The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-20
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Senate Discusses the Pen.
sion Bill.
The House Enters Upon the Shore.
less Sea Of Louisiana
Politics.
SENATE.
WAsHIxoToN, February 10.

NhohAAuASHl ESbatsAI @Ss
Mr.. Spencer, from the Committee or
Military Affairs, reported favorably or
the bill'ior the relief OF William A. Ham
mond, late Surgeon General Of the army
and It was placed on calendar. It au'
thorizes the President 10 review the pro
ceedings Of the general court martial in
his case, and TO annul and set aside the
findings and sentence OF said court mar.
tiai, II after such review he shall deem II
right and proper to do 30, and In the
event Of the findings being set aside the
President Is authorized to place the name
OF William A. Hammond on the retired
list Of the army as surgeon general, pro-
yided that in case OF such restoration he
shall not be entitled to back, present or
future pay or allowances Of any kind
whatsoever.
Mr.. Long called up the Senate bill to
regulate the compensation Of Postmasters
and for other purposes, which was dis
cursed at some length.
During the discussion, Mr.. Davis (W.
va) expressed the opinion that the bill
should be amended so as to allow the
transmission OF official communications
OF members Of Congress TO pass through
the mails free.
Messrs. Edmunds. Hamlin, Davis w.
Va.) and others expressed Themselves In
favor Of the restoration Of the Frankiug
privilege.
Mr.. Edmunds during his remarks said
that the denial Of the privilege to mem.
bers Of Congress rather implied that the
members were engaged 10 other things
than public business, or else sold their
franks; and he denied both OF these impu-
tations.
Further consideration Of the bill was
then postponed till tomorrow.
At the expiration Of the morning hour
Mr.. Withers called up for confederation
the Senate bill amending the laws grant.
ing pensions TO the soldiers and sailors OF
1912 and their widows.
Mr.. Matthews, by request, introduced 4
bill making pre- empuon grant to the
heirs OF Jean Baptist :Beanbien, deceased,
for part OF the Fort Dearborn reserva-
tion at Chicago and to confirm the pur.
chasers OF the other parts in their titles,
and to convey to Chicago the streets and
alleys OF said reservation. Referred.
The committee reported the amend.
ment to the section authorizing the re.
stora.ion to the pension roll all persons
now surviving, heretofore pensioners, on
account oi service in the war OF 1872 or
any OF the Indian wars, whose names
were stricken therefrom on account OF
disloyaity, 80 as TO provide that all such
persons should be restored, whose disa.
bili,ies had been removed, or who had
made application for such removal.
Mr.. Ingalls, said there was not more
than hundred men affected by this pro-
vision OF the bill as nearly al distinction
between loyal people and rebels had been
obliterated, and s there was no posi-.
bility of restoration TO national unity
without having such obliteration COM.
plete the bill should be passed. II oc-
CURED TO him as small thing for q
great nation to admit 10 its councils those
who we're leaders in tie rebellion and ex.
clude from the benefits OF that govern
ment The poor old men who had received
a pension OF s. month and could do no
harm.
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the amendment,
and said he did so not that be was op.
posed 10 restoring these old men to the
pension roll, but such an amendment
might be taken as precedent for com.
pensation of property lost during the re-
bellion.
After some further discussion Il was
agreed that the words OF the amendment
were not necessary 10 restore 10 the pen
sion rolls the names OF those persons
stricken therefrom on account Of dis
loyalty, and Mr.. Withers, in charge OF the
bill, withdrew it.
Other amendments Of the committee Of
verbal character were agreed TO.
The question being on the third read.
Ing OF the bill debate ensued which was
participated in by Messrs. Ingalls,, Ogles-
BY, Blain and Kirkwood.
Mr.. Ingalls, closed the debate with the
remark, that to attempt to array the
American Congress against a few old men
was indicative TO him Of the spirit that
would lead man to strike a woman or
kick q baby.
oQn motion Of Mr.. oglesby to strike out,
thb 5th section Of the bill was rejected.
Yeas so; nays7.
The affirmative votes were given by
Anthony, Cameron, (Wis) Edmundd,
Mcmillan, Morrell, 0glesby and Teller.
The bill was then read a third time and
passed. Yeas AZ; uaysS.
Mr.. Hamlin voting with those who
favored oslesby's Amendment sgainst the
Mr.. Edwards called up the Senate bill
to annull the act Of the Legislature Of the
Territory Wyoming to provide for the
organization Of Crook and Pease counties
and TO provide for holding court therein
which was discussed briefly and laid over
till tomorrow. Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Committee on Banking and Cur
rency to-day authorized their Chair