Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-09
MONEY FOR THE ARMY.
The First Appropriation Bill in the House
This Session.

The First Appropriation Bill in the House
This Session.
The House committee on military affairs is
entitled to the honor of first getting a regular
annual appropriation bill into the House at this
session. The committee went energetically to
work and today completed the preparation of
the annual bill for the maintenance of the
army and will report it to the House
go that it can be taken up next week. The bill
makes total appropriation of S34, 202. 739. or
1861 less than the bill for the curren. fiscal
year.
For pay of the army sIs, 256, $50 is appropri-
ated. being Si2. 260 less than the amouba carried
by the bill for the current fiscal year. iThe APP
preparation for general expenses of the army
amounts to So 9i5, $50, being Sii 500 less than
the current law. The estimates submitted this
year aggregated s25 922, 95. so that the bill re-
ported is Si.120. 2l6 below the estimates.
The following are the principal changes made
by the committee from the bill as passed by
Congress last wear: For army transportation,
S2.6oo,0 o0, q reduction Of Si00,V This
reduction was made because the committee
is OF the opinion that there is altogether
too much travelling at public expense done by
the army. and the best method of meeting the
matter, it was thought was to reduce the total
amount of appropriation available for the pur-
pose.
For barracks and quarters the committee
appropriates $3.50, 900. a reduction OF SO, $50.
Gen. Flagler, the chief of the bureau of ord
nance. was very fortunate, and by his vigorous
presentation of the needs of his bureau he not
only succeeded in modifying the general policy
of the committee to reduce expenses in view OF
the close financial sail under which
the government is moving. but succeeded in
getting several items increased by fairly sub
stantial amounts. The appropriation for man.
ufactUre of metallic ammunition and for small
arms. &c. vas increased from $50 900 to
SIS0.0O0 probably with a view to the introduc-
ton OF the rev repeating rifle; for the pur-
chase and manufacture OF ordnance stores from
$4,000 TO S115,000. and for infantry. cavalry
and artillery equipments, $50 600 to Si90. 900.
These Increases were made on the strength OF
the statements made to the committee by Gen.
Flagler, who showed that the supplies of the
bureau necessary for the army had run down.
and by his demonstration of the efficient work
of the bureau III he development of American
firearms and ammunition.
Chairman Cultivate of the committee will
prepare report for presentation to the House
in which he will set forth clearly the reasons
for the increases made. Inc committee were
impressed with the cogency of the facts stated,
and probably desire to forestall anv movement
on the part of Mr. Holman and other extreme
radical economists who NAV be disposed to
sharply criticise every item which proposes an
increase in expenditures.
Last year the military committee and the ap-
preparations committee locked horns over
items in the Military Academy appropriation
bill, and the former committee perhaps antici-
pate another such fight. Gen. Flager has made
a strong report of the operations of the army
ordnance bureau during the past year in i'm
proving the efficiency of the weapons and ac
couterments of the army. and the President in
his message reinforced the statements by hi,
commentator of the results attained.