National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-01-07
In THE SENATE.
FRIDAYS REGULAR PROCEEDINGS.
Important Resolutions and Bills Offcred-Mr. Sher-
mans Three Per Cent. Bond Bill-An
Explanation from Mr.. Ioar-Sen-
ator Lognn's Remarks.


from the census supervisors Of ohio, for an in
Resolutions, offered us follows, were disposed of
BY Mr.. McPheBon Requesting the Secretary
OF the Treasury TO communicate any Information
which the Light. House Bonrd may have IN regard
TO the lighted buoy which has been in operation
ut the entrance to the harbor OF New York during
the past summer, and any recommendations
which the said board may desire to make In re-
gard thereto. Adopted
BY Mr.. Maxey; lnstructing the Secretary of the
Interior to furnish the report II auy, of the survey
of the United States ana Texas boundary commits
sion, madc under the act of June 8, 1858; and If
no final report Of said commission was made, he
Will report that fact together with the maps, sur
yeys, aud report ofwork so faras Il was prosecuted
He explained that the purpose of the act of 1888
was to ascertain the true Northern Texas bound
airy; that Is to sny what Is the main Red River line
as laid down on the Mellish map january 1913,
by which the boundary was liked between the
United States and Mexico under The treaty OF 1898.
The work of the commission showed nothingIeil-
mite on the point. Texas claimed the North Fork
and the Interior Department the South Fork of
the Red River TO be the true Red River, according
TO the Mellish mep. The resolution was adopted.
BY Mr.. Eimunds: Directing the District Com
missiouers TO transmit n statement of the amounts
charged. IN the revision of assessments. against
the several street railroad companies in Washing
ton and Georgetown for the pavement of the car
ragewny, and also copy Of the report of William
Oscar ROum, chief of the special assessment divi-
sion made February 81 1880, together with copy
of all correspondence &c, relating to the subject
Adopted
by Mr. Jones, ofFlorlda: Calingo on the secre.
lectons of swamp lands In Florida in violation of
law; whether OR not auy investigation Of the sub
ject has been had under his authority; whether
any Of the State officers ara involved and have
been notified Of the fact; and also whether, upon
the facts, the whole matter ought not to be inves-
Mr.. jones said he had seen II stated in the pub.
lie press, and IN one paper as II coming from the
Secretary of the Interior, that the State officers of
Florida had been connected with a ring which
was engaged in making selections OF lnud in that
State unlawfully. He knew nothing of the facts,
Ennkylnuun A
he believed there was no foundation for the state
ment In Justice to them, he would favor an In
vestigatiOn of the matter. The resolution was
adopted
:. BY Mr.. Beck: Directing the Secretary of the
Treasury to inform the Senate ut once what reason,
If any, he has for falling to comply with the SEN
ate resolution of December p 1881 relative to the
tariff dues imposed ON English and American
goods by France, Germany, and Mexico
Mr.. Huar asked that the resolution lie over one
day under the rule SO ordered.
Bills were introduccd:
r by Mr. Rollins; TO fix the term of Office of coll
lectors of internal revenue.
BY Mr. Groome; Granting the right ofway to the
County Of Anne Arundel, Maryland, through the
United States Government grounds in the city of
annapolis.
BY Mr. Logan: Amendatory of the pension laws
BY AIR Window Appropriating money for the
ELECTION of n site and location of Government
buildings in Minneapolis, MINI.
Upon the conclusion otroutine business twenty
ivGminutcs OF the morning hour remained to be
Mr. sherman moved to take up his bill for the
tsue OFFS per cenum bonds.
objection was made by Mr.. Mcpherson and Mr.
Bck, of the Finance Committee, from which the
bill was reported, the former desiring, In advance
ofhe discussion Of the bill, TO have printed sew
era amendments he had prepared, and the latter
giving notice of his intention to claim priority of
confederation Tor the tariff commission bill, which
hudlot been reported owing To the absence of Mr..
Bnyad of the Finance Committee, TO whom the
Dill Nd teen given, and whoexpected to report 1t
on Midday.
Mr.. herman said that his motion having &C.
complihed its purpose as a notification of his In.
tentionp call up his bill on Monday he would
not nownsist upon 1t.
The By, therefore, was not taken up, and re-
print ofShe bill was ordered, to contain the pro-
posed nmpdments in brackets.
