The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-12-26


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Mr.. Morgan was prepared 70 support any
measure which would tend 70 pat IN oface the
class Of perscns bess quali6ed and most TO Be re-
lied upon In the conduct Of the public busi-
ness.
Mr. Gall made an argument to show that the
bill proposed 10 infringe upon the appointing
power Of the Executive, and was. therefore, un-
constitutional.
Senator williams opposed the bill - imprac-
ticable. There was great deal OF nonsense
talked about civil service reform. Real reform
would consist in putting decent and honest men
In the high places, and letting them bring back
the Government of the Republic to the !princi-
pies and practices OF Its earlier and better days.
He would like to zee the Democratic member OF
Congress who would 60 back to his constituents
and tell them that he had voted to make the
tenure of the present oficc-holders pcrma-
nent in order to keep his friends from being
tempted into ofice-seeking. How many votes
would that man geti Why, he would be
hooted. The people think, said Mr.. Williams,
and do, too, that whichever party is In power
has the right TO put it's friends in Office As for
this poor little thing that Is before as, don't
think It amounts to anything; Old Hickory
Jackson would put his foot upon 1t in
minute I don't think it would net be q law If
we passed it, yet 1t might bother US little when
we come in, and I don't want any obstruc-
tons in our way The only way to reform
is to elect an honest President in 1884, turn on
A. 81 - Dor hr0o and oil
him to sweey the platter clean.
Mr.. Cockrell made an argument to show that
this bill, if passed. would give the President
or the heads of Departments any more power to
reform or purify the service than they had
already under existing laws.
Many Senators are preparing special speeches
on this subject.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Some pl ogress has been made in the House on
the regular appropriation bills These coosti-
tute the most important business of Congress, as
they provide for the support of the Government
in all its branches for the coming year. The Dip
lomatic and the post-ofice bills have already
passed the House, and the army bill has been re-
ported from committee. II will get lively ven-
of the Treasury. An effort is being made TO in
crease the army from $4,000 men (present num-
ber) to 10000: its success cannot be predicted
this session.
The House agreed to the regular Christmas
holiday from December % to January 3. TO al
low members to 60 home to eat turkey and burn
the Yule log at their own hearthstones The
Senate refused to concur by vote of Is to SO.
INTERESTING TO PENSIONERS.
The matter Of pensions is receiving solid
slice of Congressional attention this winter, and
as it is of great importance to the soldiers Of the
late war, their widows and orphans throughout
the country, we give it full space.
The reply of W. W. Dudley. Commissioner of
Pensions to Senator P!att's resolution of inquiry
was laid before the Senate yesterday. The
questions asked are answered in their order sub
stantially as follows:
1. The number Of pensions on the roll Deem
Der 1, 1892 is estimated at 291 .656, with an an
nual value of $30,013oO0
There are now 1,1os pensioners on the roll
who lost one hand and 8 564 who lost one foot :;
these now get $500 per month; also 2,522 who
lost one leg and !, 1896 who lost one hand and one
foot; these now get $24OO per month. The bill
provides that all of these shall receive $4,000 per
month.
General Grant has written, urging the increase
for manned soldiers. He says: II concur in
recommending the passage of the bill. No nen-
sion can compensate the men who have lost one
or more limbs, and l should have been glad to
see that class of pensions well provided for, in
stead of the indiscriminate pensions, many of
whom are physically as good as they would have
been if the war had never been fought"
WIDOWS PENSIONS
Senator Plat reported in the Senate on Thurs
day from the Committee on Pensions bill which
has an important bearing upon many pending
pension cases. 1t IS as follows: "That nothing
contained in the act entitled An act to amend
Sc ;tion 4,702, title 81, Revised Statutes Of the
United States, and for other purposes, approved
August z, 1882, shall be construed or operate to
change the date of the commencement of wild
ows pensions, as provided in the second section
of the act of March 8, 1879"
THE IA i:,FF QUESTION
Promises to force itself upon Congress with great
prominence. Already the different sectous of
the country are putting their interests before the
committees.
The report of the Tariff Commission is under
going examination by both the Senate Finance
Committee and the Ways and Means Committee
of the House, each committee making its work
the basis of tariff legislation to be proposed. Ii
seems that the Senate Finance Committee is
making more progress in this labor than its Co
worker oftue House, and it is not improbable that
the first tariff measures proposed will be submit
ted by the Senate.
SUGAR CLAUSE OF THE TARIFF BILL
The Committee ON Ways and Means had up
the sugar schedule of the tariff commission bill
to-lay. 1t is urged by many engaged in the iu-
tercst that the reductions recommended will
not, as thought, aggregate twenty-five per cent
Representatives Of leading sugar refineries are
here. They urge that is there has been much
trouble touching the interruption of the law rs
ii now is, that Congress simplifyi.
THE TOBACCO TAX.
The Committee on Ways and Means discussed
the free tobacco bill this morning, and tested
the strength of the measure so far as the CON-
mttee is concerned. Messrs. Kasson and Has.
kell joined in resolution that it is the sense of
the House that repeal Of the tobacco tax is
neither necessay no. desirable, which was voted
down, TO 4. The question of rebate, in case
of a reduction or repeal of the tobacco tax, came