Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-01-07
FORTY.SgyBsTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WAsmNGToS. JAN 6.
President pro tenn. Davis, q few minutes
after the assembling of the Senate. vacated
the chair. for the day, to Garland
Several resolutions were offered, one re-
questing the secretary of the treasury to COM
municzte any information regarding the light
ed buoy in operation in the harbor of New
York, and any recommendations which the
light house board NAV desire to make in re-
gard thereto. adopted.
Mr. Maxcy presented resolution instruct
ing the secretary of the interior to furnish
a report of the United States and Texas
boundary commission
Resolution adopted.
By Mr.. Beck directing the secre-
tary of the treasury 10 inform the
Senate at once. what reason, if any he has,
for failing to comply with the Senate reso-
luton Of Dec. 2lst, 1881. relating to the
tariff duties imposed on English and American
goods, by France, Germany and Mexico; or
dered to lie over one day under the rules
Bills were introduced By Mr.. Rollins. to
fix the term of office VI the collector OF In
ternal revenue.
After the morning business, Mr.. Sherman
moved to take up his bill for the issue OF the
per cent. bonds.
Objection w as made by Mr.. Beck, who
proposed to sntagonize its discussion with the
tariff commission BILL to be reported Mon
day.
Mr.. Sherman Withdrew the motion.
Amendments of Mr.. Mcpherson to make
the bonds redeemablc after Jan. lst. 1891,
instead of payable after Jan. LIST, 1887, and
extend the time of payment to thirty years
from the date of issue.
Mr. Plumb gave notice of an amendment
IS Ill int he. Traa re
for the redemption of L. 5. notes in excess
81 per cents.
Amendments were ordered to be inserted
in brackets in the bill as reprinted
The resolution of Mr. Davis of West Vir-
ginia, presented December 18th, calling for
information relative to the pension frauds,
was then passed and the executive session
was held
Hoar obtaining leave to make a statement,
had read a newspaper cutting which he had
receivedin the letter of correspondent. 1t
asserted that as chairman of the
Senate committee on claims Sena-
tor IIoar was sending out letters to
the representatives of southern claims which
have been presented to Congress, stating that
the republicans in Congress are not opposed
to the payment of Southern claims. but on
the contrary, favor the payment where the
claims are just, that he invited the sending
on of proofs. and that his course was an I'M
usual course for even conservative repub-
lican. He said that he had not thus far in
his political life felt compelled to contradict
or explain any ridiculous statement in regard
to himself, but he had received many let
tiers from interested parties concerning these
claims. that he would now say he was chair
man of the committee on claims He had
written no letter to warrant any such state
ment, and, SO far as he knew. had written
none on the subject. 1t was possible that
in reply to the correspondent he had
stated that the claims from any quarter would
receive due consideration BY the proper com
mittees, and that as the committees were in
the habit of acting on such things Judicially
the claimants had better send their proofs,
but he had written nothing of the kind de-
scribed in the article.
Mr.. IIale's resolution for a special com
mittee on the mode of eiecting the President
and Vice President and of counting and GER
tifying the vote, was disposed of by reference
to the committees on privileges and election
after statement by Mr.. Hale that the sub
Ject If the matter had already been commit
ted To that committee and that the sub-com.
mittee appointed by them had been consider
lux u Npuiu ~ 1T haN.
The resolution of Dec. 18th offered by
Mr.. Davis, CIV. Va.) relating to pension
frauds and calling for statements of their ma
ture and character, what amount of arrear.
had been paid, number of eases added to the
pension roll under the arrears act mum
Der of applications hereunder, estimated IN.
nual expenditures required, estimated tota
cost of arrearages paid and to be paid and to
tai of regular pension roll, after arrearage.
had been determined came up next on the
calendar.
Some discussion ensued upon the amend
ment by MIR. Edmunds, striking out the di
rection to the Secretary of the Interior to re
port his opinion npon such legislation as hi
thought advisable. Edmunds argued that the
President alone was empowered to recon-
mend legislation, and Mr.. Hill of Georgia
contended that while it was the duty of the
President to do this there was no limita
ton on the power of Congress to get ar
opinion from others,
MIR. Davis, of W. Va, in the course OF
the debate said the Secretary had estimated
one hundred millions to be required for this
wear to pay the pension roll, and this est
mate. he learned, had been increased by the
commissioner to one hundred and twenty one
millions. Nobody knew where the increase
would stop and next year, for aught we know
it would reach one hundred and fifty millions
He Davis had stated last year that the
arrears of the pensions bill would cost the
government a greater sum than the national
debt and the statement was laughed at The
present indications seemed to fully justify
the statement he then made.
Mr.. Logan, replying to Mr.. Davis, said
statements that were not based on accurate in
formation should not be allowed to go to the
country uncontradicted. The assertion tina,
the pension arrearages would cost more than
the national debt, certainly not based upon
any reliable basis. The inference from wha,
has been stated would be that our pension
roll would continue to cost 100 millions per
year right along, with a probable increase,
vet the report of the commissioners showed
| that with certain force at his command, the
arrears Of pensions could be paid in two
years, and that after these were paid, the
roll would be reduced to forty or not over
fifty millions. The Senator from West Va.
could not help knowing this, for the report
was before him. There was no reason to
| alarm the country by statement such as
the one that the Senator just made.
The resolution as made BY Edmunds amend.
ment was adopted.
At l.5o, the Senate adjourned until Mon,
day.
CONDENSED DISPATCHES.