Mr. SCHENCK. Very well; I should like to see that report of the general officers produced here instead of being talked about in this way. I undertake to say this: that in the Senate the bill No. 67 was 1st introduced, and afterward snot her Senate bill No. 67, with a good deal of creeping u as to numbers and rank; that when the boar of officers met here they took this bill No. 67, went over it mainly with reference to the general size of the Army and some special provisions and other amendments and suggestions, as, for instance, 15 new brigadier generals not agreed to by the House or Senate committee. As to the organization including the quartermasters Dept, I mean these general sections, they simply pass them by, making no recommendations in regard to them. That is what I undertake to say. I say further, when the Senate came to bill NO. 138 they changed to a considerable extent, even that section relating to quartermasters, as it was before that councilof military men. When the Gentfrom Pennsylvania here under takes to introduce his substitute he departs still further from it. Take his own statement. He says this House must not make any reduction, that it must not follow its own committee because that committee has departed from what was recommended by a board of officers, and in the same breath tells the House this same council recommended 87, and he recommends 76, that is that he may depart from the recommendation of these officers, that he may come down from 8 7 to 76, but it will not do for the ComMilAffrs of the House, looking over the same matter, to come to the same conclusion. Again, in regard to what the Senate has done. The Senate adopts the important feature of 3 brigadier generals. He abandons that, and yet he quotes the chairman of the Military Committee of the Senate. I trust this House, whether it has or has not faith in its own committee, which has bestowed not a little time? and attention on this matter, not only to see how far we can bring down the number of these officers now, but in regard to a future reduction of them to the needs of the country I hope, whether they place confidence in the committee or not, they will look at these things themselves, and not let gentlemen lead them awa by what some board of officers has done or what some chairman of committee in another body has thought may be done, gentle tlenien who quote persons outside and in the same breath refuse to consider them as any authority. I believe this matter has been sufficiently discussed, and I therefore demand the previous question upon the section and pending amendments.