The notifications proposed by the amendments
OF Mr.. Mpherson make the bonds redeemable
after Janury /, 1891, instead of payable after
January l,ES7, and extend time of payment to
thirty yearsIom date of issue.
Mr.; Plumfgave notice of an amendment direct
ing me use Gall the fund now held in the Treas
excess ofslOO0O6oO in the redemption of the 81
Mr.. Hoar, claiming leave to make n statement,
ceiyed in theletter of correspondent. 1t as
serted that, as hairman of the Senate Committee
to the Representatives Of Southern claims which
had been prese1ed to Congress, stating that the
Republicans inCongress are not opposed to- the
payment of Son1ern claims, but, on the contrary,
favor payment Were the claims are Just; that he
invited the seIiing on of proofs. and that
conseryatiye7 Republican, He said he had
not thus fur in lis political life felt compelled to
contradict or explain any ridiculous statement in
regard to himself but he had received so many
letters from interested parties concerning these
claims he would now say he was not chairman of
inc Committee onClaims; that he had written no
letter to warrant any such statement and. so far
no knew, had written none on the subject. 1t was
possible that, in reply to "A correspondent, he had
stated that claims from any quarter would receive
due confederation by the proper committee, and
That as me committees were In the habit of acting
on such things judicially, the claimants had bet
ter send their proofs but he had written nothing
OF the kind described In the article
The calendar was then taken up and occupied
the day, the morning hour being extended for its
consideration. Several resolutions, including the
one Tor woman suffrage committee, were passed
over because Of the absence of Senators interested
in them.
Mr., Hae's resolution for special committee on
the mode Of electing the President and Vice
President, of counting and certifying the vote, was
disposed of by a reference to The Committee on
Privileges and Elections amer q statement by Mr..
Hale that the subject matter had already been
committed to that committee and that a subcom-
mittee appointed by them had been considering 1t
and would report at an early day.
The resolution of December IL, offered by Mr..
Davis, ofWest Virginia, relating TO pension frauds
calling for statements of their nature and charac-
ter, what amount OF arrears has been paid the
number OF cases added to the pension roll under
the Arrears act lhe number OF applications
quired, the estimated total cost of the arrearages
paid and to be paid, and total of regular pension
roll after the arrearages have been determined,
came up next on the calendar.
some discussion ensued upon an amendment
by MIR. Edmunds striking out the direction to the
Secretary Of the Interior to report his opinion
upon such legislation as ho thought advisable
Mr.. Edmunds argued that the President alone
was empowered TO recommend legislation, and
Mr. Hill, of Georgia, contended that while 1t was
the duty OF the President to do this there was no
Limitation ON the power Of Congress to get opinions
from others.
Mr.; Davis, ofwest, virginia, in the course of the
debate, said the Secretary hnd estimated that
SlO0OOOO00 would be required for this year 10 pay
the pension roll, and this estimate he learned, had
been increased BY the Commissioner to Sl2O,OOo,OOO
NOBODY knew where the increase would stop and
next year, for aught We knew, it would reach
slG000OOOO He (Mr. Davis had stated last year
that the arrears of pensions bill would cost the
government u sum greater than the National
debt, and the statement was laughed at. Present
indications seemed to fully justify the statement
he then made,
Mr.: Logan, rcPlying1o Mr. Davis, said that state,
ments not based ON accurate information should
not be allowed togo 10 tile country uncuntradicted.
The assertion that the pension arrearnges would
cost more than the national debt was certainly not
from what had been stated would be that our pen =
sion roll would continue 10 cost 100000 900 per
year right along, with q probable increase. Yet
the report OF The Commissioner showed that,
Inc arrears Of pensions could be paid
in two yoan, and that after these
were paid the roll would be reduced 1,
sf0OO0O00 or not over S50O00,000 The Senator
from West Virginia could not help knowing this
for the report was before him. There was, there
fore, no reason to alarm the country by II state
ment such as the one that senator had Just made.
The resolution, as modified by Mr.. Edmunds
amendment was adopted.
The Senate lat 1873 went into executive session.
" ana (at 1900 adjourned until Monday.
-S-
Hon. n. n. MerrIrk ON the Constitution,
The preliminary lecture In II course upon the
town Law School was delivered by Hon r. r.
Menick. He referred 10 the three grand divisions
OF golemment-the despoiie the limited mon