Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-07
XLVIITH CONGRESS.
Senator Williams on the TariH-Pension
Arrears Legislation-Senater
Ingalls's Speech.
Hypothetical Resolution by Mr.. Robin.
son, Of New YOrk-Bills Intro
duced and Referred.

WAsHISGToS, Februa airy 6.-Se7ate-Sena.
tor Morgan, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported favorably with amendments
the bill granting right of way over public
lands IN Alabama, and to grant lands in
aid OF the Gnlf and Chicago Airline Rail.
way Company.
Senator Plumb. on behalf of the m inority
committee, said he would present views in
opposition to the bill hereafter. The bill
directs the purchase by the secretary of the
treasury for public use the Freedmans Bank
properly and real estate and parcels oil
ground adjacent thereto belonging to the
Freedman's Saving and Trust Company.
Bills introduced:
By Senator Garland: Authorizing the
erection OF a public building at Hot Springs
Tor the use OF the United States.
by Senator Hawley; For the retirement
OF Brevet Maior-General Meigs with the
rank and pay OF ma jor-general.
Senator Morgan offered concurrent reso-
luton for treaty of reciprocity between
Mexico and the United States. Ordered
printed and laid on the table.
After the morning hour the resolution that
the pension arrears Legislation ought not 10
be repealed came up as unfinished business,
but was laid aside informally, with the
assent OF its author, Senator Ingalls,.
Senator Williams, to whom the floor was
specially assigned, then proceeded to make a
speech on the tariff the Morrill, tariff COM
mission bill being taken up for this purpose.
He avowed his opposition TO the measure,
and favored a tariff revision by a joint COM
mittee OF the two Houses.
The Senate then resumed consideration of
Senator lDgalls's resolution, declaring that
the pension arrears law ought not to be re-
pealed.
Senator Ingalls, moved to modify the
soldiers oil the Mexican war, SO as to limit 1t
to the needy or disabled. Senator Ingalls,, in
the course of a short speech, SAID that ali the
senators were not aware of the proportion
which the casualty list reached during the
war. The grand total OF pensionable cases,
prinid tdeie on the rolls OF the war department
was 620, 545-that is to say, there were that
many cases entitled TO pensions, il every man
who died had dependent relative and
every one discharged for disability had
claim. Since 1861 $50, 364 pensions have been
ganted by reason of death or disabilities,
so there was still, according to the war de-
partment rolls 233, S8l pensionable cases in
which no applications at all had ever been
made; this was a conclusive answer to the
charges that the pension list has been swollen
by fraud, and we may hereafter look for very
large accessions to the rolls without any pre-
sumption of fraud as to the aggregate of
gate required to pay the pensions was stupen-
dous, but this was because the war itself was
gigantic, colossal. Senator ingalls, had some
thing to say of himself and his practices,
and was followed by Senator Hawley.
Without action the resolution was laid
aside for executive session.
During the day Senator Plumb reported
favorably from the Committee on Public
Lands the bill granting the right of way
through public land to the Polatka and
Indian River Railway Company.
Bills were introduced by Senator Hill
Col. for the cancellation Of illegal entries
and sales of public lands and for refunding
the purchase money; and by Senator Harri
son defining the power and jurisdiction of
the Mississippi River Commission, and au-
thorizing the appropriation of land and ma
terial for the Improvement OF the Mississippi
and its tributaries, prescribing the manner Of
assessing damages for property SO appro-
priated, and providing penalties for acts in
hindrance OF the proposed improvements.
After an executive session the Senate adj