Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-06-02
DEMOCRATIC DEFIANCE.
Another Animated Scene In the House of
Bisbee Gets His SeAt-Ths Speaker
Sacred at-The Senate Discusses the
Army Retire ment Bill.

i
Bisbee Gets His seat-Ths Speake
Sneersd at-The senate Discusses TIA
Army Retirem ent Bill.
| The Senate
Washington, June 1.-The bill passed au
| thorizing the construction of a railroad
bridge across the Sault st. Marie river, be
| tween Lake Superior and Lake Huron, will
| the purpose of connecting with the Canadian
railroads.
| The senate bill TO reimburse the Indiar
Creek orphan fund was taken up. TIL
to. require the money to be deposited in the
treasury and only interest thereon be paid
was retained. Yeas 25; nays 80.
Senator Mcmillan offered aud advocated an
| amendment the effect of which was to change
the general fund of the Creek nation with a
| total OF two payments made from the fund,
thus securing government credit for the
amount. Carried.
The bill then passed without objection.
Senator Allison reported from the finance
committee, with sundry amendments, the
house bill, extending national bank charters,
which, with amendments, intended to be pro-
posed by Senators Beck, Allison and Sherman,
was ordered printed.
Senator Logan called up the army appro-
priation bill and the committee amendments
for compulsory retirement clause were read
and agreed to.
The clause makes the retirement of an Off
Ger who has served forty years discretionary
with himself, but obligatory as to one who is
81 years of age.
Senator Bayard said this rule must throw
out of the army many men the glory and
pride Of the service, who were to-day more fit
than at almost any period of their lives for
high and important command. He regarded
it as indefansible and no more applicable to
the military than civil service, and urged that
the counsel and experiences Of army officers
whose lives and every impulse were devoted
to the advancement and Efficiency OF their pro-
fession were necessary for the guidance of
our military establishment.
Senator Logan,in charge of the bill said that
compulsory retirement at sixty-tWO would
prevent the abuses liable to arise under the
present law which vests the power of retire
the president. The officers in the service
to-day who are over seventy years OF age have
been allowed to remain there, while those of
less age have been retired. Hence the neces-
sity of an arbitrary regulation to better
promote the efficiency Of the army, which
was the motive OF the committees action.
Senator Bayard suggested that mental or
physical disability and many other causes we're
preferable as reasons for retirement to the age
test.
Senator Logan replied that disqualifcations
from disease or wounds was q sufficient cause
for retirement. Other countries had adopted
regulations such as the one proposed and &C.
tual experience had demonstrated the i'm
practicability of imposing hardships and ia.
tigues of the camp and field upon men of
mature years. The fact that no officer who
had Outlived the age of sixty-two years had
held an important command in either the
Union or confederate service in the war of the
rebellion was cited by he'speaker, who chal-
lenged his hearers to cite an instance in which
a soldier of that age had risen to distinction
or had commanded an army, either in ancient
or modern times.
Senator Bayard mentioned the name of Won
Moltke.
Senator Logaa--He was not an army COM
mander,s but an organizer CT troops and an ad
wiser.
Senator Bayard maintained that Won Moltke
was the trainer of the Prussian army and
its campaign, and was surprised to hear any
statement to the contrary.
Sen. Logan said he had reference not to the
brains alone, but all essential REQUESTS of
a commander, and cited Napoleon and other
military leaders including Grant, Sherman
and Sheridan, all of whom he argued achieved
their greatness while they were comparatively
young men.
SeDatorLOgan Incidentally observed that Gen.
Sherman is now about sixty-two years old
and Lieut.. Gen. Sheridan fifty. He said the
house provision compulsorily retiring an
officer after forty years. service would rule
out of active service before reaching sixty
two years, men who entered the army at an
earl. u,,t, aud in one instance at fifty.eight an
officer who began when only eighteen years
old. The committee had changed this SO as
to make the retirement upon forty gears SER
vice and 6efora reaching sixty.two years of
age optional with the officer himself. The
main feature of compulsory retirement
at eixty-two, he said, was unanimously agreed
at the meeting Of the military committee held
1t the residence of Senator Cameron pa
when but two members were absent, and the
members were equally unanimous that the
general and lieutenant general when retired
should be retired on full pay. The appropria-
ions committee, in acting upon the provision,
agreed that Gen. Sherman, being ready to BE- |
'etired now, and having said publicly that he |
vas in favor Of retirement at sixty two,
should be retired on full pay, but that no |
Iction should be taken as to the lieutenant |
general, as he had ten years to run.
Senator Cameron pa lis it fair to report |
lere what Gen. Sherman said? He is too brave |
md good man to ask any favors of this gov |
rnment that the government would not give |
lin of its own accord.
Senator Logan explained that his effort was
lot to take anything from Gen. Sherman, but |
o continue the full pay he now received.
Senator Butler gave notice Of an amendment |
Excepting from the compulsory retirement |
provision Gems. Sherman, Sheridan, Hancock |
nd Howard His reason for IT, no sold wos
hat each of these officers had received the
hanks of congress.
Senator Hawley suggested that the list |
would not be complete without the name
# Gen. Terry.
Senator Logan objected to this as savoring
# favoritism and as being unjust to other
qually meritOrious generals, whose gallantry
nd worth had been less conspicuous than in
he cases of those named. If exceptions were
o be made and favored generals were to
emain in the army as long as they lived, be
bought the list should be enlarged; but he was
opposed to allsexceptions. The clause could
ot be construed as making exceptions, and
very officer OF the army, old and young,
kept some fifteen, had petitioned for its
assage on the ground that it would be of
enefit to the army. He expressed his friend
hip for Gen. Sherman, but confessed his ina
ility to understand why the gentlemen were
o sensitive in the matter of his retirement.
Did they understand only one man should
ommand the army, and for a life time?
He gave notice of a motion to strike the
lause ont of the bill. Without actioB, the
enate, after an executive session, adjourned
The senate in executive session confirmed
ONE army Nominations.
House of Representatives