Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-01
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
Senate.
CoRBIN RETIRES.

Senate.
CoRBIN RETIREs.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-A communication
from David L. Corbin, contestant for a seat
from South Carolina, read and laid on the
table. Corbin stated that he had been before
the Senate two years actively asserting his
right, having been duly elected, and the COM
mlttee on privileges and elections SO reported.
He refers to the vote of Tuesday by which the
Senate refused tos consider his case, and saws
he action of certain Senators indicate that his
right to the seat will not be acted on at this
session. and 1t will be us eless for him to renew
the contest next session. He therefore with
draws from the con test. Corbin adds had he
been admitted he mi ght have been able, among
other duties, to have rendered services to the
coiored people of South Carolina, now in need
of assistance.
THE CENSUS
The census committee reported back the bill
to provide for taking the tenth and subsequent
censuses as amended by the House and recon-
mended that the Senate non-concur in the
House amendments and ask for a committee of
conference. Senator Conkling said some of the
amendments improved the bill, and upon his
motion it was ordered that the amendments be
printed, and further consideration of the bill
was postponed until tomorrow.
ARREARS OF PENSIONS.
After passing number of private bills on
the calendar the bill making an appropriation
for payment Of arrears of pensions was taken
up. The pending question being on the amend
ment of Senator Ingalls,, submitted yesterday,
providing for division of the country into
seventy-slx DISTRICTS and the appointment of
surgeon and pension clerk to visit each district
make examinations, take testimony in pension
cases. etc, with view TO preventing frauds on
the pension bureau.
Senator Ingalls, said his belief was that Is to
~ per cent. of all pensions were improperly
paid. The amendment which he proposed
would prevent frauds. 1t was recommended
by the secretary of the Interior by the COM
missioner OF pensions and by the Senate COM
mittee on pensions. 1t was not wise for Sena-
tors to resist the effort to save from three mil
llon TO hve million dollars year unless they
mad something to offer. He had received this
morning the Infamous circulars gotten up bv
claim agents who were opposed to the amend
ment There were some honorable exceptions,
but as a general thing these agents were the
worst species of vermin that ever infested the
body polite. They opposed this amendment
because 1t frustrated their scheme of robbery.
Senator Gordon said this was too grave
matter to be considered in these last hours of
the session.
Senator Voorhees, objected to the proposed
amend ment, because it created large number
OF federal Office holders
and said while he was in charge of the interior
department he sought in every way to reach
out and prevent the fraudulent pension cases.
He asked an appropriation of 100000 to send
examining surgeons to examine pensioners.
He could have saved $l,000,t00 the first year.
Senator Bailey submitted an amendment
providing that the pension surgeons and pen
sion clerks contemplated by the amendment of
Senator Ingalls, be appointed by the President
by and with the advice of the Senate, instead
of the secretary of the interior. The amend
ment of Senator Bailey Was agreed to.
Senator Kirkwood submitted an amendment
SO as to provide that pensions shall commence
from the date of death or discharge of the per-
son on whose account granted, where the appli-
cation shall be filed prior to the lst of july.
1850, instead of the LIST of January, 1880, as
proposed by the committee, after that date the
pension to commense from the fling of the ap-
plicatio'. Adopted.
Senator Oglesby moved to amend SO as to in
sert 1885 instead of 1880. Rejected.
Senator Edmunds denied that 20 per cent. of
the pensions paid were fraudulent and said he
would like to see the proof of it.
Senator Davis, West Virginia. favored the
amendment of Senator ingalls,. He believed
fraud was practice! upon the pension bureau
and the proposed amendment would enable the
commissioner to discover and break up fraud.
The question was then taken up on the first
eight sections of the amendment proposed by
Senator Ingalls, relating to the appointment of
pension surgeons and clerks, prescribing their
duties, etc., and they were rejected-yeas %:
nays Sc.
The next section, providing that pension
shall commence from death or discharge from
service OF the person on whose account grant
ed provided application be filed prior to July
l, 1885, was amended by Senator Herman SO as
to read from the death or from the time of
actual disability, so that the pension shall
commence from death or actual disability, pro-
viding application be made prior to July l,
1880, and as amended the section was agreed to.
Senator Morrill, submitted an amendment, of
which he gave notice yesterday, authorizing
the secretary of the treasury to issue feur per
cent bonds not exceeding in the aggregate
S1S.00O000, or in lien thereof, or any portion
thereof, to issue certificates of deposit author
lied by the act of February 26, 1879, and the
proceeds of said bonds or certificates to be ap-
piled to the payment of arrears of pensions.
He sent to the clerks desk and hadlr a letter
from the secretary of the treasury to the effect
there would be deficiency of $4,000. 600
caused by the bill to pay arrears of pensions,
that he must keep in the treasury fund to
maintain specie resumption, that he felt it to
be his duty to keep as such fund at least forty
per cent. Of notes outstanding, and that there
would be no necessity for the sale of bonds to
maintain the specie resumption fund unless it
be impaired by Congress.
Senator Morrill, continuing his remarks said:
Careful estimates of the treasury department
showed the arrears of the pension bill would
take 1856, OUO 900 from the treasury. The re-
duction of the tobacco tax would cause de-
crease in the revenue which. with the pension
bill would make difference of about eighteen
millions. He argued that specie payments
would be imperilled unless Congress provided
some means to provide the treasuary with
means.
Senator Voorhees, agreed that there was no
necessity to increase the interest bearing debt
He submitted as substitute for the amend
ment of Senator Morrill,, that of which be gave
notice few days ago, aut horizing and requir-
ing the secretary of the treasury to reissue
United States legal tender notes now held for
the redemption of fractional currency and
part of such notes heretofore retired from cir
culation, under the act of July IA, 1875, to the
aggregate amount of SIS, 100000, and to expend
the same in payment of such claims for arrears
Of pensions as may be allowed under the act Of
Jan. 25, 1879. Senator Voorhees, argued that
$4,000, 600 were in the treasury under the first
clause of his amendment. and under the act of
1875, about $35, 600 GEO, making nearly $780,
100000 now in the treasury, which Congress
had the constitutional power to reissue.
Senator Beck argued in favor of authorizing
the secretary of the treasury 10 suspend the
purchase of bonds on account of the sinking
fund. as there necessity for such pur-
chase now, and gave notice be would at the
-l.--sA