The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-06-21

towns and village In the territories O.
| New Mexico and Arizona, which was or
dered to be printed and recommitted.
Mr.. Wasburne, of Illinois, asked ani
obtained leave to attach his signaturt
to the report of the Reconstructior
Committee, which was made during hi
absence. a. 7fGGs ~ ss41
Mr.. Perham, from the Committee OF
Invalid Pensions, reported o bill increas
ing the pension of widows and orphant
and for other purposes. 80
The first section extends the provis
ions of the pension laws to the provost
marshals, deputy provost marshals and
enrolling officers, who have bee n killed
or wounded IN the discharge of their du
ties. Provost msrshals to rank for the
purpose of pensions as Captains depu
| ty provost marshals as lst Lieutenants
and enrolling officers as I'd Lieutensnts
The second section increases the pen
sions of widows of deceased soldiers
aud sailors having children, ut the rate
of 81 per month for each child under tne
age of 16.
Mr.. Perham read statement as to the
existing pension law, and bills that are
pending under the existing laws. The
annual amount paid now is SIC, 900 900
this bill would increase the amount
Sc, 900, 900; making it $22,000,0OO. The
bill pending to pension the soldiers OF
the war of 1872, and their widows,
would cost $13,000,0O0, which would
make the total amount of pensions
$35 100000 Under these circumstances,
the committee was of the opinion that
neither the country nor the pensioners
would favor a proposition to double the
pensions now allowed.
Mr.. Harding of Kentucky, while ta'
voring the second section, opposed the
first, and declared that the Provost Mar
shals were stay-at.home men, who
shirked military duty, and that many
of them were Infamous and disloyal and
had been engaged in all sorts Of unlaw.
full operations during the war to I'LL
their pockets.
Mr.. Benjamin took similar posi-
ton.
Mr.. Stevens expressed his opinion that
the lowest grade of pensions for total
disability, eight dollars a month, was
too low. 1t had been fixed when the
soldiers pay was eight dollars, and now
when the pay was sixteen dollars per
month, he thought the pension should
be increased. He should be glad to test
the sense of the House in proviso that
the lowest pension allowed for total
disability, should be twelve dollars per
month. ya
The House seconded the previous
question, thereby cutting of the amend
ment, which Mr.. Stevens proposed to
offer. The bill was then read three
times and passed =
The Committee on Pensions were dis
charged from the further consideration OF
the resolution requiring to report bill
to double the pensions of those who be-
came pensioners from the late war
against rebels, and the resolution was
laid on the table. r.
The House resumed the consideration
of the Senate bill, which was up yester
day, granting lands to aid in the con.
struction of O railroad and telegraph
line from the Central Pacific railroad In
California, to Portland, Oregon. :
Mr.. Julian stated that the bill exceed
ed all precedent in the way Of making
grants, and he suggested its reference to
the Committee on Public Lands. promis'
ing that that committee would consider
it fairly and impartially and report it
back
Mr.. Bidwell declined to assent to that,
stating that the bill had been carefully
considered by the Pacific Railroad Com.
mite. After some further discussion
the bill was referred back to the same
committee.
After some further miscellaneous bust
ness the House adjourned.