Year: 1875

ID
departn buildings and public Offices do not present
those hustle and activity observable when the
capital is filled with ofncoholders on1ceseekers and
their numerous friends and adherents yet Washington
from wearing the dull and quiet air which usually
pervades It during the adjournments OF Congress-
Many members Of both houses will remain here during
the holiday recess Some will do so because their
homes too distant to be reached or the attractions
OF the capital too great to be cast aside for the hum
bier and more familiar which might
tempt them to revisit their constituents
while many, especially some who hold
prominent places some Of the important committees
remain from desire map out and prepare the work
which is TO occupy the attention of the two houses
after the holidays This is particularly true Of
the members Of the House Owing to the great change
brought about by last years. elections in the political
character OF the majority new brought to the
'front.' while political exigencies demand from the party
controlling the House promptness and sound judgment
in agreeing upon the selection of the battle ground
which, far the House Of Representatives is
cerned, the Presidential struggle of 1876 is to be
fought


RETRENcHMEST.


Randall who barely missed the Speakership is prob
ably Chairman OF the Committee Appropriations,
in position to render hts party greater service than
had his ambition TO be Speaker been gratiied. He is





chairman OF that committee he has been prying with
the closest scrutiny into the different departments,
studying how TO reduce the expenditure OF
public money, which OF all parties admit TO have
exceeded for years the actual necessities and demands
OF the service From the thorough manner in which
Randall and his committee have gone to work 1t really
seems as If he would make good his boast of
last session when he promised that when
the democrats came into power ERd regained
control OF the national purse strings the annual ex-
penditures of the government would be reduced
$50 600 600 How far these efforts to bring about
economic administration of national affairs sincere
is difficult to determine, owing to the fact that the
country is on the Of Presidential campaign, in
which economy and reform will be promipent watch
words.


REDUCTION OF THE ARMY.


AS usual during one Of these spasmodic efforts to
bring about economy the FIRST red flag which seems to
catch the eye Of the economical bull is the army and
all of ahoat the char
acter Of the reduction which be brought about in
this branch OF the service, branch too, by the
way, the administration of whose affairs and
the performance Of whose duties characterized by
honesty and Official integrity than pertains to any
other department under which anything like many
millions Of the public funds annually disbursed
In round numbers the army appropriation amounts to



sufficient size be maintained annual not
to exceed 500 900 O0O and this latter amount the
party controlling the purse strings proposes to
duce the appropriation. Tho public and members
OF Congress will be surprised to learn that the regular
army, 1t exists at present-about 5000 strong
actually costs the government but little above
s20,0 oo0 Tho


EXCESS THE APPROPRIATION


amounting nearly onehalf the entire amount is
pended upon public works and disbursements ofvarious
kinds, some OF which have more connection with
the army than they have with the public school ques-
ton or with any one Of dozen other questions now
before the public. Whatever the reduction is to bc
the numerous and high ranking officers here represent
ing various staff departments OF the army, have
been so exercised mind for years over prospect of
unfrendly legislation the present time The
mum number of the regular army at present allowed
by law is 25 000 II is proposed to reduce this number
to Is 900 men, and with this great reduction OF the
line nghting part OF the army, II is
proposed to make equal greater reduction in the
list of general officers as we'll as through
out the different staff corps The latter have
always succeeded in recent years when unfiendly
blow has been aimed at the army by Congress dodge
and allow the line to bear the brunt but il appears
that social influences and personal avors cannot be of
any avail the proposed cutting down From sources



the line be brought about by dsbanding regi
mont of artillery, regiments of cavalry and five
regiments Of infantry.


TnE coLoRED TROOPS DOOMED.


Included among the regiments OF cavalry and nfan-
try TO be mustered out the two regiments OF col
ored cavalry and the two remaining regiments o. col
orcd infantry. This would terminate the experiment
for the present at least of employing coorod soldiers
experiment by the way, which is hardly justified by
success judging from the opinions Of officers OF the
army who supposed to be best informed upon the
subject Taking the opinion OF officers high in rank
we'll OF members Of Congress of both parties hail
ing from frontier States, the army in Its present is
too large to give the necessary protection to the
frontier settlements and lines OF travel But the reduc
ton which has partially been win be proposed soon
after the holidays and which will strike the public
with the greatest surprise that which is to be made
among the leading generals.


GREAT GENERALS.


determined effort Is TO be made to force tho
passage Of a bill thrusting both Sherman and
Sheridan, two Of the three major generals-Hancock
Schoneld and McDowell-and three OF the brigadcr
generals, from the army, and consgnng them TO civil
life, WITH perhaps, one years. salary to begin the
business OF life upon That measure SO sweeping or
so unjust couli find advocates in sufficient numbers
either house pass IL would be highly questionable If
presented alone and simply its merits, but II Will in
all probability be attached to OF the large
appropriation bills and forced through rider The
democrats will vote for IL party measure and
step in favor Of economy The republicans particu.
larry in The Senate will hesitate in regard to voting
against it for fear OF committing themselves in the pub
lie eye against reform and economy.


rHR EFFECT BILL,


as sketched would BIO to bring the army down to the
dimensions il bore in 1860 when a major general the
highest rank then recognized by law, commanded tho
whole II questionable II such measure, whether the
result Of real or pretended reform, will add to the nu
merca strength OF the party responsible for It. There