Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-06-19

gTeSS IOf the Issue Oh The DreecheS to PT
vate Hines.
y A bill was reported to sanction the isst
OF the breedhes and was referred to IL
Committee on Military Affairs. A fe
days since Mr.. AcCook, of the Nilitar
committee, submitted the following repor,
''The time, place, and circumstances vi
der which this loss occurred deserve muc
more than passing notice. The air wa
filled with the eloquence Of orators bot
North and South, who spoke and lahore
for the success Of their candidates. Th
: propriety, not to say the constitutionality
Of the presence OF Federal troops in tn
Southern section of our beloved countr
was question that entered largely int
the discussion of the day. Upon this sub
|ject there was then as now great ditferenc
of opinion, and without committing them
selves upon this disputed point your com
mlttee find unanimously that Hines wa
there by order OF the legally y-constitute(
authorities; that he wore the usual and or
binary uniform Of the private soldier: tina
he lost his trousers and blanket as set fortl
in the bill for his relief; that the loss oc
CURED by fire; that board of survey was
called upon them, and that, in the language
of that tribunal, ''they were damaged to
their full value" amounting to $500.
. Your committee also find that this same
board expressed the opinion that the fire
was accidental; ''that it originated at the
top of the tent" aud ''that no one was to
blame." If. as is altogether probable,
Hines was recumbent in his tent, the con-
clusion is almost irresistible that lie had
disrobcd and placed his blouse and trous-
ers on the convenient and useful cracker
box; the progress of the flames from the
top OF tent. Where they originated, to his
soldierly couch, doubtless aroused him
from his reverie of sleep; and while the
evidence is not entirely satisfactory on this
point. your committee are of the opinion
that Hines, in his zeal to fight the fire and
save Government property, lost both
trousers and blanket.
With this view of the case your commit
tee accept the finding of the board of sur
vey, and discharge him from responsibility,
No specific recommendations appear in
their report, but through some misappre-
hension a grataitous issue of trousers and
blanket was made to him. As events
proved, this was a fatal mistake. His COM
manding officer misconstruing a mere sug-
gestion, and perhaps unwilling that Hines
should appear before the people of Aiken
or concluding that the honor
and dignity OF the United States wo;,d be
put in jeopardy by his appearing on duty
in pair damaged to their full val,le,''
made proper haste to rehabilitate him.
From this time Hines vanishes from the
scene. How he disported himself in his
new trousers nowhere appears. Uncon-
sciously he had performed great service |
to the army and the country by causing an
authoritative decision on a matter that had |
been involved in doubt. The question of |
sratuitous issue of clothing is now settled,
md while Hines may be Indifferent to the
rouble he has given Captains, Colonels,
Major Generals, Secretary Of War, and a
Congressional committee, he can content
himself with the reflection that he has
leither worn nor lost his trousers in vain.
In conclusion, your committee desire to
all attention to the fhct that they have de-
'otcd much time and thought to this case.
Ehe papers are voluminous, containing no
ess than seven distinct endorsements, COM
nencing with Captain and concluding
With the Secretary Of War, who, in COM
aunication to the Speaker OF the House
II Representatives, asks for the relief Of
lines, or, to use his own well chosen
1ords, requests the sanction of Congress
or the issue of said clothing to said
Iines.'
This communication is marked "a" and
lade part of this report. {
1t is in no vainglOrious spirit that your 3
state that whatever delay there I
as been in this mater the blame does not i
tach to them. i
The trouble with Hines began nearly t
ghteen months since, and the papers c
My reached the hands Of your committee C
few days ago, and in placing the final de- v
rmination of the question with the repre- L
ntative OF the people, they feel that they a
e discharged from further responsibility. II
hey cannot, however, dismiss the subject h
lthout calling attention to the almost per- "
It system Of checks and guards thrown n
ound the issuing of Government prop it
~. The thoughtless may call 1t ''red te
pc" or circumlOcLtion, but without it D,
mes to-day would be in undisputed pos id
'sion of a pair of trousers and blanket cl
which he would have no legal title. As cf
IS, the system has been vindicated, the h,
Int of the United States to Hines trous- G.
fully established, and his personal and tn
,uniary responsibility determined. to
Under all the circumstances, your COM eff
ttee recommend the passage of the BILL" tn
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