National Republican., 1879-03-01
But Little Progress in Public Busi'
ness Made Yesterday.
Eight Large Appropriation Bills Yet to be
Acted On Bill Laid Over-Pen-
sion Arrears Bill in the Senate
Brazilian Steamship Bill Re-
jected in the House-The
Case of Mr.. Seward.
SENATE.

were agreed TO. |
Mr.. MORRILL, from the select committee In regard |
to taking the next census, reported back the amend.
mcnts of the House to the bill providing for taking
the tenth and subsequent censuses with the recon-
mendaton that the Senate non-concur IN these |
amendments and ask fora committee of conference.
Mr. CoNKIIso said some of the amendments Of
the House were great improvement to the bill, |
and he would be glad IL the Senate would agree to
them. He thought the Senate made mistake in
passing this bill and he did not intend that 1t
should become law If he could fairly prevent It.
He moved that the amendments Of the House be
printed and the further consideration OF the bill
postponed until tomorrow. SO ordered
Mr.. MERRMoN from the Committee on the Dis
trct OF Columbia, reported back the House bill ex-
tending the jurisdiction of Justices of the peace in
the District of Columbia, and on his motion, the
Senate bill for the same purpose was substituted
for 1t, and placed on the calendar.
The Vice-prcsident laid before the Senate letter
from Mr.. d. n. Corbin. Withdrawing from the con.
test for scat in the Senate and giving his reasons
therefor
Mr.. THURMAN inquired to whom was the paper
addressed.
The Vice-Prcsdent replied: ITO the Senate of
Mr.. TnunMAN said he felt disposed to move thu,
make no motion on the subject.
The letter was laid on the table.
Mr. MCMILLAN. from the Committee on Com.
merce. reported with an amendment the House
joint resolution for securing reports of products
of the fisheries. Placed on the calendar
Mr. WALLACE gave notice that he would tomor.
row move to take up House joint resolution to pro-
vide for the enforcement of the eight hour law.
The Senate then resumed consideration of the
unfinished business, being the bill milking an np-
preparation for the payment of arrears of pensions.
the pending question being on the amendment of
Mr.. Ingalls,, submitted yesterday, providing for the
division of the country into seventysiX districts
the appointment of surgeons and pension clerks to
visit said districts make examinations, take teSti-
mony in pension cases, &c with yiewof prevent
ing frauds on the Pension Bureau.
Mr.. INGALLS, said his belief was that 10 or 20 per
cent. Of all pensions were improperly paid. The
amendment which he proposed, would prevent
frauds. II was recommended by the Secretary OF
Ihc Interior, by the Commissioner of Pensions, and
by the Committee on Pensions of the Senate. IL
was not wise for Senators to resist an effort to save
from 100000 to 100000 year, unless they had
something better to offer. lie had received this
morning, an infamous circular, gotten UP by claim
agents who were, opposed to TINS amendment
general thing these agents were the worst species
9f vermin that ever infested the body polite
They opposed this amendment because II frustrated
their schemes of robbery.
Mr. GORDON said this was too grave matter to
De considered in the last hours of o session. He
thought better plan would DO to appoint COM
mission Of two Senator'S and three members OF the
House of Representatives to take this matter in
1and and report to Congress as to what changes
ihould be made. Congress should not thoughtlessly
,r heedlessly involve the interests of hundreds Of
night S arise under this new system proposed '''|
Mr.. VOORHEES, objected TO the proposed amend;
men because 1t created large number or Federal .
Bureau in Washington, and thought more good
could be accomplished In that manner than by
Mr.. SHIELDS said something was needed to pre-
vent abuses in our pension system. We had now
Ge S most TIs6 Sn system snre Ge poyo S
even added to our pension laws TO prevent frauds
that did not increase frauds Our pension system
required revision and slmplincation.
Mr.. BAILEY submitted an amendment providing
that the pension surgeons and pension clerks con
templatcd by the amendment of Mr.. Ingalls, be ap
pointed by the President, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate, instead of by the secre
Mr.. AsTHoNY appealed to the Senate in the In.
terest Of public business, to stop debate and vote
upon this measure,
Mr.. KIRKwooD submitted an amendment so as Il
provide that pensions shall commence from The
date of the death or discharge of the person ol
whose account granted, where the application shal
be filed prior TO the LIST of July 1880 instead of thC
1st of January 1880, as proposed by the committee
after that date the pension TO commence from tht
filing of the application; Agreed to.
