Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-08
SEN ATE.
South Carolina Census Frauds-Pension
Appropriation Bill Discussed.
Miss GRuyDY.

South Carolina Census Frauds-Pension
Appropriation Bill Discussed.
WAsHISGroS, February 7.-0n mo-
tien OF Mr.. Morgan, Senator'S Hamin
and Thurman were appointed tellers for
the Senate Electoral count.
The morning hour having expired, on
motion OF Mr.. Butler, the subject of the
alleged census frauds in South Carolina
was taken up and the letter OF the Sec.
retary OF the Interior, in response to the
Senate resolution asking for information
on the subject, was read. Mr.. Butler
verified the report and believed it
should put TO shame the baseless caum-
MES OF stump orators and party organs
in the late campaign. Replying to the
language contained in the speech by
Mr.. Conkling during the campaign, he
spoke OF its charges and insinuations as
being as malignant in their purpose
against the South that inspired the ut
terance, and asserted that, although the
evidence of correctness OF the census
figures was conclusive and overwhelm.
ing, the author Of the charges had not
the honesty TO make amends for his dis.
honorable perversions of the facts.
Mr.. Conkling replied to Mr.. Butler
that he inferred that the latter had de-
signed his remarks as an assault upon
him for something he had said in his
speech last September. He thought that
Mr.. Butler had taken long time to re-
ply, and as for the yaporings OF that Sen.
atOr he had no concern.
Mr.. Butler-The staggering inso.
lence OF the Senator from New York
has 10 concern for me.
Mr.. Conkling-The Senator is q per.
son with whom don't choose to handy
epithets with here or elsewhere; least OF
all, here.
The subject was then dropped, and
the consideration Of the pension appro.
priation bill resumed. The question
being on the amendment reported by
Withers, from the Pensions Committee,
for local pension courts, so-cailed the
sixty-surgeons' bill.
Mr.. Kirkwood advocated the amend
ment, which he said had been the sub.
ject OF much misrepresentation. Its
object was not to provide means for the
detection OF frauds, but as a means by
which the question whether an appli,
cant ia not entitled 10 pension may be
speedily determined. He defended the
Commissioner. The committee answer
ed the objection that il the amendment
passed all proofs now on file in pending
claims were to go for nothing.
Mr.. Logan inquired whether the
proofs wOuid not then be turned over 10
the pension courts and the cases began
anew.
Mr. kirkwood replied that on the con.
trary it would be the business OF the
pension office to sort out and lay aside
for the present the determination OF all
cases ready for appearing, and that as
TO the balance the pension courts would
be required TO furnish in each case ad.
dtionsl testimony on the points as 80
which testimony was required.
Mr.. Wither-ro obvia,e the objection
presented by the question OF order rails
ed by Mr.. Teller, namely, that the
amendment proposed to engraft gen.
eral legislation on the appropriation bill
modified his proposition so as TO limit
its application and operation TO the
next fiscal ycar, asked for decision end
it was decideu without division, the
amendment as modified was not in
order. The question recurring on the
bill Mr.. Plumb m vel an
amendment appropriation OF 100000
to provide for fifty additional
examiners for pension office and for
clerical fore, necessary for Pension,
Acknowledgement and Surgeon-Gener-
ais Offices TO render effective work OF
paid examiners Mr.. Withers raised: the
question OF order and the amendment
was declared in order 81 10 "a. Ad-
iourned.