Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/779

Rh. The monthly deficit had hitherto been covered by extraordinary resources, but such means were exhausted, and measures for permanent relief had to be adopted. In order to alleviate the strain, the congress reduced all civil and military salaries. This afforded Iturbide an opportunity of further fault-finding: he considered that the measure was more prejudicial to the army officers than to those holding civil positions. On the 18th of March his representations to the regency relative to the pay of the troops were read before congress. They set forth that desertion had reached a serious extent owing to want of funds, and begged for $450,000 monthly in order to meet the pay-roll of the forces in the capital. It naturally occurred to the party opposed to Iturbide that so large an army, and especially its presence in the capital, was unnecessary, and Brigadier Herrera, deputy for Vera Cruz, asked the minister of war to explain why the greater portion of the troops was retained in the city when they could be supported at less cost in the provinces. This question was a direct attack upon Iturbide, whose main hopes were centred in the army. The regency was forthwith requested to inform the congress of what number of troops it would be desirable that the standard army should consist. Iturbide thereupon held a council with his generals, and the figure was placed at 35,900, besides the reëstablishment of the provincial militia and formation of civic companies. But congress disallowed an estimate thus arrived at, and passed a resolution that the regency should proceed according to rule in the matter, forming its estimate in conjunction with a council of the ministers, and not of generals. Long and angry discussions followed, involving also the question of pay, and marked by irritating recriminations.