The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-16

cess Of the sum paid pensioners. This
three millions was expended in some
way, but il did not go to the pensioners.
It did not 90 toEpsy the expenses.o of the
Pension ofice,f that was provided for
in the Legislative appropriation bill. He
(Dayisy called at the Pension Office and
had an interview with the Commissioner,
though not with entire satisfaction to
himself. II was true that 100000 or
Of the S3,00O,0 900 was applied to
the payment Of the fiity.eight pension
agents throughout the country, but still
there remained more than $4,000, 900 not
accounted for. It had been said that
much Of this money went to pay the in
crease Of pensions authorized during the
year. He thought that the decrease re.
sulting from deaths, re-marriages, and
minors becoming ofage, should counter
balance the increase, and prove that the
pension rolls for the past year showed q
decrease Of between 1000 and 5000 per-
sons.
Mr.. Morrill, sent to the Clerks desk
and had read letter from the Commits
sioner OF Pensions, explaining how the
S3,OO0,000 spoken Of by the Senator from
West Virginia had been expended. The
Commissioner states ut great length the
amounts paid Ito pension agents, fees tor
vouchers, postage, printing, increase and
arrears OF pensions, &C., amounting in the
aggregate to S., ,393,507.
MIR. Davis said there was nothing said
about decrease on account of remar-
riages, deaths, and minors becoming OF
age. The pension roll reached its maxi
mum three years ago, and had been de-
creasing since. He thought the decrease
should be greater than the increase, and
one Of the means to discover it would be
the requirement that the accounts be
kept distinctly. .t
B Mr., Wallace said it required $780,
900 now to have the S29, 100000 appro-
priated TO pensioners. In 1867 when
the pension roll called for 5000, 900,
only about S2,500,00O was required to
have the. amount disbursed.. Then there
were but l75 persons employed in the
Pension Department, now 3S5 persons
were employed there. He thought these
matters were worthy the attention OF Con-
gress, Us. u retrenchment could be pro.
perly made. The amendment proposed
BY the Committee on Appropriations to
consider the amounts, was agreed too, as
we'll as other amendments of. minor I'M
portance. q
Mr.. Davis moved to amend the clause
in regard TO the contingent expenses oi
the bureau so that il shonld read, that
such contingent expenses as may be recon-
mended by the Commissioner OF Pensions
and approved by the Secretary OF the
Interior. Agreed 10.
Mr.. Davis said that the Commissioner
of Pensions did not give detailed state
ment Of bis contingent expenses. and he
(Davis) thought that hereafter the Com
missioner would be required to give such
detailed statement in his annual report.
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Maine, said that the
Commissioner OF Pensions had been In
the habit OF giving detailed statement
Of his contingent expenses, and it could
be found in the report Of the Secretary oil
the Interior. 40
Mr.. Davis said he believed large por-
ton Of the money paid for pensions was
paid wrongiully. II seemed to him that
the pension agents might be dispensed
with and the pensions paid from the main
office here in Washington.
Mr.. Ingalls, said early in the session lie
introduced bill to appoint forty agents
to investigate the frauds in the pension
department. He believed with the Sen
ator from West Virginia Davis that
extensive frauds were perpetrated, and
Of the S20,0OO000 appropriated at leas,
S5,OOO,OO0 we're fraudulently or improp-
eriy paid in consequence OF deaths, re
marriage OF widows aud minors becoming
Of age. He hoped the bill introduced BY
him would be passed so that an end might
be put to these glaring frauds. u
The bill having been considered Us In
Committee Of the Whole, was reported to
the Senate and the amendments made il
the committee agreed to. 1t was read
third time and passed.
TIE PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr.. Wright presented joint resolution
of the Iowa Legislature asking such leg
islation as will secure to settlers on thu
lands known as the Des Moines Rive
grant, in that State, the title to and own
ership thereof. Referred to the Commit
tee on Public Lands.
On motion OF Mr.. Clayton the Senate
then took up the bill to repeal section
2,SO3 of the Revised Statutes OF th,
United States, making restrictions in th'
disposition Of public lands in the State
Of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ar
kansas and Florida; the pending ques
tion being on the amendment Of Mr.. Ed
munds, that the public lands affected b!
this act shall be offered at public sale u
soon as practicable from time to tim,
according 10 the provisions Of the exist
ing law, and shall not be subject so pri
yate entry until so offered.
Mr.. Oglesby opposed the bill and sai'
II it become a law with the pendinl
amendment nothing would bo added L
the National Treasury. He believed tn
cost Of disposing OF the law under tn
proposed amendment would be more thai
that realized from them.
After a discussion Edmund's amend
ment was agreed to.
Mr.. Boutwell, submitted long amend
ment looking to the preservation OF til
forests OF the country. -..s-
Mr.. Window said he did not think tn
amendment Of the Senator from Massu
chusetts would protect the forests a
much as the bill now before the Commit
tee on Public Lands.
A long discussion ensued on the gen
eral subject OF timber lands and at il
termination Morton's amendment wa
rejected.
second section Of the bill, that the at
shall take effect len days after its pa'
sage. Agreed to.
Mr. Ingalls, moved that the bill an
amendments be recommitted to the Con
mittee on Public Lands with instruction
to report q general bill for the sale an
disposition Of the timber lands Of th
United States.
Messrs. Maxey, Jones (of Florida), an
others, favored the passage Of the bi
and opposed the motion to recommit
The motion Of Mr.. Ingalls, was rejec
ed.
The hill having been considered in Ii
Committee OF the Whole, it was reporte
to the Senate and the amendments mad
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