National Republican., 1878-04-12
HoUsB or REpREsENTATfyEs.

Mr.. EDEN objected to the present consid.
Grafton of the bill. 1t should go to a COM
mittee.
Mr.. HENDEE and Mr.. CALKINs ug.
gested that 1t go to the District Of Columbia
Committee.
Mr.. EDEN objected. lie wanted II to 20 to
the Appropriations Committee. 1t was SO
referred
Mr.. cox tohio) introduced bill to pay q
pension to Joseph McHenry, of Washington,
d. C.. Referred.
Mr.. PHELPS offered o preamble and reso-
luton reciting the alleged facts Of the arrest
Of benjamin Noyes, n citizen Of Connecticut,
in the city Of Washington some weeks ago
and his transportation TO New Jersey. and di-
rcoting the Committee on the Judiciary to in
quire II there had been any unwarrantable
violation Of the rights Of the citizen, or Of per-
sonal liberty in this arrest, and, If so, whether
there is any law to punish the net and, " not,
that tho committee report a bill to secure
personal liberty In tho District of Columbia.
The resolution was adopted unanimously.
Mr.. HARTRIDGE moved to take from the
Speakers table the Senate bill to amend the
Pacific Railroad acts, &C., and that it be re-
fcrred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. COX IN. Y } objected to tho motion TO
refer, and tho bill remains on tho Speakers
table.
Mr.. SMITH (Pa.) moved to go into Commit
tee Of the Whole to resume consideration of the
pension appropriation bill.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the pension bill, Mr.. GARFIELD in
the chair.
Mr.. SPARKS advocated tho proposition to
abolish the pension agencies.
Mr.. HANNA denounced the plan proposed
to pay pensions as fraud, and one that would
result in the robbery Of tho pensioner. IL
would occasion u delay which would be harm
ml. He believed in bringing the paymaster
as near rs possible to the pcnsioner.
Mr.. SPARKS was not surprised that the
gentleman should advocate the retention OF
tho pension agents. He represented city
which had au agency, and 1t was not strange
to him that gentlemen 30 situated should have
an interested motive.
Several Members spoke upon this BILL
Mr.. HANNA said that interested and mer-
cenary motives had been attributed to him be-
cause he opposed this proDosition. He spoke
Tor 10000 pensioners in the patriotic State of
Indiana, who felt that they would be wrongcd
and robbed by the agents and trickstcrs who
would take advantage of this change OF law,
and who would hope to profit by it. lie be-
licvrd that the bankers and brokers OF New
York and the East generally would profit by
this, for thoy hoped that much Of these funds
would be placed in their Golfers. And yet tho
gentleman from New York (Mr CHITTENDES)
insnuated morcenaTy motives.
With regard to the insinuation Of tho gem
tleman from Illinois (Mr. SPARKs) he would
not deign torsply to him but he insisted that
the delays and risks attending the proposed
system would rob the pensioners Of their pit
tancc. The business In Washington cannot be
attended to now. Meritorious claims were de-
laycd, aud yet 1t was proposed to increase the
labors in this city. These delays were on
account Of the niggardlyness Of this House IN
not making provision for clerk hire. This WAS
not a party question; but he accused Mr..
SPARKS, who had imputed mercsnary motives
T.. m Of making 1t party question.
[ Ir. HANNA, who speaks very loud, while
speakin to-day, took position in the area in
front of the Clerks desk, and spoke unusually
loud and earnestly.
Mr. SPARKS said he always tried to treat
every gentleman on this floor rs gentleman.
But the gentleman from Indiana had come at
him like wild Texas bull or u bear. He
spoke respectfully Of the gentleman, Ms every
gcutlcman Oh the floor knows. All he said
was that he came from city that had pen
sion agency, and there was nothing singular
in his opposing this change, therefore. As to
the gentleman looks ugly and
says loud things. but they We're not borne out
by the facts in tho case. He (SPARKs) had
not made party question Of this.
Mr. CIIITTENDEN said he had nothing to
do with the bankers of New York, and there
tore Mr.. HASNA's remarks did not apply to
him. As to robbing his (Mr. HANNA'sl pension
ers the gentleman might as well accuse him
of putting his hand in HASNA's pocket and
tax ing out whatever money no had in 1t. The
gentlemens remarks were all boSh. Laugh
teri They were unworthy Of any man who
could command votes enough TO be elected to
a seat on this floor. [Ronewed laughter.
There was not u word of sense or truth in
what he had said. That talk about bankers
was sheer nonsense. He was prepared to show
that s7t per cent. of the pensioners were now
paid through the post Office, and If that num-
Der could be paid In that way now, he did not
see why all could not be paid from Washing
ton. Ho would take the responsibility of sat
isfying all OF HANNA's pensioners who would
Jo annoyed or robbed by this bill.
Mr.. SPARKS Coming down into the area in
front of the Clerks desk asked Mr.. HANNA
whether his law partner was not tho pension.
agent at indianapolis.
Mr.. HANNA, coming down to meet Mr.
SPARKS, replied that he would say that his
law partner had served in the war, and that
was more than he Mr.. SPARKs) had done.
The House applauded, and above the din
the two gentlemen were yociferating at each
other, while the Chair was trying to preserve
order by vigorous pounding with his gavel.
After further discussion the commtte pro-
ceeded to act upon amendments.
On motion of Mr.. HEWITT (Ala.), the ap-
propriatiOn for fees Of examining surgeons was
reduced from $55,OO0 to $4,000, and tho fees
were limited TO 81 in each case.
Mr.. POWERS then offered the amendment
which was prepared by the Committee on In
valid Pensions, striking out all Of the section
which abolished the pension agents and re.
luired the Treasurer OF the United States to
make all payments II also limits the salary
,f the pension agents To 81 900 each, with an
additional SIS for each one hundred vouchers
prepared and paid, and apprOprlates for this
purpose, aud for expenses of clerk hire rents,
&c, the sum Of S2l6.O00, which Is a reduction
Df tlO6,OOO The amendment was adopted
after a brief discussion.
Mr.. MASH offered an amendment that
hereafter officers On the retired list Of the army
shall be detailed, as far as may be, rs pension
agents.
Mr.. BUTLER. This is a good opportunity
10 make General Shields u pension agent.
Laughter
The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. RICE Ohio offered AN 'udment that
after July l. ls7s, tho office .. nsiuu agents
shall be filled by wounded aud disabled Union
soldiers.
This was adopted with u hurrah, there be.
Ing but few dissenting voices,
The committee then rose, and the bill 40
amended was reported TO the House and
passed.
The House Immediately went Into Commit
tee again, and,took up the Post-Ohice appro-