Daily globe., 1879-04-25
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
Extra Session..
The Senate.
INCREASE OF PENSIO.

INCREASE OF PENSION.
WASHINGTON, April Ex-senator Dawes pre-
sented the petition of Mrs. Caroline Webster,
widow of Col. Fletcher Webster, asking an in
crease of her pension from $50 to $50 per
month. The lady is the only surviving rep
resentative of Daniel Webster's family, and had
been made poor by the destruction of the
Marshfeld property. Referred to committee
on pensions.
THE WALLACE RESOLUTION.
Discussion of the Wallace resolution occu-
pied the morning. after which the army appro-
priation was taken up and Senator Conkling
begun his speech, the floor and galleries being
crowded.
CoNKLING's SAY.
Senator Conkling began his remarks by saying
that during the last fiscal year the amount OF
national taxes paid into the treasury was
$2s4, ,S31, ,461. Of this sum, $13OOOO,OOO and a
fraction, were collected under the tariff laws,
levying duties on imported merchandise, and
$103, 900, 900 and fraction on American pro-
duction. Of this total, $235,0O0, 900 in round
numbers, the twenty-seven States who adhered
to the Union during the recent war. paid $221,-
204 ,26S. The residue came from eleven States,
namely, Alabama Arkansas, Georgia, Florida,
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. These
eleven States paid $13 627. 1872. Of this sum
more than six and half millions from
the tobacco of Virginia. Deducting the latter
sum from the former and the eleven States
paid 81, ,l25, 1852. This great sum was collected
under law. The constitution requires all bills
for raising revenue to orig innate in the House
of Representatives. They are not recent laws.
They have been approved and affirmed by sue.
eeeding houses and the last two houses were
ruled over by a Democratic speaker, and the
bulls were reLo orted by Democratic ma ority.
Both houses now Democratic and we hear
of no purpose to repeal or suspend the existing
revenue laws. They are to remain and continue
to operate and take tribute of the people. If
the stated is to be less than it was last
year it will be only because the tobacco tax has
been reduced. This vast revenue is paid for
three 1t is supplied in time of great de-
preston and distress to pay the debt in which
we have beo.s involved by the rebellion, to pay
the pensions of the widows and orphans and
of cripples made by the rebellion, and to main
tain the government, preserved at an expense
not to be estimated of life and treasure. To en-
act money and then forbid the use for which the
people paid it, would indeed be perfdous and
abominable. There was only one mode in
which it could reach such uses and that is an
appropriation by law. The constitution SO
ordains. The constitution permits no discre-
ton to ma jority Or to Congress, whether it
make needful appropriations or not. The
constitution, however, does commit to Con-
gress the discretion to ascertain how much
money is needed, but that done, the command
to appropriate is positive and absolute.
THE PARTISAN SPIRIT
animating this debate if it was anywa here
misunderstood mistaken especially in
this body. To hear what was called the de-
bates on this subject one would think that the
majority arraigned simply because they
acting unconstitutionally in putting
legislation on an appropriation bill. This was
not the case. For himself he knew of bet
ter reason than convenience, common sense
ton to forbid putting all appropriations
on single bill. bill embracing such pud-
die of incongruous provisions, if no objection
to its separate parts was found, it was difficult
to see on what ground q veto could stand. But
the objection to this legislation would be as
strong it it had taken the form of independent
bills. A resort to separate bills might even
have cloaked sinister design of legislation, and
in that view would have been a wise policy for
the other side. In the case pending
the face of the bill itself shows that
the legislation is not such as the executive can
rightly approve. 1t shows the design to be to
coerce the executive into violating his sense OF
right in order to permit the government to
live. Thus far the achievements of the Demo-
cratic majority had been easy but the trial was
yet to come and it would be difficult.
The party had got themselves into a predicar
they would have to back out. daughter and
applause.
Senator Conkliug in the course Of his speech
said the effect of this bill is to prevent the sup
preston of any violence by any armed mer
acting under national authority upon election
day. In New York everything-a shoulder
hitter, a carrier of dirk or bowie knife, every
graduate of rat pits, bucket shops and slums
nurseries of that which is w-a-days called
Democratic every man from Kings bridge
to the battery is advised beforehand that ne
enormity of his will be checked by the law
officers of the government. (Sensation.) An
other bill to be brought forward provides tina
even if the elections are turned into blood
burlesques the national authority must kee1
away, though the white leaguers may take al
active part, armed, perhaps, with muskets fur
nished by the government. If there ever wa
n time when such law would be safe that tim
is now.