Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-06-17
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings,
FRIDAY, June II.

to authorize the extension of the lateral branch
OF the Baltimore and Potomac railroad through
Mr.. Edmunds called up House bill to construe
certain acts therein recited, relative to pensions
which was passed.
Mr.. Cameson called up Joint resolution
amendatory of Joint resolution for the relief
OF certain officers OF the army which was
amended and passed.
Las passed, ii provides that officers who were
commissioned while in rebel prisons shall re-
ceive pay from the date of their commissions
MIR. Stewart called up the bill TO prohibit con
tracts for servile labor; which was considered,
Mr.. Sumner moved to take up House bill
granting pension to Mrs. Lincoln.
Mr.. Edmunds objected, when Mr.. Sumner
said this bill had now been pending for more
than q year.
MIR. Edmunds said there were other pension
bills to be considered, some of them of poor
lars in their pockets, but wanted bread to put
in their mouths. After their cases were dis
posed of, it would be time enough to take up
The motion of Mr.. Sumner was then agreed
to-yeas 81, nays 4-and the bill was taken up
and read. 1t provides for yearly pension OF
Mr.. Edmunds called for the reading of the
report of the Senate Committee on Pensions
adverse to the bill, which has already been pub
lsbed.
Mr.. Edmunds asked the Senate to think a little
before they passed the bill There were 2I3 900
widows in this country, made widows Just a.
mrS. Lincoln was DY the events of the war
They had no one to look after them. The high
est pension paid to any of them is $500. and this
to but probably half a dozen. Many of them
suffer every year for the absolute necessaries
OF life; The wolf is at their door. They are con-
stantly sending in their modest petitions to Con-
gress asking an increase of the little stipend
awarded to them. If they find that Congress l.
able to do thus generously by Mrs. Lincoln,
they will of course expect to be treated with
similar generosity. How can Congress Justify
itself in voting this very large amount to lady
who, whatever her merits, can be in no neces-
sity, when, on account OF the immense amount
required to pay the pension list, they are unable
TO do more for the starving ones who are so con-
stantly appealing TO them, and who were suffer
ing want and distress because their husbands
and SONS had been sacrificed for the common
good.
The morning hour expiring, the unfinished
business, being the franking bill came up, when
MIR. Sumner moved to POSTPONE it for the pur-
pose of proceeding with the pending measure
The question being divided, the motion to post
pone was agreed 10. a considerable amount of
informal discussion then ensued as to the par
ticular business to be proceeded with.
HOUSE.-Mr. Palmer Iowa) reported Joint
resolution directing the Superintendent of Pub
lie Buildings and Grounds to transfer the stone
sent by the Pope to Abraham Lincoln, now de-
posted in the crypt of the Capitol, to proper
position in the Botanical Garden.
MIR. Cullom (Ill.) offered amendment that
the stone be turned over to the Lincoln Monu-
ment Association at Springfield, Illinois; which
Mr.. Latin, from the committee of conference
on the dsagseelng yfb5eTt n a 5F Ire ErsSpIHGn IL
Abraham Lincoln, reported that the Senate had
receded from its amendment. The report wa
adopted and the bill passed.
Mr.. Wilson (Alinn.) introduced bill supple
mental 10 the act in relation to the SURVEYS o.
public lands which was passed.
Mr.. Churchill, from the Committee on Elec-
tioIs, made report and submitted resolutions
declaring Charles Whittlesey not entitled and
Lewis Mckenzie entitled to a seat in the House.
a member from the 9Th Virginia district
which was adopted.
Also, a resolution to pay Charles WhittIessy
Sl,5CO for time spent and expenses incurred n
cJntcsting the seat.
Mir. Benjamin, (No.,) rising to debate the res
olutiCn, ii went over under the rules.
Mr.. Cobb (Wis.) introduced bill, which was
passed without opposition, 10 equalize the
bounty Of soldiers who served during the late
war, removing the restriction from those who
have served less than two years.
Mr.. GilEllan asked leave to introduce bill
but Mr.. Dawes objected, saying bill lalluding
to the bill just introduced by MIR. Cobb had
just been got through ander this way of unan-
imous consent, which he was informed involved
an appropriation of Sf9,g 900.
Mr.. Cobb asked if he objected to the bill.
Mr.. Dawes said he could tell better if the
bill had been read. He objected to the way il
was passed, and hoped members would not feel
offended if he felt it his duty hereafter to de-
msEd the regular order Immediately after the
Mr.. Logan (Ill.) said the bill had passed the
House two or three times, and it was lust one;
there was large majority Of the members in its
favor. ..f-.r ....r 90
The House then took up the bill granting
under certain restrictions, the occupancy OF
Goat Island, in San Francisco bay, to the West
eTn Pacific Railroad Company, the question
being upon the seconding of the demand for the
previous question, which was seconded-aye Il ,
no IA. ....-.-
Mr.. Reeves IN. " inquired at what time the
House was required TO proceed to the consIdera-
ton of the business of the District OF Columbia
The Speaker said at two O'Clock.
MIR. Reeves moved that the House take a re-
cess until two O'Clock, and the ayes and noes be-
ing demanded the House refused to take a re-
cess-ayes 26, noes 139.
MEsWas1burn (wis,) meyed to adjourn, and
MIR. Burr llll.l that when the House adjourn il
be to Monday; and on each the ayes and noes
noes were demanded in order to occupy the
shs oat tTS sSpa and prevent na action
Mr.. BuTr's motion was rejected.
Mr.. Dawes (Mass.) said he had voted steadily
with the friends of the bill, and he now pro-
posed that fifteen minutes be given the opposi-
ton, which they claimed they were entitled TO.
and that q vote would then be had.
Messrs. Burr and Holman expressed their
willingness to accept the proposition.
After some parley it was agreed that Mr..
Washburn (Wis.l should have fifteen minutes 10
oppose, and Mr.: Wheeler, (N. Y.0 who mad
charge of the bill, the same time to reply; after
which a direct vote should be had.
Mr. Washburn then proceeded to speak, pro-
duciDg reports Of the engineer corps to show
tnat me lslanQ, III neeOeu 10r military pur poses,
would all be required, and that IL was worth at
the least calculation S5,Q00, 900. He opposed
giving this wealthy company, who had already
received from the government S55 900 900, any
thing more. The long bridge between Oakland
and Goat Island would materially interfere
with commerce, and 1t was the duty OF Con.
gress to San Francisco and to the nation to see
that the navigation of the bay was not ignored
Mr.. Wheeler defended his course in the man
agement Of the bill. He had at the outset said
that he would allow any amendments to be of
ftred, and after the previous question had been
seconded he would be liberal in his allowance of
time to the opposition, but they had chosen a
different course. He had the statement of Gen.
Tho mas, who had personally examined il, that
the government would not require over one
half Of the Island He urged the passage of the
bill in the interest of the commerce with the
East. Members would vote millions for the i'm
provements Of our internal waters which did
not yield dollars revenue to the country, and
oppose this bill, which would return a large
amount.
Mr.. Blair, (Mich.) to whom Mr.. Wheeler
yielded one-half of his time, urged the neces-
sity of the road for commercial purposes, and
said the only available route to San Francisco
tor railroad from the east was by these islands
III the government desired to use the islands for
military purposes, the railroad would be OF
great advantage in carrying out this purpose.
IN vofa nor he md