Mr. EpMuNDs denied that 30 per cent, of the pen
sons paid were fraudulent and said he would like
The question was then taken on the first elgh
sections of the amendment proposed by Mr.. Ingall
relating to the appointment of pension surgeons
and clerks, prescribing their duties, &c, and the!
were rcjected-yeas, 2S; nays, SO.
shall commence from the death or discharge from
the service of the person on whose account granted
provided the application be filed prior TO July
lSS0, &C.. was amended by Mr.. Herman so as TO real
"from the death or from the time OF actual disabil
ny, so that the pension shall commence from tn
death or from the time of actual disability pro
ydng the application be made prior to July
1880, and as amended the section was agreed TO-.
Mr. MORRILL, submitted the amendment of whicl
he gave notice yesterday authorizing the Secrear
Of the Treasury to issue per cent, bonds not eX
Eeedng in the aggSgae gr siSGo ~ iys or ~ iie
of deposit authorized by the act Of February q
1879 and the proceeds of said bonds or certificate
To be applied TO the payment ofOrrears of pensions
He sent 10 the Clerks desk and had read a lctte
from the Secretary of the Treasury TO the effect tina
there would be deficiency of slS,0O00OO caused b
the bill TO pay arrears of pensions; that he mu,
keep in the Treasury fund TO maintain specie re
sumption that he felt i to be his duty to kee
States notes outstanding and that there would b
no necessity for the sale of bonds to maintain tn
specie resumption fund unless II be impaired b
Congress.
lie argued that specie payments would be impe
lied, unless Congress provides some means to pr(
vide the Treasury with means.
Mr.. VOORHEES, argued that there was no necesslt
to increase the interest bearing debt of the Unite
States. He submitted as substitute for the amenC
mcnt OF Mr. Morrill, that OF which lie gave notice
few daysago, authorizing and requiring the Seer
tary ofthe Treasury TO reissue United States lega
tender noes now held for the redemption Of fra
tonal currency and part Of such notes heretofol
retired from circulation under the eet @ OF 1 Januar
H. 1875, to the aggregate amount of SlSOO0,OOO an
10 eXpend the same In the payment OF such claim
for arrears pensions as may be allowed under IL
Mr. CoNKLisa said he remembered promnel
Senator once said whenever he was In doubt abol
u ameasure he followed the committee; but he IN
Conklng) found II difficult to follow the commi
tee In this case He referred TO the many stat
ments as to the amount required to pay arrears .
that bill did believing Il would require $500!
900, as that statement was then made by the ehai
man of the committee having the bill In charg
Now, curiously enough, the Secretary OF the IRE
sury reported an anticipated deficit OF Just y
amount II was stated the bill would cost. II
was TO vote TO increase the bonded debt OF Il
nation he would like TO know that he did 1t
obedience to a behest which amounted to nece
sty In no event would he vote for such pro
oSition us presented by the Senator from indian
He did not believe imitation In any form shou
be tolerated. There was a lack Of information
to this arrears of pensions bill, though he did n
propose TO arraign any one He could not yo
TO increase the bonded debt of the nation up
these many conflicting statements
Mr. BECK argued In favor of authorizing the 81
retary OF the Treasury TO suspend the purchase
bonds on account of the sinking fund, as there "
no necessity for such purchases now, and gave l
tiCe that he would at the proper time submit
amendment suspending such purchases until Ju
/ 1881 There was surplus revenue now in /
Treasury, which could be applied to the PAYNE
ofarrears of pensions instead OF a reduction of
public debt
MIR. WISDOM, at 6:45 p, M. moved that the Sent
take recess until eight o'clock, and said 1t mip
be necessary for Senators 70 remain here most
the night to pass the appropriation bills. He gu
notice that unless u vote should be taken on
pending bill Immediately after recess he wol
move to lay 1t aside aud take up the sundry ci
HE motion Of Mr. Window was adopted; a
the Senate (at 6I5) took recess until eight o'co
p. M