New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-14
PASSED WITH A RIDER"

PASSED WITH A rider"
THE POINTS OF GENERAL EwINo's SPEECH ON THE
Army B1I--A PARTY voTB-THE EXTREMELY
PERSONAL AMENDMENT OF Mr.. ePARKs FINALLY
DEPYATRD.
iBY TKLEaRAPH TO THE TRIBUEEl
WASHINGTON, April 13.-The Democrats made up
their minds last night that 1t would not do to pass
the Army bill without at least one OF their members
making speech In defence of the political rider
which they had fastened upon it. As on similar
casion not long ago. General Ewing was selected as
the proper man to uphold the cause. 1t is particu
larly noticeable that when the party has needed
spokesman in the House lately, neither Mr.. Black
burn, MI Hurl, Mr.. Sparks. nor any other bold
leader Of tue extra session has been put forward 1t
seems very appropriate that General Ewing should
be chosen for this duty because the folly of the ex
ira session cost him as dearly it did any other
man in the House. In the two speeches which be
as made at this session. be has alluded to that fact
in tone Of regret.
General Ewing Is hne speaker. but to-day he la
bored under many einbarrassments, and in spite of
the frequent applause which greeted him, lie did
not proceed with his usual force or animation. He
appeared to realize the difficulty of his task which,
il is said he undertook with considerable reluc-
tance. A largo part Of his speech was devoted to
showing how many riders " the Republican party
has placed upon Appropriation bills In the last
twenty years. General Ewing deviated from his
argument to express the opinion that Cadet Whit
taker bound and mutlated himself at West Point.
Then he sent up for the Clerk to read some testi-
mony about the use of troops IN South Carolina dur
ing the election of 1870 According to General
Ewings theory, the only use of the troops in that
election was 10 compel the negroes to vote the Re-
publican ticket against their own wishes. General
Ewing styled President Hayes "goody -goody "
person not made of ordinary flesh and blood"
The speaker then adverted to the use of troops at
the polls in Kansas in 1858. He was then in that
State he said, helping to fight the battle of free
dom and he declared that the soldiers who were
stationed at the polls changed their jackets and
voted over and over again for the PrOSlavery can.
didates." General Ewing declared that the rider"
on the bill was very harmless thing but he did not
call it tame and cOwardly" as did Mr.. Sparks the
other day.
The amendment was adopted by vote of 116 to
95 The bill was then passed by vote Of 1l6 to
95 The Republicans all voted in the negative.
There appears to be unanimous desire among the
Republicans that the President shall veto this bill
Il the Senate should send 1t to him in its present
form. Some Of the Republicans express the belief
that he will do so.
While the House was engaged in voting on tn e
amendments Mr.. Sparks made another attempt to
secure vote on the proposition restricting the en-
ployment Of contract surgeons. AS this amend
inent had been voted down in Comm Of the
Whole, the Speaker decided that vote could not
be demanded upon 1t 10 the House. If Mr. Sparks
had not used such outrageous language in his dis.
pute with Mr. Clymer the other day, he would prob
ably have been moro successful this afternoon.
This amendment. which was intended to prevent
the employ ment of any additional contract sur
geons until all commissioned surgeons, with two or
three exceptions, had been assigned to duty with
troops was aimed at several Of the most useful
officers OF the Medical Corps now on duty in this
city.
field is Dr. Charles ii. Crane. who now has charge
Of the records Of the army covering the medical and
snrgicai history of the men who served IN the War
OF The Rebellion, aud which have TO be examined
during the invest gation of every case in which "a
pension Is applied FOR II DIR. Crane should be- sent
out on duty with the troops, some one else would
have to be appointed in his place to direct the work
Of the 100 clerks employed IN the Office. In eddi-
fion TO his other duties. Dr. Crane has charge Of the
purchase Of trusses and artificial limbs for PEN
eioners.
Dr. Joseph J. Woodward, who has charge Of the
Army Medical Museum, would be one Of the OK
eeptiops, not because OF his duties IN connection
with the Musrnm, but on account OF the TACT that
he Is also engaged la the preparation OF ths Medical
and surgical HISTORY Of tbe Wah the hlagaxR
epas Of medical works Of the century. Dg. Wood