Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-07
House of Representatives.

ILLINOIS RIVER.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Mr. Hayes introduced
a bill appropriating S5OO,OOO for the improve
ment of the Illinois river. Referred.
PENSION ARREARS.
Mr.. Cummings presented a resolution calling
on the commissioner of pensions for statements
in relation to the amount required to pay ar
rears of pensions. Adopted.
WAR CLAIMS.
Mr.. Eden. chairman on war claims, reported
back the bill making appropriations for the
payment of claims reported allowed by the
commissioner on claims.
Mr.. Waddell asked Mr.. Eden if he would
yield to an amendment providing that here
after any war claim Of any sort should be paid
to anybody.
MIR. Eden declined to yield, stating that the
amendment would not be german to the bill.
The bill then passed.
ARMY APPROPRIATION.
The House went into committee Of the
whole, Mr.. Carlisle in the chair, on the army
appropriation bill. The pending amendment
was Mr.. Whyte's offered yesterday, which COM
prised most of the features of the army re-
organization bill. The amendment of Mr..
Beebe's authorizing the President to appoint
George Foster Robinson paymaster of the
army, rejected, yea, 60; nays 81.
Mr.. Garfield opposed MIR. Whyte's amend
ment, saying to add it on to the army appro-
priatien bill the most miscellaneous method
of legislation that could be devised.
MIR. Ewing supported the amendment He
said the army in its present shape was unfit
for it purpose. This amendment would save
$1,000 at once, and would gradually save
from 100000 900 to $4,OO0OO0.
Mr.. Fort opposed the amendment
Mr.. Banning, Ohio, said that when his col
league, MIR. Garfield, had been chairman of the
committee appropriations, he had reduced
the number of the army i'll the appropriation
bill, and he should not complain at an amend
ment now which reduced the mum Der of Off
GERS. 1t was not too late in the session to accom-
plish reorganization, if it was right, and it was
right.
MIR. Garfield asked what was meant by the
provision that general officers shall be selected
from the army.
Mr. Whyte-Just what it says
Mr. Garfield-That would exclude Washing
Mr.. Whyte-Washingto is in heaven.
Mr. Garfeld-And Grant?
Mr.. Whyte-Gen. Grant will be the next
President, probably.
A vote was then taken on Whyte's amend
ment, and it was agreed to, ayes ISL, nays 81.
Mr. Whitthorne rose to a point of order on
the section of the appropriation bill which
PROVO that every officer who has been thirty
years in the service may on his application, be
placed on the retired list.
The point of order was sustained and the
section stricken out.
On motion of Mr.. Hewitt, of New York the
section which provides for the resignation of
officers prior to the 1st Of January, 1880, with
three years full pay, was stricken out.
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, moved to annul
section 2,OO2 of the revised statutes, so as to
expunge therefrom the provision that the army
shall be allowed to be at the polls on election
day to keep the peace. Adopted, yeas 90,
nays 80.
Mr.. Boone submitted an amendment for the
transfer of the Indian bureau to tho war de
partment.
MIR. Conger raised the point of order.
Mr.. Garfield supported the point of order
This system of lacking on legislation TO ap
preparation bills was making the committee or
appropriations great dumping ground for al
other committees. Such committees might bt
abolished and the committee appropriation
be allowed to run the business of the country
Here in the first place the House had totally
revolutionized the army and restricted al
modes of appointment. 1t was now proposed
to cut out one of the general departments O
the government and fling it bleeding, broker
and torn to the appropriation committee, ant
tumble it there and say because Of some tech
meal word or words declared that it was econ
omy, it was therefore in order. The House hac
never done a more fatal thing to it.
business than when it passed rule 100. It thi
amendment were ruled in order the Hous