Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-02

tors for President and Vice President OF
the United States have been given on
any day other than that fixed for the
casting OF such votes by an act OF Con.
gress in pursuance OF the Constitution
OF the United States, and II the count
ing or emitting to count such votes
shall not essentially change the result Of
the election, they shall be reported by
the President Of the Senate in the fol-
lowing manner: Were the votes OF the
electors cast on the - day OF -,
1880, to be counted, the result would be:
For A. B., for President Of the United
States, -v votes, and for G. D., for
| President, - votes. II not counted,
the result would be: For A. B., for
| President Of the United States, -
votes, and ior G. D, for President, -
votes. But in either event - is elected
President OF the United States. and in
| the same manner for Vice President.
Mr.. Morgan asked the present consid-
Grafton of the resolution.
Mr.. Edmunds said that inasmuch as
the Senator from Colorado Teller and
himself, two members OF the committee
from which the report had come, either
were not invited or failed to get their in
vitations to the meeting last night. at
which he understood this amendment
was agreed upon. He thought they
would like to see it in print before com.
mitting themselves for or against it. He
therefore moved that it 60 over for one
day under the rules.
Mr.. Thurman inquired OF Mr. Ed
munds what he meant in speaking OF
the meeting last night. There had been
no meeting Of the committee last night.
Mr.. Edmunds replied that his state
ment had reference to the meeting Of
the same body which he understood had
been held last evening, and that at that
meeting this amendment had been
agreed to.
Mr.. Thurman added that no meeting
OF the committee nor OF the members OF
it had been held last evening.
Mr.. Logan said he had intended call
ing the Grant retirement bill to-day,
but not having opportunity he remarked
the unanimous consent to make it
speca! order for Thursday. Mr.. Vest
and Mr.. Eaton objected, the latter re-
marking he thought the bill could wait
week longer without injury to it or
the public.
Mr.. Logan said he thought that when
the Senate could afford TO listen to an
hours talk about a dead Indian, it ought
to be disposed to find little time for a
live General.
After discussion, Logan gave notice
Of his intention to move to take up the
bill tomorrow.
The pension appropriation bill was
then taken up in Committee OF the
Whole. The amendments of the Senate
committee were agreed to. They re-
strict the fee OF a surgeon for examina-
ton to one dollar, ana provide that the
pensions payable TO inmates of the Ma
tional Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers, shall be paid to the treasurers
OF the Home, instead OF directly to the
pensioner.
Mr.. Boath in charge OF the bill, sub.
mitted the amendment which he said
had the approval OF three members OF
the Pension Committee to whom he had
had in opportunity 10 show 1t appro-
priating to the supply of DEFICIENCIES for
the fiscal year 1881, S7,692,0 900, namely,
for pensions for the army, invalids and
their widows, minors and dependent re-
lations, including arrears to the survi-
vors of the war OF 1912 and their
widows, provided that the amount ex.
pended for each Of the above items shall
be accounted for separately. The amend
ment also appropriates for the navy
pensions to invalids, widows, minors
and dependent relatives, S560,214 pro-
yided that the appropriation aforesaid
for navy pensions shall be paid from
the income OF the naval pension, 80 far
as the sum may he sufficient for that
purpose, and provided further that the
amount expended for each Of the above
items shall be accounted for separately
1t also appropriates SS0,0 for fees OF
examining surgeons, as provided by the
several acts of Congress. The amend.
ment was adopted.
Mr.. Withers moved TO amend by add.
ing 10 the first section the provisions OF
the bill reported by him from the Pen
sions Committee for examination, the
Indian adjudication OF pension claims,
commonly known as "The Sixtv Sur
geon Bill"
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, favored
the amendment. In reviewing the tig-
ures of the Commissioner OF Pensions
he commented particularly upon the
showing that the pension roll OF the
war of 1912 contained the names OF
10 900 survivors and %, 900 widows, al
though the war had occurred 20 years
ago, and assumed from this that the
Commissioners estimate OF S40O, ,0C0 900
OF expenditure for sixty years hence, on
account OF the late war, was not an ex-
cessive one. Mr.. Davis asserted his be.
lief that the pension rolls contained
MANY fraudulent cases and that under
more efficient legislation the
Government would be enabled to
save from 5000, 900 10 Sc, 900, 900 per
year in this item OF pensions. Accord
ing to the estimate OF the Commissioners
this was the amount OF which the Gov
ernment was now defrauded.
Mr.. Logan in opposition to the
amendment argued that the Commis-
sioner had now by law all power es-
sential TO the thorough discharge Of his
functions, and that If with the power
vested in him he was unable to stop the
frauds that fact was evidence OF his in
| competency. lie thought the trouble
was not in the law but in its administra-
ton.
Mr.. Cameron, OF Wisconsin, and Mr..
Platt defended the commission.
Pending the motion for an executive
session the Chair laid before the Senate
a message from the President with ac-
companying documents in reference to
the removal OF the Ponca Indians. The
reading Of the message from the Presi-
dent upon its presentation being the
usage OF the Senate the requirement was
technically complied with. At the sug-
gestion OF Mr.. Edmunds by reading the
initiatory portion when the message
was informally laid aside and without
disposipg OF the bill the motion for an
executive session prevailed. When the
doors reopened the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE