Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-06-21
Congress.
WASHINGTON, June 20.
HOUSE.

Mr.. D0NNELLY from the Committee
Public Lands, reported a bill granting
the State of Iowa land in alternate sectio
to aid in the construction of the Iowa Ce
trail Railroad Ordered to be printed.
Mr.. EGGLESTON, from the Commit
Oh Commerce, reported back to the Sena
amendments to the bill to further provi,
for the safety Of the lives Of passengers
board steam vessels, with a recommend
ton that they be On-concurred in. I'll
amendments were non cOncurred in and
Committee of Conference asked.
Mr.. BOUTWELL, introduced bill
amend the bill Of April 18th, 1918, for Il
punishment of certain crimes against tn
United States. Read twice and referred
the Judiciary Committee. It provides tn a
the act Of ISIS shall not be so construed a
TO prohibit citizens of the United State
from selling vessels, ships, or steamer
built within the United States, or material
or munitions Of war, the growth or produC
Of same, TO the inhabitants of other coun
tries, or the governments not with war witt
the United States. Provided that opera
tions of this act shall be suspended when
ever the United States shall be engaged il
war.
Mr.. GLOSSBRENNER, from the Com
mittee on Public Lands, reported back ,
bill for the relief of the inhabitants of the
towns and villages in New Mexico and
Arizona, which was ordered to be printed
and recOmmitted.
Mr.. WASHBURNE asked and obtained
leave TO attach his signature to the report
of the Reconstruction Committee, which
was made in his absence.
Mr.. PERHAM, from the Committee on
Invalid Pensions, reported bill increasin 2
the pensions Of widows and orphans, and
for other purposes.
The first section extends the provisions of
the extension laws to provost msrshals,
deputy provost marshals. eurullers of fees,
and all who have been killed or wounded
in the discharge OF their duties, the provost
marshals to rank, for the purpose of pen
siOns, as captains, deputy provost marshals
as first lieutenants, and enrolling officers as
second lieutenants.
The second section increases the pensions
to widows of deceased soldiers and sailors
having children, ut the rate of 81 per month
for each child under the age of Is.
Mr.. PERHAM made a statement as 20
the existing laws, and said that the annual
amount paid was sixteen millions of dol
lars, and this bill would increase it SIX mil
lions. The bill pending to pension the sol
tiers Of 1872 and their widows would cost
thirteen millions Of dollars, which would
make the total amount of pensions thirty
five millions Of dollars.
Under these circumstances the Commit
SvC " Uitiii"n eii'As "A '''N SsN.---+J
nor the pensioners would favor PROPOSE
ton to double the pensions allowed at the
present time.
Mr.. HARDING, while favoring the sec
and section opposed tho iret, Nnd declared
these provost marshals were stay at homes,
who shirked military duty, and many of
them were engaged in all kinds of ullawfdl
operations to fiji their pockets.
Mr.. BENJAMIN took similar position
TO Mr.. Harding.
Mr.. STEVENS expressed his opinion that
the lowest grade of pension for total disa-
bility, eight dollars a month, was too low.
1t had been fixed when q soldiers pay was
eight dollars and now, when the pa was
sixteen dollars, he thought the pension
should be increased. He should be glad to
test the sense OF the House on provisO that
the lowest pension allowed for total disa-
bility should he twelve dollars per month.
Mr.. HARDING moved TO strike out the
first section, which was negatived by "a
10 73.
Mr.. BANKS objected as not being Ger
main" If this country objected to the
of French troops IN Mexico it
should have the good sense to order them 10
leave. The industry of the country should
not be attacked in this back-handed, under
handed and unjust manner If the gentle
man from Illinois or any other member
would introduce bill for the expulsion of
the French from Mexico he would give it
his support, but IN the name Of mechanics
Of the country ne protested against the as
sault on their interest and their honor by
a proposition of this kind.
Mr.. STEVENS said he was glad to hear
the Gh airissan of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs declare his readiness TO compel
and those under whom he
acted, to do Justice to the country, and he
suggested whether it was not time for that
to take some action in that di-
-ection. If not he would 20 for it in the
shape proposed by the gentleman from Il
inOis.
Mr.. Banks stated that the Committee on
Foreign Affairs would do its duty faithfully
and he promised that if this question was
eft to stand on its own merits that the gen
.leman from Pennsylvania would have an
opportunity to express his opinion and TO
give his vote on the subject Of the occupa-
lion of Mexico by the French
Mr.. WASHBURNE, Of Illinois, said that
ne 0lQ NOT Know NudL hub EbuAlGudu
Banks) meant by charging him with giving
a backhanded blow to the interests of me-
,hanics. He supposed bOfore this should
be represented at the French exhibition
hat little tin crown set up in Mexico
should be taken down. He asked the gen
tlemen from Massachusetts, who now talked
80 boldly why he had not taken some initi-
atory steps TO vindicate the honor and glory
Of that country, and he wished that the
gentleman would travel with him in having
no connection with the French nation 50
long as it kept up this perpetual threat upon
our border 1t was a question that concern
ed not the mechanics alone, but every man
who had drop of American blood in his
veins. If the mechanics were 10 be told
that this stigma was to be endured for their
benefit they would repudiate it. They felt
as all Americans felt, the humiliation TO
which they were subjected by the present
state of affairs in Mexico.
Mr.. BANKS said the reason for his stat
ing that propositions Of the member from
Illinois was a back-handed blow at the
measure, was that it was evasIve of the
merits of the question, and strictly con-
sidered. had no right to enter into debate or
voting. He had this to say, that in all that
pertains TO the maintainence of the Repub-
lie of Mexico, he would traduce him or any
man who went for the support of that in
terest. He preferred 10 fight the battle Of
Mexico against Maximillian or against the
Emperor of the French, or against any one
else who should occupy the territory of
Mexico, and not fight it under cover OF
measures designed 70 benefit the industrial
interests Of the country, and which con-
cerned alone the honor and dignity of the
government, and the welfare and prosperity
Of the mechanics and working men Of the
country who hod saved it from its enemies
Mr.. HARDING, of Illinois, declared that
he felt inexpressible repugnance in giving
his vote for this bill He was opposed TO
the nation being humiliated by tea party
representation at the Court OF st. Cloud
Mr.. DAVIS favored the bill, stating that
II would be unwise TO indicate to the French
Emperor or to the world that Congress had
not sufficient dignity or common sense to
legislate without passion.
The amendment was rejected by a vote
of 80 yeas TO 63 nays.
On motion of Mr.. BANKS the substitute
of the Senate was nOn-cOncurred in, and a
Committee Of Conference was asked
The following bills were taken from the
Speakers table and referred:
Granting lands to aid in the construc'
ton of railroad and telegraph line from
Columbia river to Salt Lake City. To
amend an act of July 2nd, 1861, to aid in
the construction Of a railroad and telegraph
line from the Missouri river to the Pacific