National Republican., 1878-05-07
SENATE.

s.'. ~ SENATE.
MONDAY, May Q, 1873.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate House
bill to prevent the further retirement Of United
States notes.
Mr.. ALLISON moved its reference To the
Finance Committee. .r.
Mr.. C0CKRELL objected to its reference
and asked Its second reading.
Mr.. MORRILL, said II objection was made
70 It's reference he would object to It's second
reading, and the bill was laid on the table.
A number Of petitions memorials, &C., were
presented and referred to appropriate COM
mittees.
Among others, by Messrs. CoCRRELL,
WALLACE, BECK, and ALLISON: For 70.
peal of the bankrupt act.
By Mr.. BURNSIDE: For q proper recogni.
ton OF the services to the country of General
James Shields.
Mr.. SARGENT, from the Committee on An.
propriations, reported tho invalid pension ap-
priation bill.
Mr., ALLISON, from the same, reported tho
Indian appropriation bill, and both were placed
on the calendar.
A number Of bills grunting pensions were re.
ported from the Committee on Pensions, and
placed on the calendar.
nv. INGALLS,, from the Committee on the
District Of Columbia, reported House bill reg.
ulating exemptions in the District Of Colum.
bia, with an amendment. Placed on tho cal
endar.
Mr.. HARRIS, from the samc committee,
made nm adverse report upon tho petition Of
Joseph Williams, for an appropriation Of
$1,000. for work done on Jefferson school
building in Washington, d. c. Indefinitely
postponed.
Mr.. MERRIMoN reported adversely tho bill
relating to foreclosure Of mortgages and deeds
OF trust In the District Of Columbia. Indoh-
nitely postponed.
Also, favorably, the bill to transfer the title
OF the United States, to square 100, Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, for tho benefit ofschools.
Also, bill declaratory Of tho law relating TO
descents and inheritance in the District of
Columbia In certain cases. Placed on the cal.
cndar.
Mr.. wHYTE introduced bill for the pay.
ment Of advances made to the United States
by the State Of Maryland. Referred to Com.
mittee on Claims. ...
On motion Of Mr.. THURMAN, the Senate
took up the bill to repeal the bankrupt acs
Mr.. BECK moved to strike out January I,
1879, aud insert on the passage Of the act as
the time when the act shall go into effect.
Mr.. THURMAN proposed an amendment,
making the time the bill shall 90 into effect
6eptcmber>l, 1873
Mr.. NERRIMON advocated January !, 1879,
as the proper time. on tho ground that II was
generally conceded that bankrupt law was
necessary, and that a postponement till that
time would allow new law to be perfected.
Pending discussion the morning hour ex.
pired.
Mr.. THURMAN moved to suspend prior
orders and continue the discussion Of the
bankrupt act Agreed to.
Th. Lin
proceeded to the consideration Of the bill to
repeal the resumption act
Mr.. GORDON addressed the Senate, starting
out on the proposition that all advised legisla.
tion was the prime cause Of our financial dc.
preston to-day, and made a speech of an hour
and half In support of this proposition.
On motion Of Mr.. SARGENT, the Senate, at
the conclusion Of Mr.. GoRDoNs speech, pro.
oeeded to the consideration Of the invalid PEN
sion appropriation bill.
Messrs. SARGENT. BECK, and DAVIS wv.
Va.) advocated the amendment restoring the
fee OF examining surgeons from 81 to So, and
increasing the appropriation from $4,000 to
$S5,00o, and 1t was agreed to without dissent
Section 2, rs passed by the House, reads as
follows: That from and after July !, 1878,
the office Of pension agents shall bc filled by
wounded or disabled Union soldiers !" and the
committee recommend that 1t be stricken out
and tho following inserted: THAT in the ap-
pointment OF pension agents the preference
shall be given TO wounded or disabled SOL
diers"
Mr.. SARGENT advocated the substitute pro-
posed on the ground that the House bill would
vacate all the pension agencies and lead to con
fusion and embarrassments.
Mr.. BECK said he should move to strike ou I
the second section, believing that 1t was an
infringement Of the constitutional rights of the
Executive. He was aware how sensitive both
Houses were on the subject of the soldiers, and
he believed there were sections Of the country
where men thought, they could be elected to
Congress by pandering to this sentiment. Such
men were unworthy to be representatives.
Mr.. CHRISTIANCY coincided with Mr..
SARGENT and Mr.. BECK In the proposition that
either limitation was an Infringement of the
rights Of the appointing power.
Mr.. DORSEY thought that out Of the six or
seven hundred thousand soldiers who had been
discharged, there could be found those who
were qualified for the position, and who could
give the necessary bonds.
He offered as q substitute for the section the
following:
THAT from and after October /, 1873, the term
Of Office Of all pension agents shall expire, and
thereafter the Offices shall be filled by honorably
discharged Union soldiers
Tho cOnstitutionality and expediency Of
placing restrictions upon the appointing power
Wes uisSubaca ~ CphblucruDle lcnKtn, ana u
large number Of amendments acted upon.
Finally q substitute for tho committees
amendment, offered by Mr. DORSEY, was, after
several notifications, agreed upon, to read as
follows:
That on the LIST Of January 1879 the term Of ONCE
OF all pension agents shall expire, and thereafter
honorably discharged wounded or disabled Union
soldiers or the wives daughters Of soldiers shall
be appointed TO such Offices.
This amendment was agreed to-yeas "a,
nays %.
The second section, as II came from the
House, was then amended 80 rs 10 read that
from and after tho passage Of the act. In case
Of vacancy from any cause, tho office Of pen
sion agents shall bo filled by wounded or dis.
abled Union soldiers, or the wives or daughters
Of Union soldiers.
Pending a vote on tho motion to strike out
the House section and insert the committees q
amendment Us amended by Mr.. DORSEY, the
Senate, at $40 p. m, on motion Of Mr.. INGALLS,,
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr.. WILLIAMS (Mieh.), by unanimous
consent, presented the memorial of General
Hancock, General slocum. aud n large mum.
H.. 81 thaH al - III, l.