The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-24
THE FORTY NINTH CONGRESS
Brief Debate on Senator LOgan's Bill to
Increase the Army's Efficiency.
Messrs. Hale and Beck Oppose an Increase Of
5000 Men-More Talk on the Edmunds
ReSOlutions-The Indian Bill.
Senator Logan Favors an Increase of the Army
Debate the Edmunds Resolutions.

-DeDate on the EdmundS RESOLUTIONS.
WAsHINGToN, March 23.-The Chair laid be-
fore the Senate number of House bills, among
them the bill granting pension of So, 900 year
to the widow Of General Hancock
On motion of Mr. Blair the bill was at once
passed, Mr. Blair stating that it had been this
morning considered by the pension committee of
the Senate.
Mr.. Ingalls's resolution of inquiry, offered yes
terday, was agreed to. asking whether the Post
master general had received the Senate resolu-
ton calling for information as to the number OF
fourth class postmasters removed under the pres
emit administration
Mr.. Beck called up the resolution offered by
him on Dec Is, 1885, relating to the payment of
customs dues in coin Mr. Beck said the resolu-
ton had been amply discussed, and he now
moved it's reference to the finance committee.
The motion was agreed to.
The Chair laid before the Senate Mr. Logan's
bill to promote the efficiency of the army.
Mr.. Henderson spoke in favor of the section
increasing the force to 10000 enlisted men. He
read from testimony given and letters written
by Generals Scho6eld, Pope and others, to show
the inadequacy OF the present force OF 2o,O0O
One of these gentlemen stated that we had just
dian country to provoke the contempt of the In
dians.
Mr. Henderson called attention to the small
force of soldiers in the whole military depart
ment of the East some 2, 465 only. AS to the
need of soldiers in the West he said the Sioux
population was about %, 900, and the fighting In
dian every Indian. The squaws were almost
as efficient fighters as the male Indians. Mr.
Henderson had been surprised-alsnost fright
ened-to see that almost every man among the
had rift Ha had
them in their war dances, and had seen them
initiate, in most expressive pantomime, the Gus
ter massacre One of the braves showed how he
had taken the scalps of the white men. Among
the witnesses on that occasion were hundreds of
young Indian braves who looked on with mani
fest appreciation; that, Mr. Henderson said,
not only were these Indians in that country, but
they had the disposition to give trouble. He
was no alarmist but he was compelled to say
that very many families on the Nebraska
frontier lived in constant condition Of alarm
for their lives.
Mr. Hale inquired whether there was anything
in the reports of the Secretary of War, or Gen
eral of the Army, that in any way invoked
remedy for any such condition of affairs as pict-
ured by Mr.. Henderson.
Mr. Henderson said he would show from the
last report of the Secretary of War, in the sug
gestions to increase the strength of every com
pany. Referring to the efforts for civilizing the
Indians, Mr.. Henderson said he would not dis
courage any practicable effort in that direction,
but we must treat the Indians as we find them,
and they were still brutal savages.
Mr. Beck thought an increase of the army I'M
necessary. It would be very bad policy for this
administration to increase the expenditures of
the government by this proposed increase, and
thus make reduction Of taxation more difficult
He had seen enough volunteer soldiers on Penn
sylvania avenue, Washington, when President
Cleveland was inaugurated. to quell an Indian
war themselves, and a large standing army was
not necessary. There were many people in this
country who would like a large standing army
capitalists who were anxious to have 1t to suit
their purposes in their designs on the people.
Mr.. Logan said he would not use the word
demagogueism In respect to an argument made
in the Senate but he repealed any insinuation
that the increase proposed was for the purpose
of, using it against the people That was I'M
worthy of the Senator from Kentucky Mr..
Beck. Mr. Logan had been recommending this
increase for the past ten years, and had intro
duced the bill.
Mr. Beck said he never thought of the Senator
from Illinois in connection with this subject. He
had not even known that the bill had been intro
duced by Mr.. Logan.
Mr. Logan did not intend to have it thrown in
his face that there was any other intention in
advocating this increase than to increase the
efficiency of the army. He had no reason and
no desire to have the army increased except for
the better welfare of the people There was no
change of front with him. He had for many
years advocated this increase Mr. Logan had
always found in the Senate as elsewhere. that
the men who had done least in war were always
the most statesmanlike in the discussion of
matters affecting the army. Men who were OF
age wheE the war was on hand, and who might
have served their country, but failed to do
1t, became great leaders on army questions
in the halls Of debate His friend from
Maine Mr.. Halel, who for the moment was alb
sent, he Mr.. Logan would not refer to- but that
Senator Mr.. Hale] had been encouraged from
the start to make war on this bill. He. Mr..
Logan knew whore it came from. Mr.. Logan
thought fortune would have come to the bill if
somebody else had introduced it. That was all
he would say at present Before the matter
closed he would have something more to say
Upon motion of Mr.. Van Wyck the Senate
took up the bill to confirm entries heretofore
made on the public lands in accordance with the
rulings of the land Office in force at the time the
entries were made
Mr.. Plumb suggested that an amendment be
made declaring that the measure shall not apply
to scrip entries.
Mr.. Van Wyck accepted the amendment and
the bill then passed.
Mr.. Logan introduced bill repeating the pro-
vision of existing law which declares that when
vacancy occurs in the Office of General or
Lieutenant general of the army, such Office shall
cease. Referred
At o'clock the judiciary committees resolu-
tons placed before the Senate, and Mr..
jackson resumed his speech in opposition to the
majority report Mr. jackson inquired whether
1t was in the line Of the 'scalm and orderly adj
L1iniStraIon Oh the government referred 60 oE
Mr. Edmunds that the Senate should permit all
the pending nominations to remain Enacted on
to let the vacancies in Office remain untitled and
have the session close. leaving all those trouble
some constitutional questions to be raised in the
recess MIR. jackson, in concluding his remarks,
said: 4 see nothing in this but an attempt to
encroach on the functions and rights of the
executive, and of obstructing him and his ad-
ministration in their efforts at reform. No
President for the past half century has ever
acted with more moderation-none with more
conscientious regard for the public interests
and yet at the very outset of his administration
he is to be DISTRACTED in this way on grounds
wholly unwarranted. He may well appeal from
this Senate to the country. for the country will
sustain him in his action
Mr.. George followed, also In opposition to the
majority report. He contended that the power
OF removal was vested in the President alone.
1t was not in the power of Congress to subject