The Portland daily press., 1882-01-07
XLVII tn Congress list Session
SENATE.

OGNA19s
WASHINGTON, Jan. G.
Mr.. Maxcy presented a resolution instructing
the Secretary of the Interior to furnish re-
port of the survey of the United States and
Texas boundary commission. Adopted.
By Mr.. Beck, directing the Secretary of the
Treasury to inform the Senate at once what
reason if any he has for failing to comply with
the Senate resolution of Dec. 81, 1881, relating
to tariff dues imposed on English and Ameri-
can goods by France, Germany and Mexico.
Ordered to lie over one day under the rules.
Bills were introduced by Mr.. Rollins to fix
the term of Office of collectors of internal reve-
nue..
Mr. Hoar, obtaining leave to make a state
ment, had read a newspaper cutting which he
had received in the letter of correspondent.
1t asserted that as the chairman of the
Senate committee on claims Senator
Hoar was sending out letters to rep
resentatiyes of the southern claims which had
been presented to Congress stating the Repub-
licans were not opposed to the payment OF the
southern claims but on the contrary favor pay
ment where the claims are just; that he in
vited the sending on OF proofs and that his
course was an unusual course for even con-
seryative Republican. He said he had not thus
far in his political life felt compelled to contra
dict or explain any ridiculous statement in re-
gard to himself but he had received SO many
letters from interested parties concerning these
claims he would now say he was not chairman
of the committee on claims; he had written no
letter to warrant any such statement and SO
far as he knew had written none on the sub
ject. 1t was possible that in reply to cores
pondent he had stated that claims from any
quarter would receive due consideration by the
proper committee and that as the commit
tee were in the habit of acting on such things
judicially claimants had better send their
proofs; bat he had written nothing OF the kind
described in the article.
Mr.. Hales resolution for alspecial committee
on the mode of electing the President and
Vice President and of counting and certifying
the vote was disposed of by preference to the
committee on privileges and elections, after
a statement by Mr.. Hale that the subject mat
ter had already been committed to that COM
mittee and that subcommittee appointed by
them had been considering it and would report
at an early day.
The resolution of December 18th offered by
Mr.. Davis wv. Va.) relating to pension frauds,
calling for statements OF their nature and
character, what amount OF arrears had been
paid, number of cases added to the pension roll
under the arrears act" number of applica-
tions Hereunder, estimated annual expendl-
lures required, estimated total cost of arrear-
ages paid and to be paid. and the total of the
regular pension roll after arrearages been de-
termined, came up next on the calendar.
Some discussion ensued upon an amendment
by Mr. Edmunds striking out the direction to
the Secretary of the Interior to report his opin-
ion upon such legislation as he thought advis-
able Mr.. Edmunds argued that the President
alone was empowered to recommend legisla-
ton.
Mr.. Hill (Ga) commended that while
it was the duty of the President to do this
there was no limitation on the power of Gen.
gress to get an opinion from others.
Mr.. Davis of West Virginia, in the course of
the debate said the Secretary had estimated
one hundred millions would be required for
this year to pay the pension roll and this esti-
mate he learned had been increased by the
Commissioner to one hundred and twenty mil
lions. Nobody knew where the increase weuld
stop,and next year for aught we know, it would
reach one hundred and fifty millions. He
Davis had stated last year the arrears of the
pension bill would cost the government q sum
greater than the national debt and his state
ment was laughed at but present indications
seemed to fully justify the statement he then
made.
Mr.. Logan, replying to Mr. Davis said these
statements were not based on accurate infor-
nation and should not be allowed to go to the
country uncontradicted. An assertion that
the pension arrearages would cost more than
the national debt certainly was not based upon
any reliable basis, and the inference from
what had been stated would be that our PEN
sion roll would continue to cost one hundred
millions per year right along, with probable
increase, yet the report of the commissioner
showed that with certain force az his COM
mand 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 Virginia
could not help knowing this for the report was
before him. There was therefore no reason to
alarm the country by a statement such as the
one that the Senator had just made.
The resolution as modified by Mr.. Edmunds'
amendment was adopted.
The Senate at 1.45 went into executive ses-
sion and at 1.50 adjourned until Monday.