The National tribune., 1882-02-04
WHAT CONGRESS Is DOING.


SEN.ATE-The Sherman three per cent. fund
ing bill occupied the attention Of the Senate to
the exclusion of nearly all other questions, and
the debate is not yet concluded. Mr.. Sherman
proposes to refund S2O0,000,000 of the 81 per
cents at 8 per cent, in a bond running at least
five years. On Friday, however, an amendment
offered by Mr. Davis of West Virginia, was
adopted, providing that the 3 per cents shall be
paid previous to the new per cents. as also, one
by Mr. Sherman allowing subscriptions for the
new bonds to be made at the postal money order
offices, upon the pOstmaSterS giving addltlohal
bonds. The Senate then took up MIR. vests
amendment making the proposed issue OF . per
cents. the sole basis for increase OF clrcualon
by any national bank now in existence, or Tor
the circulation Of any national bank hereafter
established, and the discussion OF the bill StIh
continues. II has already developed wac
variance of opinion and when a vote is reached
party lines pretty sure to be ignored III tne
course Of the debate the fact came out tnaI MI
Sherman is in favor of repeating al revenue
taxes except those upon whisky, tobacco, ana
beer; but, then Mr.. Sherman is no longer Secre-
tary Of the Treasury.
On the 9th ulto Mr. Morrill, reported favor
ably with amendments, the bill to eStaphsh al
educational fund and apply portion OF the pro-
ceeds of the public lands to pubic education,
and TO provide for the more complete endowment
and support of colleges for the advancement OF
scientific and industrial education. measure
which. if it ever becomes a law, will 60 far
towards building up an enlightened public sen
timent in the South.
On the same day Mr.. Ferry obtained unani-
nous consent to introduce his bill granting pen
siops to certain Union soldiers of the late war
who were confined in so called confederate
prisons" 1t was read twice by title, and referred
to the Committee on Pensions.
On Monday Mr. Rollins reported tavoTably
the bin making an appropriation for the base
and pedestal of the proposed statue to Admiral
Dupont, in Washington. Mr.. Edmunds also
reported favorably, with amendment, the bill
reviving the Alabama Claims Commission for the
distribution of the unappropriated moneys OF the
Geneva award.
HOUSE-The post-ofice and consular and
diplomatic and apportionment bills have been
reported to the House, but no action taken.
The consular bill appropriates $685. $50, or
little less than last year.
On the Doth ultimo, at the instance of Mr..
Springer, the Senate bill granting additional
pension to the widow of President Lincoln was
taken up and passed without objection. 1t is as
follows:
Bet enacted, DC, That the Secretary of the
Interior be- and he hereby is, directed to pay
TO Mary Lincoln, whose name is the
roll as the widow of Abraham Lincoln, deceased,
late President of the United State, the sum Of
$4,000 forthwith, as pension money, IN addition
to any sum that may have accrued on her exist
ing pension, under the act of July a. 1870; and
from and after the passage OF this act the Secre-
tary of the Interior is directed to pay to the
said Mary Lincoln, in lieu Of the pension she is
now receiving under the act aforesaid pension
at the rate of $1,000 per annum during the re-
mainder of her natural life.
In the course of his remarks Mr.. Springer read
a certificate from Mrs. Lincoln's physicians con-
corning her health which will possess melan-
choly interest for our readers. They say:
1--WE find that Mrs Lincoln is suffering from
chronic Inflammation of the spinal cord, chronic
disease of the kidneys and commencing cataract
of both eyes.
1.-The disorder of the spinal cord is the conse-
quence Of an injury received some time since,
and has resulted in considerable loss of power OF
both lower extremities so as to lessen their use
and to render walking without assistance very
unsafe, and going unaided down stairs impossible
The nature of the spinal trouble is pr0qressice
and will end In paralysis of the lower extremities
Connected with the spinal disease and one of it's
evidences is the reflex para ysis of the iris of the
eve and the reduction of the sight to one-tenth
natural standard, together with much narrowing
of the field of vision The sight will gradually
grow worse.
"There is no probability that there will be any
permanent improvement in Mrs. Lincoln's con-
dition, considering her age and the nature of her
disease. She is now quite helpless, unable to
walk with Sa1eUy WITHOUT the alQ OF an atJ6nOant,
or indeed to help herself to any extent. She
requires the continued services of competent
nurse, and also constant medical attendance"
Mrs Lincoln is at present residing at 80 West
Twenty-sixth street, New York.
Among the resolutions adopted by the House
was the following, the answer to which when it
is received is likely to have an important bear
ing upon future pension legislation:
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior
be- and is hereby, requested, if not incompatible
with the public service to communicate to the
House of Representatives his estimate founded
on the following proposition: If all the claims
for pensions arising from the war of the rebel |
lion shall be adjudicated within the seven |
years period terminating June 80, 1888, and if |
at the end of that period the survivors of the |
war with Mexico and their widows shall then |
be pensioned at S. per month, what appropria-
ton will be required annually to pay pensions |
during the next twenty-five years?
resolution was also adopted calling for the |
diplomatic correspondence with reference to the |
persecution of the Jews in Russia. The House |
had also under consideration a resolution re-
questing the President to obtain list of Amer
lean citizens imprisoned in England, Mr.. Cox
supporting it in vigorous speech. The most
important bills introduced were the following: |
Making it unlawful for any railroad company to
charge fare for the transportation of passengers
excess of the following rates per mile: Under
100 miles d cents; over 100 and under 300 |
miles, 4 cents: over 800, - cents. And a bill
proposing a constitutional amendment making |
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