. White DECLARED that those who IA.
vored the bill were unfriendly 10 thearmy
and hostile TO those men who had fought
for the Union.
Mr.. Dubrell spoke in support ot.the re-
organization OF the bill, which was then
read by sections, but before any action
was taken tho Committee rose.
Mr.. Buriiok 'snbmitteda resolution di.
racting the Committee on Ways and
Means to inquire what legislation Is neoes.
sary to enable the treasury to collect the
amount OF direct tax remaining unpaid
and duo from the various States. Referred.
Adjourned till Monday.
ArshbIshop rnrceli's Aaairs4 Lover d Mlti
lion Of Debt.
CIScINNArt, February IA reporter,
with view Of getting as near as possible
at the amountalready audited, made some
"A ~. ~. a.. Nl....lu... -. A .