The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1879-05-22
TELEGRAPHIC.
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.
Washington, May 14-Mr. Vest gave
notice of his intention TO introduce bill
proposing to organize the Indian Terri
tory into a state and providing for its ad-
mission into the union. His resolution
making inquiry as to whether any part of
the Indian Territory had been purchased
by the United States with the view oflo-
eating Indians or freedmen thereon was
agreed to.
! Mr. Lamar called up the bill reported
from the committee on Judiciary TO amend
the revised statutes SO as To provide that ii
two or more persons conspire either to
commit an offence against the United
States OF to defraud the revenue, and one
OF more of such persons once actually COM
NIT such crime, all parties to the conspira-
CIV shall on conviction be fined $4,000
and imprisoned not more than two years,
or both, at the discretion of the court.
All parts of the bill were passed upon
with the exception of what is known as
the Legislative portions, which appropri-
ated 81 ,SOO,O 900 for defraying the expenses
of the judiciary and fixing the pay Of
Jurors; providing how they shall be re
elected, repeating the test oath, and also
section 2,031; of the revised statutes, ex-
cept so much thereof as relates TO the pay
of supervisors of elections and all other
sections and laws authorizing the appoint
ment of chief supervisors of elections,
special deputy marshal of elections, or
general deputy marshals having any
duties TO perform in respect to any eiec.
ton. and prescribing their duties and
powers and allowing them compensation.
Consideration was then resumed of the
Legislative, executive and judicial arpro-
priation bill.
Mr.. Herman advocated the repeal of the
test oath and spoke against the use of the
army at elections.
At the close of Mr.. Kernan's speech b,
Thurman obtained the floor and will ad-
| dress the senate tomorrow.
On motion of Mr.. Gordon, it was re-
solved that the secretary of the treasury
be directed to inform the senate as to the
liability of states for direct taxes under
the law of August 1861, and acts amenda-
tory thereof.
Mr.. Beck moved an amendr ent to the
legislative, executive ana judicial appro-
priation bill namely, in order to provide
fo- the speedy payment of arrearages of
pensions, the secretary of the treasury is
authorized and directed TO issue immedi-
ately in payment thereof, that portion of
ten million dollars in legal tender curren-
l
fund for the redemption of fractional cur
rency, etc. There are now over eight
million dollars remaining of the fund.
Mr.. Beck during his remarks in favor
of the amendment, said the secretary of
the treasury had increased the public
debt, and had by payment of double in
terest, favored bondholders.
Mr.. Paddock said that he had aconvers,i-
tion this morning with the secretary, who
expressed the opinion that diversion OF
money, reserved for redemption of frac-
tional currency would not hasten the pay
ment of arrearages of pensions single day,
as he was prepared to pay them from time
to time, as the necessary papers were pre-
pared. If it was proposed TO use money
in behalf of soldiers arrears of pensions,
the plea was forced so far as the secretary
4 was concerned, and reflections upon him
were therefore not warranted by his con-
duct.
Mr.. Beck SAID the secretary of the treas
ury had some time ago stated that there
would be deficit of $41 900 900, and there
of pensions to $25, 900 000 as in the act of
March 8, 1879, it appeared that in view OF
this statement, and to provide for emer-
gencies, he asked for authority TO issue
$1S,OOO,0OO of four per cent bonds. The
amendment which he, Beck, had Offered,
was designed to use the money belongin Z
TO the people instead of issuing
bonds, thus diminishing the deficit to
that extent If $41,OO0,OOO heretofore
appropriated could not be divided pro
rata land some must be favored) therefore
means should be provided to pay them
all. The secretary was dong great
many things wrong and he ought to un-
derstand that he must obey the law.
Mr.. Morrill, moved the amendment to
the pending amendment so that the secre-
tary might use the money if necessary in
lieu of positive direction TO do so. He
said the funding act was executed accord
ing to law and that the secretary
had paid no more interest than he was
warranted in doing.
Mr. Ingalls, said the secretary held forty
per cent of legal tender notes for the pur-
pose of maintaining resumption, which,
with the amount reserved for the rcdemp-
tion of fractional currency, made S145,-
00O, 600. which was in excess of what was
shown To be an available balance. The
retention of this forty per cent was arbi-
trary and without warrant of law. He
would put in circulation the money now
lying idle.
Mr.. Teller said that the secretary of the
treasury on the 12th of February merely
declared that there would be a deficiency
and suggested whether it would not be
better to issue bonds than to take money
from the treasury.
Mr. Paddock said that he understood
the secretary to say he could not pay two
million dollars u month to meet the de
mands of the pension bureau.
Mr. Pendleton did not design to ask a
question not entirely proper. but if the
senator had no objection he would like to
know when and where the senator had a
| conversation with the Spcrpfary
Mr.. Pendleton replied that the result of
the last communication he knew of from
the secretary was ON the 18th OF
February, in which he made a
statement that in order to pay
arrearages of pensions there must be eth
er additional taxes or sale of bonds.
Mr. Paddock-Is the senator prepared
to state that the condition Of the treasury
is now exactly as IT was then?
Mr.. Pendleton replied that if there was
any change in the condition of the treas
ury, it ought to have been made officially
by the secretary, and not to a senator in
the cloak room. 1t only shows that off.
cial communications are not so clear and
authoritative to a senator as they would be
to the senate, and hence the great benefit
that would be derived from personal ex-
PLANTATION to this body, as proposed in
the bill recently introduced by him.
He was in favor of appropriating
the fund reserved for the redemption OF
fractional currency for the payment of ar
rears of pensions.
Mr.. Paddock remarked that the sena-
tor had intimated that the secretary had
come upon this floor for the purpose of in
fluencing legislation. 1t was right in him
to ask questions of the secretary and il
was right for him to answer them as ii
was right that he (Paddock) should com
municate the answer to the senate.
Mr. Pendleton said he did not question
the right of the secretary to come here
and converse with the senator from Ne
braska.