The National tribune., 1882-12-14
WEDNESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
HOUSE.

/ occupied the remainder of the session.
HOUSE.
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the House of Representatives on Thurs
day, the eth inst, memorial was presented by
Mr.. Pattigrew from the citizens of Yankton
county, Dakota, repudiating repudiation and
asking authority to issue new bonds, bearing
reasonable rate of interest to liquidate all adju
dicated Indebtedness of the county.
Among the bills introduced was one to give
the village of Tecumseh, Michigan, four con-
I demned cannon aud four cannon balls for the
decoration of the soldiers monument
The House went into Colnmitte of the Whole
on the Indian appropriation bill, and having
finished its consideration it was reported back
and passed without amendment. 1t appropriates
S5,20S, $50, being $27i200 less than for the cur
rent year and 81 SIG, ,776 less than the estimates
The bill authorizing the Government of the
United States to accept title to certain lands in
the city of Erie, Pennsylvania and to establish
a home for INDECENT soldiers and sailors was
then taken up, and after a long debate in which
Mr.. Bayne and Mr.. Brumm Pa spoke in favor
of the bill and Mr.. Hewitt n. Y and Mr..
Kas,on against it, the enacting clause was
stricken out by vote of So to IS. it seeming
to be the opinion of the majority that the State
of Pennsylvania should make a definite tender
of the land before any action was taken by
Congress.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the House on Friday, the Sth inst, Mr..
Burrows, from the Committee on Appropria-
tions, reported the consular and diplomatic
appropriation bill, and it was referred to the
Committee of the Whole 1t appropriates
81, ,258 255, being $79,606 less than the appro-
priations for the current year, and $4,000 less
than the estimates.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the private calendar.
The first bill on the calendar to give rise to
any discussion was one permitting Edgar Huson
to file an application for an extension of his
patent for improved gearing for wagons. After
considerable debate the enacting clause of the
bill was stricken out.
The next bill was that for the relief of the
officers and crew of the United States Monitor
who participated in the action with the rebel
iron-clad Merrimac on the 9th of March, 1862
earnestly advocated the bill, but after -ong
debate a motion to strike out the enacting
clause prevailed.
The bill to grant pension to the minor
children of Aaron A. Sheridan was then taken up
and passed. In explanation of the bill, Mr..
Ray N H. said:
"This bill was favorably reported from the
Committee on Invalid Pensions. 1t grants PEN
sion of = each pcrmonth to the four or five minor
children of Aaron \. Sheridan until they respect
lively become l6 years of age. He was soldier
in the late civil war; was shot in battle there
by became seriously disabled, and aftcrward
was hOnorably discharged. On account of this
injury he was drawing a pension of SIS a month
when he died. At that time he was light
house keeper on an island in Lake Michigan
situated about twelve miles from the mainland.
Pursuant to orders received from his supCrioTs
here he started in boat belonging to the Gov
ernment with his wife, an infant child, aud an
ahle-bOdiCd assistant to convey his customary
reports and mail matter for the Government
from the lighthouse to the mainland, in order
that they might be there mailed as usual to
Washington. The Government had provided
for his use old, an RECONSTRUCTED boat, which
Sheridan had complained of rs being unsafe,
especially in rough weather. to the Department
several months before. While returning the
boat was capsizcd in squal, a mile or two
from the island and Sheridan, his wife. and
child were drowned, while his assistant. an
able-bodicd man, by ciIuging to the capSZcd
boat in the water, drifted in few hours to the
island and was saved.
Now the trouble with poor Sheridan was
having been shot. and disabled by his army
service, that by reason Of his disability he was
unable to. save himself Sheridan left five
Young orphan children, with no property for
their maintenance and education, and with no
relatives or friends able to provide for them
during their tender years. They have been
supported by public or private charity in the
State of Illinois. The majority OF the commit
tee think Congress should grant them $2 per
month until they become rs years old One
Of them has reached that age already, as | am
informed.
"Mr. Speaker, I favor the passage of this bill. |
not because | believe in pensiOning civilians, /
but because the probabilities are very strong |
that their father would be alive to-day and !
able to take good care of these children if he /
had not been injured. disabled. his vigor and !
strength largely impaired while in the military |
service of his country. | can see no reason why /
Sheridan, had he been sound, we'll man, might /
not have saved his own life the same as his /
assistant saved his. Ii seems altogether more .
probable than otherwise to me that his death /
resulted from the disability he incurred while /
in the Army or, in other words. that he would .
for that disability. Hence the connection he /
tween his disability and his death is fairly /
made to appear"
SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS
In the House on Saturday, the 9th inst, Mr.. .
Page Cal, chairman of the Committee on Com .
mcrce reported a resolution calling on the Sec /
rotary of War for information as to whether .
any moneys appropriated by the last river and .
harbor bill were appropriated for works or OBJ /
iects that are not in the interest and do not /
benefit commerce and navigation, and if so, the ,
names of such works and objects, and the re-
spcctive amounts so appropriated; whether any
of the money has been used on works not in
the interest of commerce and navigation, and
if So the names of such works, etc.
Mr.. Kasson asked leave to append an amend
ment to incorporate the words foreign and
in the resolution before the words
" commerce and navigation" He advocated