Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-02-08
Our Washington Correspondence
WASHINGTON, D. O., Feb. 4, II
THE CHoRfESNINc swINrLR.


rHE CHoRfESNINc swINrLK.
There has been nothing particularly in
teresting in Congress this week. Monday
was largely devoted in the House to an ex
posure by Mr.. Dawes of what is now known
as the Chorpenning swindle. Chorpenning
is Penn.ylvanian. and an old mail contrac-
tor. His claim is from twelve to fifteen
years old. 1t has been up in various ways
before Congress and the Departments since
1857. Chorpenning claimed compensation
for extra service, and on account of what he
asserted to be the inadequacy of the price
stipulated for in his contract, he had previ-
ousl7 been allowed on this claim over $780,,
000 and after that allowance, until last
summer, the Post-office Department had
steadily refused to listen further to his claim.
But on the last day of the last session of
Congress, by ways that are dark and by
tricks that are not vain, Chorpenning rushed
through both Houses an innocent looking
resolution directing the Postmaster General
to re-hear and re-adjust his claim. In pur-
suance of this resolution the Postmaster
General made an allowance to ChOrpenning
of over $780, 900. But before he got his
money out of the treasury payment was
stopped. After hearing Mr.. Dawes expo
sure of the swindle, the House at once re-
scinded their resolution of last summer, and
the Senate has, believe, already concurred,
and Chorpenning thus loses this nice little
sum Of over $500 600 which he had almost
within his grasp, and when he prOsecutes
his claim further he will be likely to do it in
somebody else's name.
THE TKsT OATH.i
Congress has passed a bill abolishing the
test oath-sometimes called the iron-clad
oath-in all cases not included in the four
teenth amendment to the Constitution. More
than half of the Republican members from
the Southern States favored the measure, in
sisting that it would be wise measure OF
party policy Other Republican members
from the South voted for it because they said
they could mt live at home if they opposed
it. More than half of the Republican mem
bers Of the House voted against it. In the
Senate it passed without a call of the yea'
and nays. | to-day heard a prominent mem
Der of the House, who is credited with being
on friendly terms with the Executive, init
mate that the bill would be vetoed.
FENIANs
General Butler got the rules suspended il
the House last Monday to pass the following
resolution
Resolred, That the Congress Of the United
States, in the name and on behalf of The
people Of the United States, give to j O'Don
ovan Rosa, Thomas Clark Luby, join
O'Leary, Thomas F. Burke, Charles Under
wood O'Connell, and their associates, Irisi
exiles and patriots, cordial welcome TO the
capital, also the country, and copy Of THE
resolution be transmitted 10 them by the
President OF the United States.
The resolution passed by a vote Of l72 tC
81. The noes from New En- gland were
Messrs. Hale and Peters of Maine, Willard
of Vermont, Hoar Of Massachusetts, ans
Dixon and Jenckes Of Rhode Island. The
Republicans seem to be running a race with
the Democrats for Irish votes, and Genera
Butler was Of course ready as he is at al
times to stir up the British Lion. The res0
luton was sent to the Committee on F0reicI
Affairs in the Senate and viii probably no
be heard from again IN that body Ii i
about as ridiculous a specimen of pOlitica
clap-trap as can well be imagined.
SYMPATHY WITH SUFFERING PEOPLE ABROAD.
Congress has passed unanimously the fol
lowing resolution respecting the beuigerent
nations of Europe
That in obedience to that Christian charity
which seeketh the good of all nations an,
ministers 70 all human distresses, we heartily
commend the suferings OF the belligeren
nations Of Europe to the American people
and recommend that generous system d
organized charity, seeking out and providin.
first for their most pressing necessities, b,
specially inaugurated for their relief
The resolution Is certainly in its expires
sion carefully enough guarded against an,
Interpretation unfriendly 10 anybody and i
it does no good at least can DO 10 harm.
PENSIONS FOR SOLDIERS or THE WAR OF 1912
The bill passed by the House at the las
session granting pension to the soldiers o
the war of 1872, after being somewhat
amended, was passed by the Senate ycster
day. Ii has been sent TO a Conference Com
mittee, and viii become law undoubtedl
very nearly as it came from the Senate. 4
many Of your readers are interested in thi
measure, I send you the following copy of th
bill as amended by the Senate
An act granting pensions to certain soldier
and sailors OF the Revolutionary war an,
the war of eighteen hundred and twelve
and the widows of deceased soldiers
/ Be II enacted By the Senate and House o.
/ Representatives. Of the United States OF Amc,lc
IN Congress assembled. That the Secretary q
/ the Interior be and he is hereby authorize
and directed to place on the pension roll tn
names Of the surviving officers and enliste
and drafted men. including militia and vo
untecrs, of the military and naval service q
the United States, who served sixty DAYS i
the Revolutionary war or IN the war wit
/ Great Britain of eighteen hundred and twelve
and were hOnorably discharged, and to sue
other officers and soldiers as may have bee
personally named in any resolution of Cor
gress for any specific service IN said wal
although their term of service may have bee
less than three consecutive months, and VIII,
at no time during the late rebellion again.
the authority of the United States, adhere
TO the cause of the enemies of the govern
ment giving them aid and comfort, or e.
ercised the functions of any Office whAtevC
under any authority or pretended authorit
in hostility to the United States, and VIII
shall take and subscribe an oath to suppo1
the Constitution of the United States an
the surviving widows of such officers an
enlisted and drafted men ProUided, Thf
such widow shall have been married, priC
to the treaty of peace which terminated sal
war, to an officer, or enlisted or drafted mar
who served as aforesaid in said war, and hf
not been remarked.
SEC. 2 And be ii further enacted, Th,
this act shall not apply to any person VIII
Is receiving pension at the rate of eigt
dollars or more per month nor to any pei
son receiving pension less than eight dollal
per month, except for the difference betwee
the pension now received and eight dollar
per month. Pensions under this act sha
be at the rate of eight dollars per montl
except as herein provided when person
receiving a pension of less than eight dollar
per month, and shall be paid to the person
2 entitled thereto from and after the tin
when their names are placed upon the pei
sion roll for and during the term of the