The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-17


products, should be a law. The whole subject is
now submitted 10 the consideration Of Congress,
and especially whether the concession proposed by
Great Britain Is AN equivalent for the reciprocity
WAsHIscroN, May T. 1850.
The message was referred to the Committee of
the Wholeon the state of the Union, and ordered
to be printed.
in reply to resolutions of inquiry, and in rela-
ton to the banks OF the country, &c., were laid be-
fore the House, and appropriately referred.
THE MINT.
The amendment of the Senate to the resolution
designed to facilitate coinage at the mint taken
Mr.. BAYLY was understood TO say that there was
80 much bullion deposited in the mint that it was
impossible to keep the coinage up with it. The
resolution merely authorizes the President, long
as there is money in the treasury, to advance 1t.
No Inconvenience could result TO the public SER
vice, and 1t would be relief TO the depostors of
gold.
The amendment concurred in.
THE ARMY.
Various Senate bills were then referred to the
standing committees; among them to, the Com
mttee on Military Affairs, the bill for increase
OF the rank and file Of the army, and to encourage
enlistments.
CENSUS BILL.
The Senate having returned the Census bill with
amendments, the House concurred in some of them,
and insisted on others Of its own. A Committee of
Conference was ordered to be asked
The Senate bill to establish Board Of Claims
referred to the Committee of Claims.
bill to continue in force an act by which the
port Of Baltimore levies tonnage duty on vessels
Of n certain class, was passed.
Other (miscellaneous) business was disposed of.
WIDOW OF GENERAL WORTH.
The Senate bill for the relief Of Mrs Margaret
M. Worth was taken from the Speakers table. the
question being on its passage, when
Mr. JONES moved to refer it TO the Committee
on Revolutionary Pensions He said that it violated
some Of the general principles which are embodied
in laws granting pensions to the widows of soldiers
Mr.. FEATHERSTON said that il did not violate
any law, and expressed the hope that the House
would discuss it now, and at once dispose of it.
Mr.. JONES would refer the gentleman to one
case Of violation. By the general law no widow of
an officer or nom commissioned officer can be
placed on the pension roll, except her husband
died in service in time of war, and in battle.
Again, by the general law, the highest pension
widow can receive, even though her husband died
of wounds received in battle, is the half pay of
lieutenant-colonel. II General Scott had been
killed, his widow, under the general law OF Con-
gress, would only be entitled to thirty dollars
month for five years; and if she should marry,
then the pension would cease. The bill now before
the House did not propose to give pension for five
years. and thirty dollars month"; but fifty dollars
a month, to be continued for an indefinite time,
whether Mrs. Worth should marry or not.
Mr.. CROWELL was in favor Of the reference.
As the bill proposed to depart from the general law
so much, it should undergo the revision Of COM
mittee. In the deficiency bill a million of dollars
were recently appropriated for nsions. If the
list continue to be thus increased, the whole revc.
nues will not be sufficient to pay the demands in
this particular. The system of civil pensions was
a part OF the rotten machinery of the old world,
and we are going into it with rush. He repeated,
the bill should be referred.
Mr.. BAKER inquired whether the bill gave a
pension to Mrs. Worth for life?
The SPEAKER replied, it did.
The question was then taken, and the bill was
referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pen
sions.
A SEALED BooK-PENsioNs AND PENSION AGENTS.
The SPEAKER called the attention of the House
to letter of the Clerk, which read; and stated
that on the 18th of February 1647 the Secretary of
War, in compliance with a resolution, communi-
Gated statement, showing the number of pension
ers placed on the roll from the time that previous
report was made Tin 1857 designating their rank,
&c. There were three large manuscript volumes.
The House, last session, refused to print them.
The information was of great value to persons in
pursuit of claims. Members of Congress had called
on the Clerk to inspect it, but he informed them
that 1t had been sealed up and ought not to be SUBJ
ject to examination except by order of the House.
He asked that they take some action in the prem
Uses.
Mr.. FOWLER moved that the document be re-
ferred to select committee of five members, to
anime and report its contents and what disposition
should be made of it.
Mr.. CONGER remarked that the statement of
the Clerk was correct fany thing was to be done
with the report, it should be again referred to the
Committee on Printing; and he made that motion.
Mr.. VlNTON merely desired to say it was evil
dent the information would be used TO advantage
by speculators and he thought it would be better to
send back the document to the Secretary of War
MIR. BOYD moved TO. refer ii TO the Committee on
revolutionary Pensions, and demanded the pre-
vious question.
MIR. THOMPSON, Of Mississippi, moved to lay
the whole subject upon the table.
The SPEAKER said he believed that the docu-
ment ought either TO be printed not seen at all
He conceived that he had not the right TO exercise
control when members insisted on examining 1t.
The communication Of the Clerk was made 10 the
House on the suggestion of the Chair.
The question was taken, and the House refused
TO lay the subject upon the table.
Mr.. CLEVELAND presumed that every gentle
man well understood that this document contains
information important to certain class of widows
and orphans. The objection 10 the publication of
il was, that claim agents will go TO work and rob
the widows and orphans. He would ask, is it not
the duty OF the House TO secure to persons money
which ls Justly their due, and 10 notify them of the
fact This can be done by directing the Clerk to
give the information.
MIR. HARRISON advocated the printing Of the
document, and thought that il would save much
trouble II IL was spread before the public.
MIR. PECK said that beneficial effects TO the Gov
eminent had resulted from the former publication,
in 1885. copy went into the county, in YER
mont, where he resided; and IL was the means Of
discovering that man there had been committing
frauds for ten years, and drawing pensions in the
name OF persons who had been dead during the
whole period. Proceedings were instituted against
the individual, who committed suicide. Without
the publication, the fraud would not have been dis
covered.
Mr. FOWLER concurrcd in what had been said
by the gentleman. II the document should be
printed II would not only aid in discovering frauds,
but give information TO widows and orphans, and
do away with the claim agents.
Mr.. HARAESON moved that the document be
printed and that copy be furnished to each clerk
OF the various county courts, for the use Of the
people.
Mr.. FOWLER suggested two copies; five were
furnished in 1895
Mr.. STANTON, Of Kentucky, moved that the
document be published under the direction Of the
Committee on Pensions
Mr.. McCLERNAND said it was now late; they
were all fatigued, and, 10 try the temper of the
House, he moved that when the House adjourn, il
adjourn 10 meet on Monday next.
The question was taken, and decided in the mega
tive.
VENAnIE fohf ~ nv