Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-07
PENSION FRAUDS.
Senator Davis's Resolution on the Sub
ject Observation-Disclosures Three
and.a-Half Per Cent. Bill.
The Mexican Boundary Question
land Occupies the Chair in the Alb
senee Of Senator Davis.

WAsHNGToN, January 6.-.Sendte.-Presi-
dent pro tenn. Davis few minutes after the
Assem- bling of the Senate vacated the chair
Tor the day to Senator Garland.
S-naIor Maxey offered a resolution in
structing the Secretary of the Interior to fur
nish the report of the survey of the
United States and Texas Boundary Commits
sion, made under the act OF June s. 1888, and
if no final report of said commission was
filed, he will report that fact together with
the maps, surveys and report of the work as
far as it was prosecuted. He explained that
the purpose of the act of 1858 was TO ascer-
tain the true Northern Texas boundary; that
is to say what is the main Red river line as
laid down on the Mellish map of January,
1918, by which the boundary was fixed be-
tween the United States and Mexico under
treaty of 1928; the work of the commission
showing nothing definite on the point. Texas
claimed the North fork and the Interior De-
partment the South fork of the Red river to
be the true Red river according to the Mellish
map. Resolution adopted.
BY Senator Beck: Directing the Secretary
OF the Treasury to inform the Senate at once
what reason, il any, he had for failing to
comply with Senate resolution of December
q, 1881, relating to tariff duties imposed on
English and American goods by France, Ger
many and Mexico.
Senator Hoar asked that the resolution lie
over one day under the rule So ordered.
Bills introduced:
By Senator Rollins: To fix the term of
office of collectors of internal revenue.
By Senator Logan: Amendatory Of the
pension laws.
By Senator Window: Appropriating money
for the selection of site and location for
government buildings in Minneapolis, Min
nesota.
The morning hour having been extended
in consideration of the calendar, several res
olutions, including one for woman suffrage
committee, were passed over because of the
absence of senators interested in them.
Senator Hales resolution for a special
committee on the mode of electing President
and Vice-President, and OF counting and GER
tifying the vote, was disposed of by reference
to the Committee on Privileges and Elections.
The resolution of December 18th, offered
by Senator Davis w. Va. ], relating to pen
sion frauds, calling for statements Of their
nature and character, what amount of ar
rears had been paid, the number of cases
added TO the pension roll under the "arrears
act, the number of applications hereunder,
the total annual expenditure required,
the estimated cost of arrearages paid
and to be paid, and the total regular pension
roll after arrearages have been determined,
came up.
Some discussion ensued upon the amend
ment by Senator Edmunds, striking out the
direction to the Secretary of the Interior to
report his opinion upon such legislation as
he thought advisable, and Senator Edmunds
argued that the President alone was empow-
cred to recommend legislation.
Senator Hill LGa. cOntended that 1t was
the duty of The President to do this. There
was no limitation on the power of Congress
TO get opinions from others. - ~
Senator Davis w. Val in the course OF
debate said they had estimated that $780,
pay the pension roll, and this estimate, he
learned, had been increased by the commits
sioners to $120000,000. Nobody knew where
the increase would stop, and next year, for
aught we knew, it would reach $50, 900, 900.
He Davis had said last year that the ar
rears of the pension bill would cost the gov
eminent sum greater than the national
debt, and the statement was laughed at. The
present indications seemed fully to Justify
he statement he then made.
Senator Logan, replying to Davis, said |
hat statements not based on accurate infor- |
nation should not be allowed to go before |
he country uncontradicted. The assertion |
hat the pension arrearages would cost more |
han the national debt was certainly not |
BASED upon any reliable basis. The infer |
nee from what had been stated would be |
nat our pcnSlOu-TOI HOuiu continue 10 cost |
100 DOC, 900 per year right along. with |
probable increase; yet the report of the COM
missioner showed that with certain force |
It his command, the arrears of pen lions |
ould be paid in two years, and that after |
hese were paid the roll would be reduced to
lot over $4,000, 600 The senator from
Vest Virginia could not help knowing this,
or the report was before him. There was,
therefore,, no reason to alarm the country by |
statement such as the senator has just made.
The resolution modified by Senator
1dmunds's amendment was adopted.
After the morning business Senator Sher-
aan moved to take up his bill for the issue
t three per cent. bonds.
Objection TO its present Consideration was
lade by Senator Beck, who proposed to
ntagonize its discussion with that of the
lritf commission bill, in the hands Of Sena-
,r Bayard, now absent, TO be reported Mon
ay, and by Senator Mcpherson, who desired
} have printed an amendment he had
AIMED. 81
Senator Sherman said his motion was
OBLIGATION of his purpose to try and get
lie bill up Monday. He had accomplished
is present object, and Withdrew his motion.
The amendment of MCPHERSON make bonds
.deemable after January l, 1891, instead of
ayable after January 1, 1887, and extends
le time OF payment to thirty years from
ate of issue.
Senator Plumb gave notice Of an amend
ent directing the use of all funds now in
e treasury. for the redemption of United
.ates notes in excess of 500, 600 600 for the
demption of 81 per cents. The amend
ents were ordered inserted in the bill as re-
tinted.
After executive session the Senate ad-
urned till Monday