Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-26
XXXIXth Congress
WASHINGTON, May 25

Mr.. DONNELLY, of Mimi, introduced
a bill to encourage the growth Of forest
trees on the western plains, which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on
Public Lands.
Mr.. HUBBARD, of Iowa, introduced
bill to repeal restrictions in the postal law,
which prohibits the carrying of franked
books and documents by the overland mail
to western territories, and which requires
prepayment. The bill was referred to the
Postofice Committee.
On motion of Mr.. PERHAM the Senate
amendments to the House bill recommend
atory of tho pension law were non-eoncur-
red in, and a committee OF conference
asked.
The morniug hour expired before action
on the bill, and it went over.
Mr.. HOOPER, of Massachusetts,, from the
Committee on Banking and Currency, re-
ported bill to secure and regulate the safe
keeping of money entrusted to discussing
officers of the United States. 1t makes it
the duty of every disbursing officer of the
United States, excepting those connected
with the Postofice Department, having any
public money entrusted to him for disburse-
ment, to deposit with the Treasurer or some
Assistant Treasurer of the United States,
and draw for the same as it may be required
for payment and where there is no Treas
urer or Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary Of
the Treasury may give special authority, in
writing, for the deposit Of public money in
any other public depository. One Section
makes it embezzlement for any disburseng
officer to loan with or without interest, any
of the public money entrusted to him.
Mr. RANDALL asked that the bill be put
on its passage.
Mr.. McRUER of California, objected, and
the bill was then recommitted with leave to
report at any time.
Mr.. SCHENCK, from the Committee on
Military Affairs, reported hack a substitute
for the bounty bill, and asked the House to
pass it Immediately, appealing to the mem
bers to forego any arguments IN its favor,
saving that they might have an oppor-
tunity to deliver them some Saturday for
influence on the Senate. He moved the
previous question.
Mr.. WARD, of New York, asked him if
he would not allow a substitute for the bill
to be offered?
Mr.. SCHENCK declined doing so, and
the House by vote Of 81 to "a demanded
the previous Question.
Mr.. WARD inquired Of the Speaker
whether there was no means to discuss bill
that involved an expenditure Of $4,000, ,OO0,-
600.
The SPEAKER replied that there was
not when the House seconded the demand
for the previous question
Mr.. STEVENS called for the reading of
the original bill. The bill was read. 1t
differs from the substitute in this; that the
latter requires deduction Of local and
State bornties, which the former did not
require. The substitute was agreed to by
q vote by tellers Of 81 TO 80, the yeas and
nays having been refused.
H. N d.
ment read.
Mr.. SCHENCK said he had no power
over the subject now.
Mr.. BANKS asked DIR. Schenck to state
the difference between the substitute and
the original bill.
Mr.. SCHENCK made an explanation and
said that the substitute made no provision
for bounty to substitutes, the Committee
thinking that, as general thing, they had
no proper claim against the Government.
There might be some exception in cases
where men from unselhsh motives went
into the army in place of drafted men; but
Congress legislates for classes, and such
exceptional cases could with safety be left
to the care of neighborhoods.
Mr.. WARD, of New York, suggested that
as this bill allowed bounties to colored SOL
diers, and as under an existing law the
loyal masters of colored men who had
joined the army were also allowed bounty,
the effect would be that double bounties
would be paid in such cases.
Mr.. SCHENCK admitted that such might
be the case, bat that the q; fficulty might be
remedied by a repeal of the law in ques-
ton, or by an amendment Of the present
bill in the Senate.
Mr.. WARD also suggested as an amend
ment, which he had desired TO offer, that
4 l., Ill 20 = H. --aA
mother of a deceased soldier, when she had
been dependent on his support. also that
the clause deducting local and State boun-
ties should be struck out of the bill.
Mr.. BANKS, of Massachusetts, understood
from the statement of Mr.. Schenek that any
State that had paid bounties up to the
amount of three hundred dollars would get
nothing under this bill, but be compelled
to assist in paying the bounties in those
States which had not done SO.
Mr.. 6CHENCK believed there were very
few cases where local bounty had not been
paid to the amount of three hundred dollars.
Mr.. BANKS repeated the remark that
the States which had paid bounties to their
soldiers would, under this bill, be compelled
TO contribute to the payment of bounties to
States which had not paid. He believed
this to be a surprise on the House, and he
therefore moved TO reconsider the vote, snd
ordering the main question so as to recon-
slider the vote adopting the substitute.
Mr.. BANKS motion to reconsider
WIS laid on the table by vote of 73 to 63,
and the question recurred on the passage of
the bill. The bill was passed by vote Of
139 to ?.
Mr.. DARLING, Of New York, called for
the reading Of the votes in the negative
The Clerk read the names OF John A
Nicholson, of Delaware, and Lawrence s.
Trimble, of Kentucky.
The following is the bill as passed
Be it enacted, &c, That instead OF any
grant of land or other bounty, there shall be
| allowed and paid to each and every soldier,
sailor, and marine, who faithfully served as
such in the army, navy, or marine corps Of
the United States, who has been or may
hereafter be honorably discharged from
such service the sum of So 1-3 per month,
or at the rate Of s100 per year, as hereafter
provided, for all time during which such
soldier, sailor or marine actually 50 served,
between the 18th day of April, 1851, and
the 18th day of April, 1865, and in the case OF
any such soldier, sailor or marine discharged
| from the service on account of wounds re-
ceived in battle or while engaged in the
line of his duty, the said allowance Of
bounty shall be computed up 70 the end Of