Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-07
FORIY-FIFTH CONCREsS
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, May 6.

Mr.. Sergeant, from appropriations, reported the
pension appropriation bIll with the accompanying
amendments.
MI. Allison. from the same committee, reported
the Indian appropriation BILL with the amend
ments.
Both were placed on calendar.
The President aid before the Senate and House
bill 10 forbid further retirement of legal tenders.
Read first time by title, that 1t might be referred
to committee on fiuauce.
Mr.. Cockerill objected TO its reference and
moved the bill be read second time, his object
being TO have the bill passed without reference.
Mr.. Morrill, objected To second reading of the
bill to-day, aud 1t was laid over.
The Senate then took up the bll to repeal the
bank upt law.
Dir. Beck submitted an amendment striking out
the l,t of JaIualy, 1879, as the time when the
peal should take effect, aud to insert amend
ment so as to have the law repealed from aud af-
ter passage OF the act.
The bill was discussed until the expiration of
the morning hour, when the bill to repeal the spe-
Gle resumption act came up, on which Mr.. Gordon
was entitled to the door.
Mr.. Thurman consented that the bill TO repeal
the bankrupt law he laid aside informally, in o. =
der that Mr.. Gordon might address the Senate in
favor Of repeal of the rpCc:e resumption act, with
the understanding that the bankrupt bill be re-
sumed as soon as he concluded.
Mr.. Gordon then spoke at length ia favor Of re-
peaing the specie resumption act
Mr.. Msxey, from the co smittee on post offices
ard post roads. submitted u written report to &C
company the amendment proposed by him Thurs
das La, from that committee to the post office APP
preparation bill, in regard to the Brazil an mail
steamship service.
Referred to the committee on appropriations.
Nj Sargent from the committee approprIa-
tions, called up the house bill making the appro-
prtslion for the payment of invalid and other pen
s,0ns for the year ending June 80, 1879, and in
explanation of the bill said that under tue legisa-
lion Of March 9th, any person who served in the
of 1872, even though he had not been in a
single engagement, was entitled to pension, and
the widow of any such soldier was also euitled
10 pension. by this legislation nearly a million
aud half dollars was added to the pension rolls,
22,22j new names were placed on the rolls since
the beginning of the present fiscal year. The to-
/ tai amount appropriated by the bill as 1t came
from the house was S29, 81 ,514. 1t exceeded the
amount Appropriated by the bill of last year by
SS3S, 531. The senate committee appropra-
tons had added S35, 900 additional for fees to
aiming surgeons in order to enable the commits
sontrs to secure the services OF physicians of
standing. Referring to the second section of the
bill as it came from the house, which provide
that from and after July lst, 1873. the office of
I pension agent shall be filed by wounded or dis
abled Unon soldiers, Mr.. Sargent said that should
tina, be adopted it would require change in tie
office of pension agents all over the country on
the first of July next.
The committee on appropriations therefore re-
ported an amendment to strike out the House
section, and insert in lieu thereof as follows
/ That hereafter in the appointment of pension
agents, the preference shall be given to wounded
J or disabled soldiers" He was not so sure abou
/ the propriety OF this amendment as it was ptoba
bly, unconstitutional, besides the lowest bond ~