The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-06

o execute this law II viii be- in all probability four or
FIVE years before the cases We are now filing taken
up The Secretary Of lhe Interior estimates the whole
number al applications that will be made underlths law
TIVE hundred and fifty thousand II his smaie be cor
rect not over one tenth are yet filed, and upon those
hled no, single warrant has Issued, nor wili IS
delay in commencing the issue is attributable to disapu
poinment in procuring the engraved blanks upon which
me warrants are to issue ihree months, therefore
elapse before beginning made and eighty per day
the highest number that pass the Third Auditors Of
nee Tor am told that unless the rolls are copied and
force can be proaby employed Now, il Is evident that
something must be done-some legislation must be had
OF had ssweI repeal and abandon the law. i would
be Of importance 10 the soldier il he wait or
fifteen or even four or i've get his warrant The
lands will all be taken up before that time elapses am
in hopes bill will pass Congress giving every man
quarter section who will go and settle upon and cultivate
itthus taking much shorter road than awaiting the
tardy motions OF those who are executing this law.
believe the Secretary Of the Interior is sincerely de-
in his mutarious engagements, Think he has over
looked the difficulties which lie in his PATH aud does not
properly appreciate the regulations which have been
adopted For instance the rule of the Pension Office is
that every declaration, every case, after being filed that
Office must go to the Third Auditors Office, to be CON-
pared with the rolls, no matter whether the discharge
Now il the original certificate OF discharge is not suf
cent evidence, Of what use is III Where il shows the
time Of service where the necessity Of looking further
| am told such not the practice under the bounty
land laws prior to the Mexican war-hose for services
in the war OF 1912 Now if the discharge were taken A.
conclusive, as think il ought to be- would vast
adopted, BY the Secretary Of the Interior, which
am in favor Of abolishing by legislation, il cannot
get rid Of without affects the most meriorous class
Intended to be benefited by this blll-a class not
numerous and scarcely less meritoous than the revou
onary soldiers TO whom we have been paying pension
in money for many years allude tothose who were en-.
gagged in the Indian OF 1870, oil 92 and 'o3the sol
diers of Harmer. ST. Clair, and Wayne, who underwent
the pvatons and horrors Of the sangunary Indian war;
Of those meshe pioneers Of all our settlements beyond
the Alleghanies--those who opened up the way and
marked the first paths in the direction OF these very lands
we are attempting to donate These men, OF advanced
age. all having passed the allotted span O. three
and ten are subject to the nvidous distinction OF prou
ing their services by credible Witnesses Inc regula'
ton expressly refers 10 those who served subsequento
Now. these old men are scattered every where, al long
distances apart this broad land In not one case out
Of five in the western States can they prove their service
for they have emgraed from the place they lived when
they entered the service and know no one who served
with them. have perhaps q dozen such cases--neu
some Of them, whom have known from my earliest
the service they swear they did than have that General
Jackson was the commander at the battle Of New Orleans
yet these men. under this stringent regulation, are to
deprived OF this long deferred and reluctant bounty be-
cause they cannot find some one who served with them
to prove their service by. Sir, this unjust regulation
must be abolished by legislation il necessary The law
we passed says satisfactory evidence OF service must
be given Now these cases, if the soldier has no dis
charge and the rolls lost, would take his naked
sworn declaration, il accompanied BY evidence OF his
credibty. It is all that ought to DO required IT
mockery 10 require more-for more is impossible.
But Sir my object in asking this committees is TO devise
ways and means TO execute the law we passed-noto
speedy and prompt execution. am willing to vote more
force 10 any OF the bureaus who are engaged in exec
ting il, if more can be profsby employed and am in
favor Of multiplying the copies OF the rolls II that. npon
investigation, is und necessary and am in favor Of
aboshng all stringent and unnecessary regulations
which either operate oppessively on the soldier or pro-
tract the time oil issuing the warrants.
for getting out the warrants as fast as possible
and If amendments necessary 10 the terms or body
OF the act let them be offered by gentlemen in separate
propositions My object is not to open up this law, but
Mr. WHITE proposed to amend the resolution by
striking out "a select committee and inserting the Com
necessary give that committee power TO send for per
sons and paDers effect change OF few words ia the
Mr. HOUSTON could see no necessity for the raising
OF this committee The Secretary OF the Interior who
had charge of the matter had recommended plans for the
correction OF the evils OF which MIR. RoBrSsox had CON-
Mr. ROBINSON remarked that the evils were ptinci-
pay in the Third AUDITORS Office, and had not been
noticed in the report OF the Secretary Of the Interior
Mr. HOUSTON thought Il would be well 10 let the
matter go over for few days, though be was no, par
cuariy opposed 10 the final adoption Of the resolution
He conceived proper subject the soldiers serving
der Wayne and others between the revelation and the
war Of 1912 to the same regulations, TO proving up
their claims, as are IN operation in revolutionary
i
Mr. CALDWELL, Of Kentucky, desired to offer an
amendment an additional resolution:
"Rssoped, That nothing in the approved September
Who have been engaged Ia the military service Of the
United Safes, shall be construed % the sale
and Of certificates issued by virtue
prior 10 the Issue Of the patent."f NHA Hsttl ,tt
The SPEAKER announced that this amendment was
not in order, il involved change in the law which,
MIR. CALDWELL, OF Kentucky, then gave notice
that he designed offering jein resolution thst end
The question then being pot on the amendment Of Mr..
WHITE II was not agreed 10. stAsf1a+It N tHNft. +
Mr.. ROBINSON moved 10 Gil the blank in the resolu.
ton with fve," and then called the previous question;
which, being seconded by the House, under ts operation
the resolution, as filed up, was agreed TO.
THE ANNUAL TREASURY REPORT.
The SPEAKER here laid before the House the annsal
report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury which laid
on the table, and ordered to be printed
THE WORLDS FAIR. .,t - =. s.
Mr. SCHENCK desired to offer a resolution, as fol.
lowsr ssh .Hn8rl s lU nt.i et 8lftt II ia n.
s,otred. That the Committee Of wsy, and Mean, be
directed inquire and ascertain the expense
therefor, and report forthwith bill appropriatng
OF money sufficient enable President Of the
United Staesto III out the shp-ohene Pennsylvania,
and TO send hsr 10 England 70 CONVEY bihe under such
dscoo. q The uned ssss Intended ~ casn. n Of s
government be exhibited the Worlds Fair which
Is TO assemble in London In May next" e III 'faN
Mr.. HALL Directing, this resolution. under the rule
could moi be considered, and was laid over.
On motion, the House then adjourned over until Mon.
day next.
Mr. GREEN gave notice Of bill 70 authorize the reis