National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-03-23
PROCEEDINGS or CONGRESS-.
WHY AN INCREASE OF THE ARMY Is
DEEMED NECESSARY.
Senator Logan's Bnl Under Considcrn-
uon--Opcn Sessions for Consideration
of Sominations--Discu the Call
for "tho Papers"

RcspirCd, That the sessions of the Senate com
monty known as executive sessions 80 Lar as
they apply TO nominations, combinations, or
ieiCUtiOns, shall hereafter be held with open
doors, ana that a public record OF the same
shall be Kept, the same as oil Legislative sesslOn5'
Mr.. ingalls, offered q resolution calling
on the Postmaster General TO inform the
Senate whether he had received n resolu-
ton of the Senate passed on March .,
which asked as to the number OF fourth
class postmasters removed since the 4th OF
March, 1856; and, IL the resolution has been
received, why IL had not been answered,
and when q response might be expected.
Mr.. ingalls, said that eighteen days had
elapsed since the adoption of the resolution,
and as II merely called for the 'number' Of
such postmasters, and did not call for
names or other particulars of detail, IL
merely required q computation from the
official registers, which he (Mr Ingalls)
thought might be done In two or three days
at the utmost. lie had no desire to assume
that there was any disinclination on the part
Of the Postmaster General to comply with
the resolution; but Us the information was
necessary in some remarks that Mr. Ingalls,
hoped TO be able to submit to the Senate on
resolutions reported from tho judiciary
committee, aud as he saw no reason for the
delay, he had offered the resolution.
On the objection Of Mr. Cockrcll tho roso-
luton went over one day.
The chair laid before the Senate Mr.. Lo-
gan's bill to increase the efficiency OF the
army.
MIR. Logan, at the suggestion Of the Sec
rotary OF War; moved for some further
amendments of detail to the bill, and they
were agreed to.
Mr.. Hale then moved to strike out the
second section, which provides for q fur
Their force Of $4,000 enlisted men in the
army.
If there were any need, he said, of au
inaraneaH fprpn n npItlI pnly hp bp-
cause of the needs of the Indian frontier.
Mr.. Hale recited the number OF Indian
wars fought during the past ten years to
show that the existing force OF $4,000 men
was a sufficient army to protect the from
tier. He read from the report Of the pres
ent Secretary Of War the statement that the
Indian was no longer source OF danger.
Mr. Hale believed the morale of the army
better to-day than at any time since the war.
He did not find that the Secretary Of Waror
the lieutenant general of the army desired
the increase suggested. An increase of
5000 men to the army meant an increase of
about 100000 to the army appropriation
bill. The work for which the army was
maintained had been decreasing year by
year for the past several years. Our recent
history had shown what the American
people could do in the way Of improvslng
an army, and our present condition showed
no necessity for the proposed. increase In
iht n navy NOulu NV " ithplO-
vised; 1t would take years to build and or
ganize and equip navy. But not so with
an army.
Mr.. Morrill, said his experience was the
contrary Of Mr.. Hale's. Our population
had increased by about 100000 people
since 1874, Mr.. Morrill, believed, and II we
had had sufficient men at the right places
at the outbreak Of the Indian wars referred
10 those wars would probably not have oc-
CURED. Mr.. Morrill, favored the increase
to 10000 men, and opposed Mr.. Hale's
motion.
Mr.. Logan said that II Mr.. Hale could
get letter from Gen. Sheridan, Gen. Sher-
man, Gen. Terry, or any leading officer of
the army stating that $4,000 men was
enough for our army, he (Mr. Logau)
would agree to withdraw the proposition
to increase the army. He (Mr. Logan had
had conversations with several Of the lead
ing officers Of the army, and he knew they
favored the increase. The proposition to
increase was not owing to any apprehended
danger from Indians or Others, but 1t was
that the government of the United States
might have an army Of some responsibility.
1t was not unnatural for the navy to desire
reduction Of the army, go that larger APP
preparations might be got for the navy.
There should be no strife between the army
and the navy
Mr.. Hale disclaimed knowledge Of any
sucn strife.
Mr.. Logan had taken for granted from
Mr.. Hales reference to the army and navy
that there might be some little feeling In
the matter referred to. $50 far as | am con-
cerned," Mr.. Logan said, 81 have had
enough OF war. l want no more war with
either white, black, or Indian, whether at
home or abroad. ] will always be found
on the side of peace, but that is no argu-
ment against an organization of the army,
for, since the dawn of history, wars have
occurred Mr.. Logan asked why commit
tees of the Senate were recommending the
building Of big guns and strengthening our
Notifications. lie would hate very much
to sec again In this country an enemy to be
at all compared with the European armies,
but when we found an army OF 100000 men
ready to march against us, 1t would seem
that we ought to have at least nucleus
around which wecould form an army for our
protection. Our officers were almost
ashamed to bring their companies out In
the presence Of the American people. No
officer could be proud Of company of
twenty men, unless 1t had been reduced to
that number In battle. Mr.. Logan was
proud Of our soldiers and our officers, but
did not think we had enough soldiers.
In referring to the fisheries question,
Mr.. Logan said Suppose, some OF these
days, that Canada should take notion to
make q row about it. believe there is O
fort in the senator's state.
Mr.. Hale. Fort Preble, in Portland har.
Dor.
MIR. Logan. Suppose some 500 or 6OC
Canadians should run down to Fort Pre-
Mr.. Hale. do not think they would
get there.
Mr.. Logan. How would you stop them
Mr. Hale. The people would stop them.
Mr. Logan. You have at Fort Preble,
believe, thirty-nve men.
NJ, Hola eoiI n wna mt ulnph nf n mar ri
son, but the proposed increase would moi
add materially to its strength. The
Canadians indicated, however, Mr.. Hal,
said, would never get as far as Portland
whether We had an army or not.
MIR. Logan. In other words, the people o.
they got to Portlandp
Mr., Hale. Yes.
MIR. Logan. Well, on that theory we Dc
not want any army at ALL OF course II yol
are going to rely entirely on the peopl,
that Is one thing, but If you are in favor o
having an army at all you should be Willing
to keep 1t at least In proper form OF organi
cation,
Here the debate was cut OFF by Limitation
OF time, and the chair laid before the Sen
ate the judiciary committee resolutions.
Mr.. Colquitt took the floor In opposition
TO the majority report. If there ever wa
question, Mr.. Colquitt said, that SHOULD
be settled, it was the question involve,
here. 1t had been settled by the constltu
tion, and by the first Congress, and had re
NAMED settled for forty years, and when
then, IL was questioned II was again settled
and had remained settled till this day.
Mr.. Colquitt read from report as to al
oillceholder, showing that he was fount
short over $500 In his money order depart
ment and had not one cent wherewith +
make good this shortage. This dellclenc
had arisen from the use OF government
funds in the private business Of the Office
holder. lie had also exchanged postag
stamps for merchandise.
Mr.. Logan inquired II that ollccholde
had been suspended,
Mr. lNnlnnilf Enil Ia hlik ilnnA La,