Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-04-17
senate went into executive session with


out action.
WEDNESDAY, April 1O.-House. THE
house. at the expiration Of the morning
hour went into a committee of the
whole upon the pension. bill
The bill appropriates $29, 266,574, and
provides that after July LIST, 1878, pen
sions shall be paid by the treasurer of
the United States under the direction Of
the secretaries Of the treasury and of the
interior. The items of appropriation
are as follows: for army invalids, $13,-
10000; for widows and minors, $12,-
$50 900; for survivors the war Of 1912,
81, 332 900; for widows of soldiers of the
war of 1912, 81, 247 ,974; for fees of ex-
aiming surgeons, $3.50, 900; for navy IN
vaids, $4,000; for widows and minors
S., 346, 600; for fees of examining sur
geons, ST. 200; for carrying out the pro-
visions of the act, $4,000. After long
debate the committee rose without
taking action, and Immediately there
after adjourned in order to give the re-
publcans the use Of the chamber for
the purpose of holding a caucus.
THURSDAY, April 11.-Senoe. the
senate during the morning hour
Mr.. Mitchell presented the following
cable from the United States consul at
Tien 1sien, China: "The famine is
spreading; cannabalism exists; no rain
worse next year. Will the indemnity bill
pass" The cablegram was referred to the
committee on foreign relations, where
the bill providing for the return of
the Chinese indemnity fund is now pend
ing Mr.. Dennis presented Montgomery
Biair's resolution of the Maryland legis-
lature in relation to the electoral COM
mission, and moved its reference to the
judiciary committee. He took occa-
sion to express his dissent from the ac-
ton of the legislature, and his opposi-
ton to anything that was likely to re-
vive strife and discord. The resolu-
ton was referred as Indicated
At the expiration of the morning
hour, consideration was resumed of I'M
finished business, being the repeal of
the bankrupt law. Mr.. Davis, of Hi
nois, favored amending the present law,
if the senate should reject the bill to
repeal, and said he was authorized to
say that Mr.. Edmunds took the same
view. The bill was then laid aside.
On motion of Mr.. Morrill, the senate
took up and passed the bill to repair
and put in operation the mint at New Or
leans. The CHI airappointed Messrs. Cam
eron, of Wisconsin, and Eustis addi-
tional members of the committee on
Mississippi levees under the resolution
of yesterday. The senate then adjourn
ed until Monday
THURSDAY, April 11-House. The
house took up the pension bill at the
expiration of the morning hour and a
long debate followed on the bill and
amendments. Mr.. Smith, of Pa,
moved to increase the amount aupro-
priated for carrying the bill into effect
from 100000 to $4,000 Adopted.
Mr.. Powers moved to strike out the
section which changes the mode of
paying the pensions and inserting in
lieu thereof provision fixing the sal
airy of the pension agents at s. 900, and
allowing them fees for vouchers and
actual expenses for rent, clerk hjre, etc.
MIR. Fort offered substitute trans
ferring the duties of the pension bureau
from the interior department to the
war department.. A vote was then
taken on Powers amendment, and it
was agreed TO by vote Of 121 to CO.
The bill was then passed and as passed
amounts to a simple appropriation to
continue the present system of paying
pensions. The house then adjourned.