Mr. VANAE RNAM. I move to strike out of this 7th section the words “ regimental commissaries.” I do so because I deem the Office of reimentnl commissary entirely unne cessn an useless. In the history of this couny, ever since the 1st organization of armies, there is to be found no instance of such an Officer being employed as the commissary of an infantry regiment. There has been de veloped in time of peace no necessity for any such officer; nor in time of war, during the war of the Revolution, the war of 1812, the war with Mexico, and the rent war of the rebellion through which we have just passed and now, when we are organizing our Army upon a once establisliment, I can see no necessity or creating officers to do no service whatever that cannot be done by those we now have. There are to be 55 regiments of infantry. according to the organization proposed by this bill, each regiment to have a commis sary with the pay of a 1st lieutenant. According to the bill proposed to establish the pay of the Army, a 1s the utennnt is to receive $1,500 a year as pay proper. In addition to that, this commissary is to receive $120 a year for responsibility money. In addition to that, if you look at the next section of the bill, he is to be a mounted officer; that means nothing more nor less than that the Government shall furnish forage and shoe his horse, which will be an additional expense of at least ten dollars a month to the Government. That will make the cost of one of these officers $1, 740 a year. When multiplied by the number of regiments provided for, it makes the expense levied on the over taxed energies of the people 395.700 a year for no purpose whatever, because this same service has been performed through peace and through war by commissary sergeants, who have 21 dollars a month. The bill does not do away with the commissary sergeant at all, but continues him and makes this an additional Office. As I said before, the whole expense in these infantry regiments will amount to $95, 700:} year and not only that, but we are creating a tax on the labor of the country to continue for all time. I hope the amendment will prevail.