Mr. SCHENCK. So I understood. I propose, as a further amendment, to offer the following as an additional section to come in after section 3: That foragein kind maybe allowed and drawn for horses of mounted officers actually kept by them when and at the place where they are on duty, in accordancewith the provisions of sections one and 2 of‘ the act to define the pay and emolumentsof certain officersof the Army and for other purposes, approvedJuly 17.1862. Prior to 1862 there was commutation for fora. The officer did not draw it in kind, but rew money for it. In 1862, to prevent further abuse in that direction, the law was amended, so that the officer must show that he actually kept the horse or horses allowed him; and for the horse or horses actually ke t by him an allowance of forage is made. He rows the forage in kind at the cost of the Government. I propose that this shall be continued. It would seem to be unfair to make no distinction between officers not required to be mounted and those who must be mounted, and who, in order to a proper position in the commands to which they may be assigned, are under the necessity of keeping a certain number of horsbs, the number being fixed by law. Hence I ro pose that fo shall be allowed in kin for the number of orses actually kept in accordance with the requirement of the law by a mounted officer. I propose, also, to offer the following as an additional section: That in lieu of the additional ratidu which was allowed to commissionedofficers of the line and staff by the provisionsof section 15 of the act to increase the present military establishmentof the U.S., and for other purposes, there shall be allowedand aid toeverycommissionedofficer of the Army of the U.S. ten%.perannum on his yearly pay for eachfull and completetermof 5 yearsof continuous and faithful service assuch officer; and this increased graduated compensation shall beallowed in the caseof any officer or soldier of volunteerswho may becommissionedin the regular Army to include the time during which he so servedfaithfully and honorably asavoluntocr. By the present law there is allowed in certain cases a longevity ration a ration which is added to the number of rations regularl allowed by law for each successive term 5 years, faithful service. During the 1st term of 5 years’ service the officer gets no additional ration. In his 2nd term of 5 years he has a ration added amounting annu ally to $109 85. Durinv the 3rd term of 5 years he is entitled to draw 2 longevity rations, amounting to $219 70 peryear. During the 4th term of 5 years he receives 3 additional rations, amounting to $829 55 annu ally. So the increase proceeds during each successive term of 5 years. When an officer has served 25 years his longevity ration amounts during his 6th term of 5 years to $54!) 25 annually. Now, under the system which I propose, a 2nd lieutenant with pay amounting to $1, 600 ayear, will receive after his 1st 5 years’ service $160 additional perannum. After ten years’ faithful service he will have $320 added to his pay. So each of the other officers Will receive for each successive term of 5 years' service an addition of' 10%. to his regular pay. This appears to me a Simpler and plainer system than the allowance of the longevity ration. As to the longevity ration, I have always thought it a good thing to give it to officers as a reward for faithful service. At the same time in this country it has another usefulness in keeping pace somewhat with that increase of family in which Americans are apt to indulge. [Laughter] There is a provision in this section which is not now in any law, but which at the close of' the war I suggest it is proper to add, that those who have been in the volunteer service and afterwards come into the regular Army shall be allowed to count, in the time for which this longevity ration is given, the time they served as volunteers. Leaving that portion, after referring for a few moments to the other parts of the bill, I will then detain the House no longer. The 4th section as it stands in the printed bill provides for keeping u the pay of the soldier to 16 dollars. gentlemen may not all be aware that the increase of the pay of the soldiers of our Army, though seeming to be made necessary by the increased cost of subsistence, from 13 dollars to 16 dollars, will come down ofitself, or will expire by limitation at the end of the war, whenever that doubtful time shall be found. They will return then to 13 dollars unless by some positive legislation 16 dollars is preserved. I have always believed in paying the private soldier well, as well as the officer. I would, therefore, in view of these facts, keep up to 16 dollars permonth; and I would, for the sake of getting good soldiers and continuing them in the Army as enlisted men. go one step further, as has been done in this bill, and provide for each successive year of faithful service there shall be added a dollar permonth to the pay of any soldier, running on as he shall re'enlist. It may be objected to this, when the soldier has served 3 or 4 enlistments he will receive 20 dollars per month. Let it be so. Your old veteran so diers fit for service at all who thus enlist and re'cnlist are worth that much more than raw recruits. I hold it to be a good principle in that view of compensation. Then it has another advantage: it will be one of the best means in the world to prevent soldiers deserting from the Army. I have always thought, instead of this system of bounty which we have been compelled to keep up, it would have been much better if this system had been adopted and the soldiers compensated for the time they remained in the service. It would have been a reward for continued faithful service. There is a provision in regard to the pay of officers and enlisted men. It states they shall be paid regularly at the end of ever month. If anything will prevent desertion an dissatis faction among the soldiers it seems to me it is that provision. This was one of the greatest difficulties felt during the war, made necessary, perhaps, in some degree by financial burdens upon the country, but still more than it should have been. The soldier was paid sometimes every 2 months, sometimes ever 8 months, sometimes hardly at all, an some times the last 3 or 4 months of his service being left without pay he was taken back and paid up to some perio dating antecedently several months. We provide in the 6th section that the allowance now made by law to officers traveling under orders where transportation is not furnished in kind shall be increased to ten cents permile. We provide in the 7th section for restoring extra duty pay to soldiers employed as artificers or laborers. Both of these sections are in accordance with the wishes of ever one connected with the War Dept. They commend themselves, and need not further comment upon them. With this explanation, a great cal fuller than anything Lintended when I rose, I leave this bill for the present, desiring there shall be a reasonable opportunity for amendment and for debate, intending, however, when that debate seems to be less for business purpose and to put the bill in a good shape either to be adopted or rejected by the House, to call the previous question.