Huntsville gazette., 1882-01-14

millions would be required for tnfs year to
pay the pension roll. and this estimate he
learned nad been increased by the COmmis- =
sioner to Sl20,000,00G. Nobody knew where
the increase would stop, and, next year, forl
angnt we know. it would reach $50, 900 900:
lie lDavlsl had stated last year the arrears of
pension bill would cost tthetsovernment a sum
greater than the national debt, and the state
ment was laughed at. Present indications
seemed to fully justify the statement he then
made Mr.. Logan said statements not based
on accurate information should not be al
lowed to go to the country uncontradicted-
would cost more than the national debt was
certainly not based on very reliable basis.
The Inference from what had been stated
would be that Our pension roll would
continue to cost Sl00,000,000 n year right
along and will probably increase. Yet the
report of the Commissioner showed that,
with the force at his command, the arrear
ages of pensions could be paid in two years,
end that after these were paid the roll would
BE-, be reduced to forty or not Eyer fifty millions
help knowing this. for the report was before
him. There was, therefore, no reason to
alarm the country by a statement such as
the one the Senator had just made. The reso-
luton, as modified by Mr.. Edmunds' amend
ment, was adopted. After executive session
the Senate adjourned till the 9th.
JANUARY 9th was busy day for Con-
gress. Some of the measures introduced in
the Senate were: By Mr.. Teler-For the de-
post Of silver bullion at the Treasury of the
United States, and the issue of certificates
tn herefor; by Mr.. Rollins-For the organiza-
tion of the Territory of Oklahoma; by Mr.
Butler-For the creation OF body OF parlia-
ing $50 acres of public land to each survivor
of the Mountain Meadows massacre or their
heirs; by Mr.. yoorhees--Granting pensions to
prisoners of the war; by Mr.. Logan-To ap-
prOpriate and expend the entire income de-
rived from internal revenue taxes on the
manufacture and sale of distillers' spirits for
the education of the children of the United
States 1t provides that the national school
fund thus created shall be distributed among
the several States and Territories pro
filiteracy, but prohibits any State or Terri
tory from receiving proposed benefits which
does not provide by local enactment that all
children between the ages of and II years shall
attend school at least six months each year.
Mr.. Hoar's pending resolution for a select
committee on the rights of woman, to whom
are to be referred all petitions and resolves
relating to woman suffrage, was adopted by a
vote of 35 to %. A message was read from the
President transmitting various papers re-
lating to a bill providing for the right of way
through the Indian Territory for the st. Louis
u San Francisco Railroad. Ordered printed
On motion of Mr.. Sherman. his bill to pro-
vide for the issue OF per centum bonds was
taken up without formal vote. Mr.. Vest
offered an amendment, which was ordered
printed, adding to the bill section identical
with the fifth or compulsory, vetoed 80 per
cent bin of last session, but modified to Gov
er provisions for 5000 000, 900. 1t makes bonds
the sole basis for circulation. Mr. Sherman
Sdlu tIIdC III NleW OF Ufle very discussion OF
the general propositions of the bill in debates
upon the vetoed measure, and as he believed
every Senator had made up his mind on it,
he would confine himself to a brief statement
of a few facts, and hoped before the day end
ed decisive vote would be taken and the
| bill passed or defeated. The bill presented,
except as to details, a purely business ques-
ton, whether it was advisable or not to place
at a lower rate, at any time, any part OF the
debt that now stands redeemable at
the pleasure of the Government. Mr.
Bayard spoke of the exceptionally IA
vorable condition of the Government with
reference to its currency at this time, and
questioned the confidence of holders in the
security of the bonds. He was averse to as
suming any risk that would tend to disturb
this security, even for the sake of an apparent
reduction of Il of l per cent in interest.
Amendments to the bill reported by the COM
mittee were agreed to. Messrs. Mcpherson
and Beck exchanged views, and then Mr.. Vest
secured the floor, whereupon the Senate went
into executive session.. Chief. among the
large number of bills introduced in the House
were measures for suppression of polygamy !;
providing that citizens of each State shall
have the right to vote directly for Presid. mt
and Vice President; defining the law of in
sanity in criminal cases; providing a sound
and uniform paper currency.