The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-02
REDUCE AND Reform THE ARMY.
Mr.. Hewitrs Explanation IN Reporting the
Appropriated Bill.

WASHINGTON, Fob. AT the expiration
OF the morning hour the House refused to con-
slider the regular order the Army Reorgauiza-
ton bill. and went into Committee OF the Whole
on the Army Appropriation bill.
Mr.. Hewitt Dem. N. W explained Its provis-
ions. 1t appropriated 500. TAI. 300 as against an
estimate OF t29.Os4.5 500. and an appropria-
tion OF last year OF t25.77s.1S7. The re-
duction in army appropriations during the
last three years has amounted to tSO00.000
They had been reduced to n minimum. and II
any saving was to be effected hereafter. It M ust
be by the process II reorganization and recon-
strucion. reorganization could be made. SO
MS not to impair the efficiency with an annual
saving Of ts.400.000. Two great questions had
been presented to the Forty fourth Congress.
The first had been when the House had agre ed
to the settlement Of the Presidential difficulty.
and had Loyalty held to its eng agement The
second great question had been in regard to
the Army Approximation bill. in which the
clnusI known as the posse comitatus clause
had been inserted. Tint bill had failed
81 passing because the House had refused
been base surrender OF the right of tho
people To the government Of the army.
TO give the President complete control over
tho army wOull be to turn the Government into
a centralized despotsm. During the extra SEES
sion. he had thought that It would be n mistake
TO attempt any reorgnntzatio or reduction and
tho bill had been brought into the House with
out any reduction or without any Insertion of
the right Of the people to control the army,
passe and U wH 0nf ndd psad ore ,g Y Re
| trusted the wreck which had surrounded the
late Prssidrptiai campagn. In the second SEES,
sion OF the FOrty-ilfth Congress, the bill had
| come from the Appropriation Committee with
! ont tue, posse comiiltus clause. tho Commit.
tee pretrrrng 10 make tho fight on the ground
| Of economy. But the question of money and
the question OF reOrgan i2ntiOn were OF utter in
gniilcance rs compared with the provision
r at q T. n
Knott, and adopted 10y the House. forbdding
the Interference of the army in elections.
should that provision be repealcdp Never. Not
RNou would ever he Gust on either side Of the
House for the repeal OF that monument OF hui
Mr. McCook rep. N Y.l-I will vote for it
with pleasure.
Mr. Hewitt hoped tho gentleman would live
long enough TO devote himself to the study OF
the underlying principle on which the fabric OF
constitutional law had been built. The narrow
construction OF the statutes the gentleman had
studied. but when 1t came TO the law on which
the fabric Of human liberty had been built
there was work left Tor him to DO. Repeal the
rrovisiunf Never. Define ~ Yes. Tho pro-
vision might bee too broad. II might impede the
| proper action OF the Government. and II might
become necessary to define it,
In conclusion. he stated his intention OF
| Offering an amendment repeating that section
| Of the law of 1865 which allows the army &c
! preserve the peace at the polls. and he hoped
that both sides of the House would agree I'm
eNpunging II from the statute books. and no
| allow II 10 remain blot upon American free
| dom.
Mr. Banning Dem. Ohiol spoke In favor OF
! the Army Reorgan cation bill He would Offer
/ that b D ms an amendment 20 the Appropriation
! bill. The army to-day WIS n ridiculous organi-
| zafion. Most Of the companies ot Infantry did
! not contain more than corporal.s guard. The
| hill wis approved by the line officers and 10y
many oi the stan officers. II tho bill WAS d..
| i.ated L would be defeated in the interest OF
the staff. It would be- defeated in opposition I,
the army commission. In opposition to tn,
/ recommendations Of all the officers OF the line
! and il would lie Defeated for the purpose oil
| taking care o.! those gentlemen OF the stan who
! lived ia comfortable houses give good dinners
and never did any service
Without acting. the Committee arose.