The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-31

cases had to wait sixteen months for action. II re-
CURED sixteen months 10 receive TO an In
curry In regard 10 case. II q soldier was entitled
lived.
Mr. HAxLIS. trepI Of Me-, said he thanked the Sem
ator from Massachusetts (Mr Hoar) for bringing this
matter 10 tho attention OF the Senate he had been
to the Surgeon Generals ofnce himself aud been
sured by that officer that business of bis office
was from twelve TO sixteen months behind Tho Sur
pcon General told him that the work deaye ed be-
cause ne had not SUFFICIENT clerical force TO keep II
up. He mr. Hamlin) thought the country had u
right TO demand that remedy should be applied TO
correct this evil.
NO REDUCTION IN yoRcK
Mr.. wIrHERs (dem.) OF Va, SAID according to his
recollection there had been reduction OF the cier
trary he thought IL had been somewhat increased Tor
the purpose OF promptly disposing OF these very
claims.
Mr. vooRnEEs, (dcm.) OF Ind. said he knew nothing
about auy party aspect OF this matter or any that Is
could nave, but as member OF the Committee on
Pensions he had received great volume Of inorma-
ton regard to the delay IN acting upon cases, and
II had impressed MIN as to the necessity OF doing
something Tor Inc relief OF the persons oeservug
SONS. There was sucn delay in regard to procuring
pensions amounted TO absolute injustice. He had
been to the surgeon Generals oflcc tho Pension
Office, but could obtain relief Tor those suffering
The grievance mad become great mat Of
investgation would be required to see If the Pension
Bureau was performing It's work faithfully whether
more force was required. II additional forco was
needed the Congress OF The United States should give
IL without delay.
Mr.. WINDOW, (rep.) OF MINI, said the Committee
on App operations had no share In the responsbi
VI tuiS TouuCtiOu OF tuo IOTce, ana ne DeueV6u the
democratic party. IN making the reductions, had
been somewhat more liberal regard the clerical
force Of the Surgeon Generals and Pension Offices
than II had been toward some other Offices. The
true explanation OF the difficulty could be found In
the fact that there had been too cutting down
OF tho clerical orce throughout tho departments.
Formerly the clerks were gned from bureau to
another TO bring up pressing work, but tho general
be spared from department or bureau to assist
those OF another.
WHAT THE REPUBLICANS DID,
Mr. DAVIS \ w. cd nj there IN
been reduction oil the clerical force or the surgeon
Generals or Pension Offices. He road from report
OF the Jenckes Committee, mado 10 tho House OF
Representatives at the first session of tho Forty
fourth Congress, TO the effect that man named
Styles clerk in the Pension Office, had been detailed
to CLERK OF tho Republican Congressional Com
mittee IN Washington Two others also dc JAILED
gress,onai COMMITTEES. Or Course no party bu. tho
republican party would be guilty OF such work
as this. He argued that from one to i've mon
were constantly detailed from the Pension Office to 20
over the country and hunt up fraudulent They
never found such cases. but they had their pleasure
trips IL was well-known fact that the man who
sent TO St LOUIS to steal the papers IN the
Babcock was paid out OF tho funds OF the Pension
Office. Instead OF the money OF that Office being APP
Piled to the payment Of clerks II bad been expended
IN other directions.
DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE DONE.
Mr. EDMUNDs, OF Vermont said II tho democratic
party mad charge OF tho government the political
work would hare been tho rexsIar WORK Of the Pen.
duty by Congress by showing tnat che or
Two clerks nAu Deon borrowed from the rom
sion Bureau by tue republican party. The democratic
party would have borrowed the whole Bureau. rho
attention OF Congress had been called to this cutting
down OF forco day after day injurious to the puoic
service, and now tho Senator DIR. Davis) excused 1t
by declaring that clerk had been detailed Tor po-
ltical purposes and paid out OF the public funds II
that was true the House OF Representatives should
have impeached any Secretary OF the Interior, Com
missioner OF Pensions or other officer OF tho United
States guilty OF any sucn conduct.
Mr.. SARGENT, (rep) Of Cal, said the clerical forcc
Of the Surgeon Generals office in 1875 was l5s in
IA In a
Pending discussion tho morning hour expired.
THE BLAINE BILL.
The Senate then resumed the consideration OF the
nanshed business, being the bill to authorize the
Tree coinage OF the STANDARD silver dollar and
store the loyal tender character
Mr.. CHRIsTiANcY's AMENDMENT.
MIR. CHRIsrIANcY, (rep.) of Mich, submitted tho
following arendmont IN the nature OF u substitute
Tor the pending BILL
silver dollars Of the weight OF 4S4 grains Troy
o. %Sas 50
Of CONGRESS Of anuary IS 1857 which shall be ega!
aud private except when o.hsT provided BY BY
sn :1a as y ss ss S
otherwise appropriated, to purchase. from timo to
s%s 'a's oS% m'i.s SasS
TO BE- into such ny ana GAIN inc
such purchase and coinage shall BE- accounted tor and paid
Ike
% Not s
vided further that this shall remain in force
Congress.
ordered that Il be printed.
ARGUMENT MR.. CHRIsrIANcY.
Mr.. CHHIsTiANcY read lengthy argument in supper
OF bis substitute, and said he not opposed 10 tho
introduction OF silver coin into our currency, neither
he opposed to making 1t legal tender, as L
DO Just to both creditor and debtor, but ne did not
to havo the reeonage OF silver that woule
expel the other coin from the country. He could moi
approve OF the demonstration OF silver IL
homeopathic doses OF 4l21s grains, but wal
wiling TO have II In alopathc doses OF 434 grains
Tho question as to what amount of silver should
DO put IN the dollar make II equal value
gold dollar. To FIX the STANDARD OF the silver dollar
at 4l2 grains, worth but nnety0ne cents, would be
grossly unjust The passage OF the bill before
The Senate was, In PLAIN English, debasing coin
and all such expedlents had by tho verdict OF history
debased the dcDaser more than the CON-
Mr. ALLISON gave notce That he would insist upon
the disposition OF this bill tomorrow next day
Mr. SALISBURY, (cem.) OF Del, said the bill o
great importance, and he was In harmony with It's
general features There Senators, however, who
desired to discuss II, and ne was not willing that
should be passed to a vote without the fullest dis
cussion.
Tho Senate then, on motion OF Mr.. DORSEY, wen
into executive session, and, whom the doors were
opened AZ twenty minutes TO four O'Clock djournod.