The New York herald., 1870-05-06
AN UNGRATETUL REPUBLIC.
Refusal Of the Senate to Pen.
sion Mrs. Lincoln.
WOman'S Rights Ignored---No Women
Census Takers Allowed.
Fight In Both Houses Over
Railroad Land Jobs.
Washington Radicals Quarrelling
Over the Spells.

Over the Spells.
WASHINGTON, May 5, 1870.
The Senate Refuse 20 Pension the widow Of
President Lincoln.
Tne Senate Committee on Pensions, to whom was
reierred the House bill granting pension OF 5000
per annum to Mary Lincoln say in their report made
to-day that although by the constitution Of the United
States the President Is made Commauderin Chief OF
the Army and Navy he is civil and not military
oflicer The death OF President Lincoln oc-
cnYred while he was engaged in business OF
civil life. There was no principle on which
pensions had hithertq been granted in this country
which would warrant the passing Of tnis stll No
provision Of this nature has ever been made for the
Widows or families OF any one OF the Presidents Or
other civil officers OF the United States although
many Of them, like Mr.. Lincoln, rendered most ex.
alted service to the country; and TWO Of the Presl
dents died while In ofce and the families OF some
OF them were left In very slender pecuniary
circumstances. There Is nothing, SO far, to dis
tnguish this case from that OF great body OF civil
officers OF the government, who, Of all grades,
from the highest to the lowest, from the
earliest period, have lost their lives while
In the performance OF public duties and have
left behind them widows aud orphans In be-
not been deemed advisable in free country to pro-
vide permanent emoluments in favor OF the families
OF high officers OF the State, as in European coun-
tries; as when eminent officers end their Oifical
term they become equal, but not superior, members
OF society. The committee are constrained to find,
from the facts before them, that Mrs. Lincoln is not
In fact in the destitute condition which has been
represented, and that her means must be reasona bly,
sufficient to the Just necessity of citizen of the
United States, either at home or abroad. A reca-
pitulation Of her assets show that the balance OF
salary for her husbands unexpired year was
$4,000. and that on the 18th OF November 1867 she
received as her share Of the personal estate Of Pres
dent Lincoln $780, 7e5 90 Qhe same sum being also
given to her minor son Thomas), making her
total cash assets s5s,7e5 co. in addition to which
there is some unproductlve real estate Of which the
committee have taken no account They have COOL
reason to believe she also received no nconsderabe
amount OF clothing, pate, household goods, &C.,
alter the death OF Mr.. Lincoln which, in considering
her pecunary condition, should be added to the
above mentioned sum. Subscriptions were opened
for Mrs. Lincoln, but the committee not informed
what amount has been realized. Mrs. Lincoln does
not seem to urge her claim entirely the ground Of
actual want OF the comforts OF life In her petition
transmitted from Frankfort praying for pension
she states she has been advised to try the mineral
waters during the summer, and then to go to Italy;
"but my financial means do not permit me to take
advantage Of the urgent advice given me- nor can
live in q style becoming the widow Of the Chief
Magistrate of a great nation, though live as
economically as cam" The committee say
from the standpoint Of European king
dom and European society this. very proba-
bly,, is correct; but In q republican country
where there Is no distinction OF rank, and where all
duties are measured largely by the means OF per-
formance the committee think fortune OF 500 900,
even one-third of that sum, for lady must take
her out OF the category Of those whose necessities
In consequence Of the casualties OF public service
give them q claim upon the Tre asury After other
arguments the committee conclude by saying:-
"Under the circumstances Of the case they do not
think that either sentiment or duty requires fur
ther provision In accordance with the request OF
hrs. Lincoln, and therefore recommend that the bin
be indefinitely postponed"
The report Is signed by Senators Edmunds, Upton,
Pratt, Spencer, Howell and McCreery.
TIE Northern Pacific Railroad Land Grant.
The House spent the greater part Of the day n
fllbusterlng on the Northern Pacific Railroad bill.
This measure, which passed the Senate some time
ago, is suspected OF having huge niger hid away
In the w0Odpile, and violent opposition was de-
veloped as soon as the bill came up. Mr.. Wheeler,
Of new York, who, as chairman OF the Committee
on the Pacific Railroad, had charge OF the bill, re-
fused to admit Of any amendments, which served to
make additional enemies for the bill. Tie oppo
nents OF the measure finally succeeded In efrecting
an adjournment without action on the bill. The
opposition to the bill to-day was owing to the
fact that those wishing to defeat the measure were
In hopes OF being able to muster sufficient force next
week TO prevent its passage.
The Ohio and James River Canal.
rected the Committee on Commerce to inquire into
the expediency OF causing asurvey and examination
TO be made OF the line of water communication pe.
tween the james and Ohio rivers, with o view OF
ascertainng the practcablty and utility Of such
water communication for the transportation Of
military and commercial supplies. To-day the COM
mi,tee were, at their own request discharged from
the further consideration Of the subject. AS ex-
planatory OF the reason for their request they sub
mitted to the Senate letter OH the subject from
General Humphrey Chief Of Engineers, in which
he says that the propriety OF reviving at this
time the old project OF o continuous canal
navigation to the Ohio river by this route Is
questionable. Judging by the analogous improve
ments the Chesapeake ana Ohio and the
Pennsylvania canals, and In view Of the probable
speedy completion OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroei the latter in his opinion would serve mill
tayy purposes better than canal and would probably
supplant any canal likely to be built necessarily limit
cd IN capacity to adapt 1t to the supply Of summit
water and encountered with the amount Of lockage
indispensable to overcome the intervening eleva-
tIOn. 1t is stated the proposed examination and
survey would cost about 900 and could be MADE
In four months The letter says further that while
over some Of this route partial surveys were made
by the government number Of years ago it has not
yet been ascertained whether canal Of large dimen
elOns is feasible.
Republican Nomination for Nyayor-Split
Among the Radicals.
The Republican Mayoralty Nominating Conven.
tion met to-day at Union League Hail. where the
Bowen men appeared to be largely in the ascendant
30 far as numbers went, and, as the various wards
had two sets OF delegates, the indications favored
the nomination Of MI Bowen. After considerable
discussion the delegates representing both the