Mr. ConklING. I wish to detain the Hr.486but for a moment and I wish 1st to repel entirely the insinuation made again by the chairman of the ComMilAffrs that any assault is intended upon these wounded officers. It must have been repeated. I think, for the benefit of the galleries here and the galleries elsewhere; because I hope no gentleman upon this floor is to be frightened from his propriety or sense by the repetition of a statement which has no foundation whatever in fact. An assault upon whom? The House has consented to retain this provision upon the guarantee for it comes to that of the chairman of the ComMilAffrs that impartiality, in theory and in substance, is to be reserved in the dispensation of these commissions. How? By utting upon a par the wounded Officers and soldiers of the country; by not making a distinction in favor of those who for the past 3 years have been enjoying what, in the parlance of the day are called “the soft flames" in the Army. on that the House as consented to retain this provision in the bill upon the assurance and declaration that the bill is to be so modified as to secure that impartiality. This revision is offered merely to carry out that anderstanding; merely to say that these officers. exec t so far as they are now in some way employs, shall be put simply upon a par, fairly, with other officers disabled by disease or wounds. We are met by the chairman of the comMilAffrs with the objection that such a provision is unnecessary. I will admit it for the sake of the argument. If it be unnecessary certainly it will do noliarm. Let us put it in out of abundant caution, so that wounded officers throughout the country, even though they are not here in washington, or belonging to any organization keeping special guard and watch over our legislation, may know that they have the same opportuiiities as anybody clse. lf this amendment is mere surplusnge it is harmless, and let it be adopted for the sake of fair dealing and to carry out the understanding of the House. The able Gentfrom Pennsylvania [ML Srnvsas] makes a practical suggestion; he says that this amendment would involve some expense. beg to ask the Gentfrom Wiseonsin, [Mr. Psixsfl whose fairness and good judgment as exhibited on this floor I respect as a military man, whether it be true that the mustering out of the service of ten, 20, or 30 of these men, assuming that they would be reap ointed, would involve any expense whatever that would be apreciable or to e talked about? I will thank iim to state to the House whether it would or would not.