The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-05
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

ATTEMPT TO ooNTRovERT THE WILL OF THE
SENATE IN REGARD TO THE BOUNTY BILL
THE PRESIDENT wTrHHoLDs Els SIGNATURE
THE VICE PRESIDENT IN AN AWKWARD POSI-
TON.
When the Senate agreed TO the amendments OF
Mr.. Edmuuds to the Bounty bill, striking out the
word "State," so as to put every ono entitled to
additional bounty on par with those who re-
ceived the highest federal bounty, and further
directed the Secretary Of the Treasury to borrow
money to pay the claims, II there was not
enough In the Treasury, 1t was not ex.
pected, nor even dreamed, that the House
would concur in these amendments They
were intended as wholly satirlcal, though
the Vice President, who gave the casting vote
which passed the amended bill through the Sem
ate, did not look upon the measure in that light.
The House having refused to concur in the Senate
amendments the bill went to q conference COM
mittee which, on the part Of the Senate, was COM
posed OF Senators Hamlin, Logan ana Spencer, all
republicans. and on the part OF the House OF
Messrs. Gunckel and Coburn, republicans, and
Eldredge, democrat. At the meeting Of the COM
mlttee it was found that the greatest una
nimity existed as to what should be done.
The House committee receded from the oppo-
sitlon and the Senate committee was equally ready
to stand by the amendments. The report was
committee was in session Vice President Wilson
was informed that Nr. Eldredge was opposed to
the measure and had threatened to state On the
moor OF tho House reasons which would not be
complimentary to Mr.. Wilson, and which would
Justify Eldredge in opposing the bill in any form.
Mr.. Wilson sought the committee, called
out one OF the members and asked II the
conference had developed any such determi-
nation on Mr.. Eldredge's part. He was assured
that Mr.. Eldredge was more enthusiastic for the
bill, as amended, than any OF the Senators, and
had said If the bill became law the democratic
party could say in the next campaign that the
democratic portion OF the Conference Committee
was as patriotic in caring for the votes OF the fed
eral volunteers as was the republican side. Mr..
Eldredge at the close of the conference, retired
for few hours rest, and At haf-past nine this
morning, when the House met after q short
recess. was present with the other members 10
offer the conf erence report Meanwhile the action
OF the committee became known on the democratic
side OF the House, stirring the unterrined from
their slumbers to the realization that TO vote
against the measure would be political infsmy in
the eyes OF the radical leaders and expose them to
the charge OF still being haters OF the successful
prosecutors OF the war. Absence would be
construed as cowardice and silence as In.
difference to the claims OF the soldiers. Tue
assembling of the House at half-past nine O'Clock
did not promise success for the bill but members
struggled IN, until BY the time the roll call was
complete, a bare quorum had voted. subsequently
the vote was increased aud the conference report
was agreed to-yeas 155, nays 40. some demo-
Gratis voted for the bill ana some republicans
voted against ir, counterbalancnR any OF the
changes feared by the timid on both
sides. IL went to the Senate through
It's Conference Committee, and the announcement
from the messenger that the House had agreed TO
the conference report startled the weary sena-
tors, who now realized that Mr.. Eomunds, Joke
threatened injury TO the credit OF the nation ana
the prospects OF the republican party Mr. Logan,
having charge OF the bill, reported for hts side
and asked concurrence, when senator sprague
moved TO lay the report on the table. and the sen
ate immediately voted to do SO, and thus showed
what it really though: OF the measure. General
Logan was now In rage. lie went 10
table, caused 1t to be engrossed and demanded
OF Vice President Wilson that he should sian II.
Mr.. Wilson demurred, but Logan overcame the OBJ
jections that 1t required concurrence on the part
Of the Senate, on the ground that the senate had
already passed the act as agreed to by the House.
Mr. wilson did not attempt to discuss Parlia-
mentary Law with so great statesman as Logan.
and a moment later the bill was before the Presi-
dent for his signature. The fact that the bill had
been tabled was known to the President and Csbi.