Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-17
EFORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
[Second Session.
The Senate.

WASHINGTON, April 16.-On motion of Sena-
tor Butler, il was resolved, yeas 27, nays II,
that when the Senate adjourned to-day it be to
Monday next.
Senator Edmunds from the committee on
private land claims, reported ad Versely ON the
bill to abrogate the powers of executive officers
of the United States in allowing indemnity To-
cations on script, for con6r aed unsatis6ed
private land claims under the l,w of 1855, and
to vest that power in the courts of the United
States. Indefinitely postponed. The Senate
then considered the calendar and the bill grant
ing pension to Jessie f. Phares, scout. was
again taken up. Senator Davis, West
Virginia described Phares gsllantry
in action at Beverly, W. Va, where it was be-
lieved he saved the Union forces by his exer-
tions. On the occasion when he was shot his
property was destroyed by the cOnfederates,
and his case presented peculiar claims to the
governments gratitude. Senator Davis at the
same time favored care in granting pensions
We were paying more than any other nation in
pensions. but we should not hesitate to grant
a pension in such case as this.
Senator Voorhees, asked how the money of
the government could be better spent than in
supplying those to whom the government
owed its existence. He was weary of these
complaints of the amount paid in pensions.
Senators Mcmillan and KirkwOod approved
the bill.
Pending debate the morning hour expired
and the Senate resumed consideration of the
Geneva award bill.
Senator Klrkwood gave notice of an amend
ment to strike out of section 5 the words '':nd
the interest accruing therefroU." The sectIon
now reads: THAT judgments rendered under
this act shall be paid out of the money paid to
the United States pursuant to the treaty of
Washington and interest accruing therefrOm
not expended in the payment of claims hereto
fore allowed, etc"
Senator Jones, of Florida spoke against the
bill. In the course of his remarks he said: II
have no hesitation in declaring most emphatI-
cally that nothing that happened at Geneva
previous to the rendition of the award, moth
ing in the way of the production of evidence,
no consideration of any particular classes OF
claims no interlocutory judgments of the tri-
bunal can affect in the least the power of this
government to deal absolutely with this fund.
After running debate between Senators
Jones, Thurman, Conkling, Blaine and Car
penter, the latter said the speech of the Sena-
tor from Florida was an admission that on
every principle of law the underwriters were
entitled to reimbursement, and to enable him to
oppose the bill, he was compelled to assert that
the distribution of the fund should be gov
erned by neither law nor equity. Senator Car
penter endorsed the argument OF the Senator
from Illinois, Davis which had not been
really answered. In the debate the right of
abrogation had been ridiculed but not over
thrown. We have the physical power to dis
pose of this fund as we please, but, morally
and equitably, we are bound in certain ways.
Without concluding his speech the Senate
went into executive session, and when the
doors were reopered adjourned to Monday.