National Republican., 1878-04-11
HOUSE or RETRESEyTAr rITEs.

Mr.. YOUNG, from the Committee on Ven.
tilation Of the Hall Of the House, reported q
resolution to authorize laborer to go above
the skylights of the Hall to clean the g;ass
(under present rules no one Is permitted to 70
above tho skylight except the electrician.)
Mr.. CLYMER objected, because the 'resolu.
tion would take money from the contingent
fund.
The resolution was referred to the Commit.
tee on Rules
Mr. BANNING. from the Committee on
Military Affairs, reported a bill to authorize
the issue Of 1000 stand Of arms to each Terri
tory. Passed
Bills, &C., were introduced by unanimous
consent and referred including number of
private bills, and among others, the following !:
By Mr., POLLARD: Bill relating to swamp
and overfowed lands in Missouri.
By Mr.. STEWART: In relation to the pur-
chase Of land within twenty miles Of the line
Of tho Northern Pacific Railroad at rs per
acre.
BY Mr.. FULLER: To authorize the use of
Treasury notes, and to repeal certain internal.
revenue laws.
BY Mr.. PAGE: Joint resolution Of the Cal.
ifornia Legislature in relation to the office of
United States Surveyor.General for Califor-
niQ
by Mr.. BLISS: To extend the building for
the use Of the War Department.
BY Mr.. CRl1'TENDEN: In relation to con.
struction of bridges across the Missouri River.
BY Mr.. TURNER: To make it illegal for
any member Of either House of Congress to
act rs attorney for any corporation requiring
action of Congress, or for any patentee. Also.
bill to designate the proper limit of Executive
patronage and to provide plan for keeping
Federal accounts.
BY Mr.. RoMERO: To provide for payment
Of troops organized under authority of the
Territory of New Mexico.
By Mr.. POTTER: To provide for judicial
asccrtainment Of claims against the United
States. Also, a bill proposing an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States in re-
lation to sessions Of Congress.
On motion Of Mr.. SMITH tPa.), the House
went into Committee Of the Whole, Mr.. GAR.
FIELD in the chair, and he gave notice that it
was his purpose to call up the annual pension
Appropriation bill.
Mr.. CONGER said he had no objection TO
to taking up the pension bill, but he was
caught yesterday on the tariff bill. and he pro.
posed to dispute the right of the Committee of
the Whole to set aside bills regularly on tho
calendar and take up particular bill.
Mr.. RANDALL said that when the gentle
man tNir. SMITH moved to go into committee
he supplemented that motion with an intima-
tion OF purpose to take up the pension bill,
ard when the maoriiy Of the House moved to
20 ihlo committee tney uiuerntoou tndt the
pension bill was to be taken up, and the ma
iority of tho House had right to determine
what business 1t would take up.
Mr.. SAYLER said that il the gentleman
knew anything about the rules he knew that
the House could go into committee for any
special purpose.
Mr.. CONGER insisted that the committee
could determine the order Of busnsss.
Mr.. RANDALL here rose to make an inter
rupton.
Mr.. CONGER declined to be interrupted;
when the House was in committee and the
Speaker was on the floor they stood upNl an
equality. He objected to the establishment
of precedent that the Committee Of the
Whole could not determine its order Of busi-
ness.
Mr. RANDALL said that, apart from the
fact that the House went into Committee yes.
tcrday on special order, it had always been
held that the House could 20 into committee
at any time on a tariff bill.
The Chair ruled that under the rules Of
the House he was bound to recognize men,
Der Of the Committee on Appropriations, and
he would therefore recognize Mr. SNITn's mo
tion to take up the pension bill.
The latter bill was accordingly taken up.
Mr. SMITH pa explained Its provisions,
and said at the proper time ho would offer GER
tain amendments. The only item in the bill
on which an issue would be made would be
that which transferred the duty Of paying
pensions from pcnsion.agents to the Treasurer
of tho United States. This plan would result
in u great saving TO the Government. for he
had a statement to show that while pension.
agents received salary OF $4,000, their in.
cidental expenses were between $4,000 aud
Sls, 900 annually.
Mr.. PRICE inquired If that statement was
correct, and these large fees were paid.
Mr.. SMITH said 1t was strictly the fact.
A IL r Al.
the agent had to pay his clerks and all ex-
penses.
Mr.. SMITH (Pa.) said that nevertheless un-
der tho system now proposed there would be
a saving Of over 100000 annually, and there
would be no such danger of deialcaton as at
present. The Treasurer of the United States
was the proper officer to mako these pay
ments.
Mr.. HARTsZELL inquired whether, under
this bill, the employment Of an attorney or
agent was neccssitated.
Mr.. SMITH said it would not because
each pensioner would be paid by check, aud |
directly, without intervention of . third |
party.
Mr. POWERS opposed the transfer arguing
that it would result in delay and entail ex-
pense upon the pensioner. lie believed there
would be an expense of S50O,OOO under the |
pending bill. He had an amendment which |
he would offer nt the proper time, at the sug.
gestOn of the Committee on Pensions, to fix
the salary of agents definitely at 1900, limit.
ing the expense for rent, &C., and making an
appropriation of S2l6,OOO for the purposes of
the payment of agents, &c. This proposition
TO transfer mode of payment was, as II rule, de.
over the country, and he had an arti-
Gle in the Chicago Times in which the bill was
denounced as one TO oppress widows, cripples,
and infants One Of the most desirable things
in the matter of pensions wis prompt pay
mcnt, and this could best be secured by the
present system.
Mr.. FORT and others asked whether Mr..
Powers regarded the Chicago Times good au.
thority.
Mr.. POWERS said it at least showed pub.
lie sentiment.
Mr.. BRAGG opposed the transfer, first, he.
cause it would occasion delay, and, second, he.
cause the proposition came from a committee
which had no right whatever to report
.hange in the pension laws. When he found
The Pension Committee opposing the bill he
would follow their lead. That was the proper
to report this change If 1t was de-
,iHblc. The man who originated the idea
that there was any economy in the proposed
change should be ClasScd with the inventor of
keclcy's motor The present system was II
good one. and he did not wish the pensioners
roll to be cast upon II sea of speculation or to
lrift away from the old landmarks.
Mr.. BlTI.ER thought the payment of peu-
'ions should be brought as near to the people
If the country as possible, aud ho favored II
proposition which he advocated in the Forty