[8] amendment. Mr. McDougall was not satisfied with the bill as it passed the Senate, deeming it inadequate to the wants of the country, but he was less satisfied with the amendment of the House. The Senate refused to concur in the House amendment. The House, on the twenty-third, insisted on its amendment, asked a conference, and appointed Mr Blair, of Missouri, Mr. Olin, of New-York, and Mr. Mallory, of Kentucky, managers. In the Senate, on the twenty-fourth, on motion of Mr. Wilson, the Senate insisted on its disagreement, agreed to the conference asked for by the House, and appointed Mr. Wilson, Mr. Rice, and Mr. Lane, of Kansas, managers. In the House, on the twenty-fifth, Mr. Blair made the following report:
The Committee of Conference on the bill to increase the present military establishment, have agreed to recommend to their respective Houses as follows: That the House of Representatives recede from its amendments to the bill of the Senate, except section eight, and agree thereto with the following amendments: Strike out as follows, “in such manner and to such extent as Congress may direct;” and insert, “to a number not exceeding twenty-five thousand men, unless otherwise ordered by Congress.” And also “Provided, That all the officers of the regular army who have been or may be attached or assigned to duty for service in any other regiment or corps, shall resume their positions in the regular army, and shall be entitled to the same rank, promotion, and emoluments, as if they had continued to serve in their own regiments or corps.” That the Senate recede from its disagreement to the eighth section of the amendment of the House, and agree thereto.Mr. Blair said the Conference Committee on the part of the House felt constrained under present circumstances to recede from the amendments of the House, and to allow the Senate bill to pass, with an amendment, however, providing that the military establishment should be reduced at the end of the war to a number not exceeding twenty-five thousand men; that all the officers of the regular army who had been or might be attached or assigned to duty for service in any other regiment or corps, should resume their positions in the regular army, and should be entitled to the same rank, promotion, and emoluments, as if they had continued to serve in their own regiments or corps; and that the recruiting of these eleven new regiments should be placed in charge of officers appointed for the new regiments from civil life; and that, in the mean time, the officers of the regular army should not be employed in recruiting, but should be employed actively in the field. Mr. Vallandigham inquired if he was to understand that the report of the Conference Committee proposes to agree to the Senate bill increasing the standing army, as against the proposition to increase the volunteer force which was adopted by the House. Mr. Blair replied, that the managers on the part of the House were exceedingly reluctant to yield their amendment, and nothing but what they deemed a pressing emergency would have induced them to yield their objections to the Senate bill. The report of the Committee of Conference was agreed to — ayes, eighty-one, noes, twenty-two. In the Senate, on the twenty-sixth, Mr. Wilson made a report from the Committee of Conference which was concurred in without a division, and the bill was approved by the President on the twenty-ninth of July, 1861. No. Iii.--The Bill providing for the better Organization of the Military Establishment. In the Senate, on the sixth of July, Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, agreeably to notice given on the first day of the session, introduced a bill for the better organization of the military establishment. The bill contained eighteen sections, and provided: For the appointment of an assistant secretary of war; For an increase of the adjutant-general's department, and the promotion of the Adjutant-General to the rank of a brigadier-general. For an increase of the quartermaster-general's department; For an increase of the ordnance department; For an increase of the corps of engineers, and the promotion of the chief to the rank of a brigadier-general; For an increase of the medical department of the army; For the addition to the medical staff of a corps of medical cadets; For the employment of female nurses in the permanent hospitals; For the appointment of one chaplain to each regiment; For increasing the number of cadets at the Military Academy, and authorizing the President to fill the vacancies created by the rebellion; For the repeal of the act allowing three months extra pay for reenlistments, and the premium for accepted recruits; For the repeal of the act requiring the Secretary of War to discharge minors; For the change of the army ration whenever circumstances might render it advisable by substituting fresh meats, potatoes, or fresh or dessicated vegetables; For allowing in the hospitals, such quantities of fresh or preserved fruits, milk, butter, and eggs as might be necessary for the proper diet of the sick; On the tenth, Mr. Wilson, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom the bill had been referred, reported it back with amendments. The Senate, on the twelfth, proceeded to its consideration, and on motion of Mr. Grimes, struck out the provision giving the Adjutant-General the rank of a brigadier-general. The Committee on Military Affairs reported an amendment
