The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-02-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
THE roHrx-sEvENrH coxGRrss
SENATE.


Washington, Feb. 1.-Kirkwood and
Dawes further discussed the Ponea
question. Kirkwood criticised Dawes
for laboriously trying to east discredit
ON the United States for its acts, where
no such diseredit was properly attrib-
uted. The secretary had furnished all
the Information necessary, and in am
pie time, as to the killing of Big Snake.
That Indian was insubordinate, and
had been after he left his reservation.
He resisted arrest, declaring that he
would die rather than submit. In
shooting him, the soldier supposed him
to be armed, although it afterwards
seemed that he was not. Dawes feel
ings had beclouded his judgment. He
did not believe that Dawes had in
tended in his recently published
statement respecting Secretary Schurz's
participation in the congressional inves-
tigation, to reflect on him (Kirkwood, J
as chairman of the senate committee,
but such might be the reference.
There had been theory advanced
that the secretary of the interior had
been guilty of baseness and dishonor,
of intimidating the Poncas into coming
to Washington and saying they were
satisfied with the lands. The secretary
had taken an interest in disproving this
theory.
Dawes disclaimed any intention of
rejecting on Kirkwood, but he had OBJ
jected to a cabinet officer being in the
committee room examing the commits
sion on their report to the president,
which had had not yet been published.
and he objected to the general conduct
Of the secretary in the matter in having
a stenographer to Gull an abstract for
the associated press, without perm is
sion from the committee. The subject
was finally dropped.
Logan wanted the Grant retirement
bill made the special order for Thurs
day; Vest and Eaton objecting, he said
he thought if the senate could listen to
hours of debate on dead Indian, it
might be disposed to find little time
for live general.
The pension bill was then taken up
in committee Of the whole, and ths
senate amendments agreed to.
Booth, in charge of the bill, submit
tod on ap,apdp,a,t xrb;ol, l.a .o;.l l,o 4
the approval of three members of the
pension committee, to whom he had an
opportunity to show it, appropriating
to supply deficiencies for the fiscal year
1881, s17,692, 900. namely, for pension
for army invalids and their widows,
minors and dependent relatives, includ-
ing arrears to survivors of 1872 and
their widows; provided the amount ex-
pended for each of those items shall be
accounted for separately. The amend
ment also appropriates for navy PEN
sions to invalids, widows, minors and
dependent relatives S560274; provided
the appropriations aforesaid for navy
pensions shall be paid from the income
of the naval pension fund, TO far as the
same may be sufficient for that pur-
pose; and, provided further, that the
amount expended for each of the above
items shall be accounted for separately.
1t also appropriates $4,000 for free
examining surgeons, as provided by the
several acts of congress. The amend
ment was adopted.
ingalls, moved to amend the bill by
striking out the provision requiring
accrued pensions due Indian prisoners
to be paid by the commissioner of pen
sions In installments.
After debate, participated in by In
gals, Beck, Withers and Logan, the
amendment was rejected ayes %, nays
26.
Withers moved to amend by adding
to the first section the provisions of the
bill for the adjudication of pension
claims, commonly known rs "the sixty
surgeon BILL"
Davis wv. W favored the amend
ment in reviewing the figures of thu
commissioner of pensions. lie COM
mented particularly on the showing tina
the pension roll of the war of 1872 con
tanned the names of 10000 survivor.
and $4,000 widows, although the wa
had occurred 70 years ago, and assumed
that the commissioners estimate o
S400, 900, 900 expenditure 60 years henc,
on account of the late war, was not al
excessive one.
Davis asserted his belief that the pen
sion rolls contained many fraudulen
cases, and under more efficient legisla
tion the government would be enabled
to save from $4,000, 900 to 100000
per year.
The Chinese treaties were reporte'
with recommendation for ratification
Placed on the calendar.
| The senate confirmed Hamilton II
Howard, of New York, as consul a
Puerto Cabello.
The appointment of Commodore Hug
G. Purviance on the retired list to b
rear admiral on the retired list, 70
having performed highly mefitoriou
service, was also confirmed.
Pending the motion for an executiv
session, the chairman laid before tn
senate a message from the president
with the accompanying documents, il
l rafaranoa fn fba Dopno TpI;,,, IT.