The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-09
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Discussion concerning the Grade of Scholar
ship Required at West Point and Annapolis.

WASHINGTON, May Son motion of Mr.. Peel,
of Arkansas, a bill was passed authorizing the
Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad Com
Territory.
After considerable debate bill was passed in.
creasing the pension of Loren Burritt. of Penn.
sylvania, from $72 to $100 month.
The House then went into committee Of tho
whole-TMr Hammond, of Georgia. in the chairl
ON the Military Academy appropriation BILL
Mr.. Wheeler, of Alabama, stated that no com.
plant had been made against single provision
of the bill by the Secretary of War, and that,
therefore, it might be safely assumed that the
measure was adequate in all its appropriations.
The sum carried by the bill was 1921 805 az
against appropriation of S3l0,0 OBJ for the cur
rent fiscal year. Though the country
joying period Of profound peace, some gentle.
men thought that an appropriation for the main
tenance of an increased army was necessary.
All nations. in their dreams of peace forgot ths
experience of other nations. The great question
of the day was not the silver question nor the
tariff question, but it was the great labor ques
ton. If the country was so happy as to change
the laws which retained the product of American
labor at home and prevented its finding foreign
market, it would surely come into contact and
conflict with foreign nations; and it was not too
great country must have an army al
symbol of its power. Up to
this time the national honor was unimpeached.
but it was the duty of members of Congress to
satisfy themselves that it was impossible for one
nation or two nations to force the United States
to the election of permitting New York and
Philadelphia and other seaports to be destroyed,
or to submit to an ignominous peace. The
measure for perfecting the military strength will
be considered.
Mr. Wilson, of West Virginia, while he was
not in favor of lowering the graduation standard
at Annapolis, thought the standard required be-
fore applications were considered was too high,
and excluded from the benefits of military and
naval education fully 80 per cent of the youth OF
the land
Mr. Henderson, of Iowa, took the same view.
He did not now have young man at Annapolis
because of the high standard there and the iron
application of it, The application of the stand
ard was such as to make admission simply inn
possible except to those who were thoroughly
equipped by private tutors. The earnest young
man who stood at the head of his class in the
public schools was denied admission to Annapolis.
Mr.. Viele, of New York suggested that the
standard was higher at Annapolis than at West
Point because there were no vessels to put the
young officers
Mr.. Mills, of Texas, gave his experience in the
matter of appointments to the Naval Academy,
and thought that there was great mistake in
considering that the standard was too high. The
trouble was with the teachers under whom the
boys had studied; some were good and some were
bad.
Mr. Wheeler remarked that that was a reason
why the educational bill should be brought up.
Mr. Mills replied that that would make no
difference. Some teachers would remain good
and some bad.
The bill was then read by sections, but no
amendments were offered, and the committee
rose, and the bill was passed.
The House again went into committee on the
army appropriation bill
Mr.. Rockwell of Massachusetts criticised the
appropriation of $500, 900 for the manufacture Of
arms at the national armories, maintaining that
it was inadequate, and favoring it's increase to
$500, 900. Ho read a comparative statement
prepared by the chief of ordinance, to show that
the Springfield rifle far superior to any of the
magazine guns yet invented; and he asserted that
the Springfield armory was of the best bust
ness investments the government had ever en-
tered into. Four hundred thousand dollars was
the smallest appropriation that would keep the
plant in proper order and keep the skilled work
men there. To cut down the appropriation
would be to seriously cripple the institution, and
that the government could not afford to do.
The bill was then read by sections for amend
ment. but without making much progress the
committee arose and the House adjourned.