Connecticut western news., 1879-12-24
The bill introduced in the Senate

The bill introduced in the Senate by MT. Davis, of West Virginia, to relieve the Treasurer of the United States from the amount now charged to him and deposited with the several States" refers to the amount of BPS, 1O1,- GA. 9l that now appears on all the quar- terly statements of the Treasurer as part of an unavailable balance" for which he is nominally responsible al- though the money is not within his con- trol. The act of June, 1886, (passed at the instance of Henry Clay), provides that all money in the Treasury on the first day of January, 1887, except $5,- GOO, 900, should be deposited with the several States in proportion to their re- spective representation in Congress on conditions for it's repayment to the Gov ernment whenever needed and called for by the Secretary of the Treasury. In compliance with this law three install ments of the Treasury surplus were de- posited with the twenty-six States then constituting the Union, the largest amounts being deposited as follows With New York, $4,014,521 Pennsyl- vania, $2, 867, 515; Virginia, $2, ,198, ,428; Ohio, $2, 2,O07, 260; North Carolina, Ken lucky and Tennessee, $1, ,433, 757 each Massachusetts, $1, ,33s, 173; South Caro- lima and Georgia, $1, ,051, 422 each; Ma ryland and Maine, $955 ,938 each h. diana, 1860, ,254, and New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Alabama, Louis jana, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan and Arkansas amounts ranging from $286,75 to $764, ,67O each. The fourth instalment was never distributed, and the act of 1889 repealed the statute of 1886, but provided that the first three instalments should remain in deposit with the States until otherwise directed by Congress. The money still remains with the States. In view of the fact that the States subsequently, admitted to the Onion have obtained large grants of lands from the Federal Government, which the other States did not share in, Senator Davis believes it will be no more than equitable to relieve the latter from their legal obligation to repay this amount of the surplus revenue which their citizens originally contributed, and his bill therefore proposes to release them and the Treasurer alike from any
 
 The French Government has as- sented to money order treaty with the United States similar to that with Italy. Certain amendments in inc other treat les, found necessary by experience, have been suggested to England, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, and their consent for the changes obtained.
 MT. Coffroth, of Pennsylvania, intro duced in the House of Representatives, bill amending the present pension laws. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to place on the pension rolls all surviving enlisted men, including volun- teers and drafted men, of the military and naval service of the United States in the late rebellion, and the surviving widows of such enlisted volunteers and drfted men, and the father or mother dependent for support on any son who was in the service of the United States in said war, provided such widow or m other has not remarked. All pen- sioners applying for pensions under this law shall receive $8 per month for total disability and $6 per month for partial disability. The law applies to privates only, and the date of pension begins with the passage of the bill. Mir. Coffroth says the objects of the bill are to simplify the method of procuring pensions so as to expedite the clearing up of the claims now pending in the Commissioner of Pensions office, and to enable deserving and needy pensioners to speedily procure a future monthly pension. He thinks one effect of the bill, if it becomes law, will be to save the Government large sums that would be paid to claimants for arrearages, as many needy claimants prefer to accept certain monthly pension which can be obtained speedily rather that wait per- haps for months to obtain arrearages due them.
 A bill introduced by Representative Martin and referred provides that all officers of the army aud navy who are, subsequent to the passage of the act, tried by court-martial in time of peace, shall, after the action thereon of the President of the United States, have the right of appealing to the United States Court, which shall review the proceed ings of the court-martial upon regularly certified copies thereof, in case the at- tendance of witnesses is found imprac- t1caOlo, enu Guo cOuEI Sudl4 uaFo poW6E to change the findings of the court-mar- tial and to modify or abrogate the sen- tence thereof.
 Mrs. Sprague has authorized her attorney to draw up papersfor divorce from Governor Sprague. It is said that she intends to push the case to the courts as speedily as pcssible. She has made arrangements to leave Edgewood, and is fitting up house in the city on Con- necticut avenue.