New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-08

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The question being shall the bill be read second
time the and nays we're again ordered ana 1t was
Mr.. MORRILL, rep, VT then moved to refer the bill
TO Committee Finance, aud sad ne cOuld not sec
why objection should be made 10 its reference as the
Finance Committee had never attempted 10 smother any
Mr.. COCKRELL argued that the Senate was Just as
competent TO act On the bill as the Committee On FL
nance. ,..or, n, ~, -,, ,,or,,,- % ,,ro
ceeding should be observed. No reason had Deei
suggested, and he very. respectfully submitted
follow ordinary rules of the Senate IL IN very
extraordinary only that measure coming before
examination. ana this was no such case.
SOLDIERS AS PENSION AGENTS.
Pending discussion the morning hour expired The
Senate resumed the consideration Of the unfinished bus
mess, being the Pension Appropriation Bill
The pending question being on inserting "a a subst
tue FOR the second section OF the bill the amendment
providing January l. 1879, the term Of Office Of
all pension agents shall expire and thereafter honoraby
discharged wounded disabled soldiers OF the widows
~ daughters of such soldiers shall be appointed to said
Office Mr.. CONKLING rep, n. " opposed the
amendment. He sand that of all the decisions with
which the public ear has been filled touching Civil Service
reform few had fallen under his observation which
could lay claim to originality so great as this Recently
a consolidation OF pension agencies had been car
red into effect ana doubt HAD been eX-
pressed rs TO whether one agent in the City OF
N.y York could perform all the duties OF the Office
The AGENT however is familiar with the duties OF
Office but II this amendmeut should be adopted ne
must he displaced Of the lst OF January next. No doubt
many disabled wounded soldiers can be found in the
State Of NoWIOrk entirely competent 10 discharge the
duties OF pension agent but 10 INEXPERIENCED man can
maze M good pension agent having experience
in he Office. He believed the appointing power should
the right man for the right place; that he should
adapt the selection 20 the the thing TO be done.
Ri. EDMUNDs Qicp, Va said he was opposed 10 this
whole thing. 1t was AGAINST the spirit OF the rules OF
the to have general legislation on the appropria
ton bills. He was opposed to the amendment, ana
also to the original text "a IN the House Dill IL was
really class cgsaOn ana while 1t might DC very good
and kind the soldier II involved the principle of the
right OF Congress to make any other distinction IN
respect 10 the officers of the United States lie tet that
he was expressing the sentiment OF the soldiers Of YER
10 get votes and tickle their fancy. He would vote
agansi the whole thing the House provision as well as
The Senate then, by a vote Of yeas 10 nays 80, re-
fused TO insert the amendment above mentioned as
substitute fuf the second section % the bill.
Mr. EDMUNDS moved 10 strike out the second section
Of the BILL which provided that after the passage OF the
act In case OF vacancy RON any cause tne once O pen
sion agent should be filed by wounded or disabled Union
soldiers. or the widows or daughters OF Union SOL
dicrs. Mr. Edmunds said the true policy was TO leave
these appointments with the President and his consu
Mr.. MERRiMON Dem, n. c. said he was friend Of
the soldiers, their widows aud orphans, but he was OPP
posed to this class legislation matter where It came
from. It looked to him like an attempt to make little
cheap political capital to be used IN newspapers ana on
Mr.. WADLEIGH Rep, n. ~, referring to the remark
of SIR. Edmunis that civilian had been retained as
10 have his Office in Concord, ~ H., and was retained on
of his Office being convenient To Maine and Yer
MIR. BLAINE CRep., Mel denied that Concord is con-
veucnt point the pension agency lie said there are
five trunk lines OF railroads leading from Portland, Me-
and not of them passes through Concord The Sec
rotary Interior could not nave selected more III
accessible point for the Office.
Mr.. VOORHEES, dem, lnd.l said In this instance he
was in favor OF class legislation.
Mr.. WHITE dem, Md favored the striking out OF
the whole section. lie opposed the principle involved in
the legislation, and he did not what party COM
United to it. He would take the responsibility among
his people OF voting against all such legislation.
Tie motion OF Mr.. Edmunds to strike out the second
NJ
as follows Republicans in Roman, Democrats in italics
Independent III SMALL CAPIIALsI: