Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-09
SENATE.
A Startling Amendment to the Constitu-
ton Proposed-Pension Appropriation
Bill Discussed.

n starting AmenuIutnt W 'ho SOHs'''N
ton Proposed-Pension Appropriation
Bill Discussed.
WAsuIyGToH, February S.--Mr Blair
introduced a Joint resolution proposing
Amendment to the Constitution,
which was read. 1t prohibits after 1900
the manufacture and sale, anywhere
within the United States, OF distilled
alcoholic and Intoxicating liquors orany
intoxicating liquors mixed or adulter-
ated with ardent spirits or with any per
son whatever except for medicinal, me
chanical. chemical and scientific pur-
poses. 1t also prohibits the expectation
and importation of such liquors ana
their transportation through any part OF
the United States, except Tor medic nal
and scientific uses, &c.
Mr.. Bruce, from the Committee or
Education and Labor, reported adverse
" the Joint resolution 10 provide Tor
the enforcement of the eight hour Law.
Indefinitely postponed.
resolution otfer4d by Mr.. COnkling
was adopted without objection, direct
ing the Secretary OF the Treasury to re-
port to the Senate the names OF all per
sons nominated bv the CJl,cctOr Of the
port OF New York between January
and December, 1880, for appointment in
the New York Custom House; whether
anv had been appointed in violation OF
the civil rules, &c.
The morning hour having expired the
discussion on the
Pension Appropriation Bill
was resumed, the question being an
anendmen. o increase the pension
clerical force.
Messrs. Herman, Wallace and Beck
spoke upon the bill.
MIR Wallace advocated and explained
the provisions which he had read, the
object .f which. he said, was to prevent
frauds and expedite decision OF the
npnding cases by empowering local
rourt i'm the county in which the pen.
sion applicant resides to examine and
ranort npun cases in which the commits
si6ner alleges there are frauds. 1t Is
also contemplated that the hearings OF
s'tLar the United States distr ct court
or any other court Of record IN the To-
c,iitv in which the applicant or pen
sioner resides of the cases IN which the
evidence was required by the Pension
Bureau. He remarked that the pro po
sition being liable TO a question oi order
ON which the amendments had been
rnled out could be appended to the
present bill only by unanimous consent.
Mr, Hoar objected, and Mr.. Wallace's
proposition was withdrawn.
Mr.. Beck opposed Mr.. Plumb samend,,
ment as inadequate to reach the real
tronble in the pension office and rs not
ralled for bv the Commissioners. lie
thought the Senate ought not to ADOPT
a halfway measure TO hurry up an IN,
vestigation of the clses IN interest ol
the psnsion agents, but il should devise
some way bv which fraudulent claims
NAV he ascertained and an honest pen
sioner receive every dollar TO which he
ia entitled. Mr.. Beck cited the opinion
Of the Commissioner in his report, that
not less than 10 per cent. OF the pension
appropriations is paid out upon iraudu-
Int and illegal claims, and said lie
would not spend two mllllonsto prevent
the stealing oil c,-,
One Million in Fraudulent Claims
Mr.. Logan said the Commissioners
statement had been often repeated dur
ING the debate, but it was one which he
would disregard until the Commissioner
had shown some data to verify his asser'
ton. The Commissioner might have an
opinion to that effect, but he ought not
TO attempt to stigmatize the honorable
and patriotic class known as the pen
sioners of the country by the ntterance
of anv opinion such as he had express
ed. In reply to the further statement
bv Mr.. Beck on the point that 1t nad
been represented that men who had lost
limbs in disreputsble places and subser'
Went to the war had been draw,
inc pensions on the assumption ths'
their loss had occurred on DUTY
Mr.. Logan said he doubted If any such
case existed, as the law required the
record and evidence OF the loss,, ana
where the record could not be produced
il reouired the sworn evidence OF two
comrades of the wounded man, or an
officer OF his regiment .. D.
Mr.. Blair said the experience OF ZEN