Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-01-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE,

WASHINGTON, January 16.-Com-
munications from the Secretary of
the Treasury were submitted by the
President pro tem., transmitting the
annual report of the coast and
geographical survey, and also re-
sponse to the Senate resolution of
inquiry respecting the organization
of separate court for the trial of
custom cases.
The chair submitted petition from
the board of trade of Portland,
Me, for special organization of a
similar service.
Senator Vest presented a petition
from Hon. Henry Hitchcock and others
of st. Louis, for the establishment Of
competitive examiners for all sub
ordinate officers of the government.
Senator Jones, of Florida, intro
duced bill granting to the Pensaco-
la and Atlantic Railway Company the
right to build bridges over navigable
waters between Pensacola and Chat
CanOOcnIe, Florida.
Senator Call, of Florida, introduced
bill granting the right of way
through the public lands to the Pal
atka and Indian River Railway Com
pany.
Senator Logan, of Illinois, intro
duced and asked the present consid-
Grafton Of the bill granting arrears
of pension to the widow of Abraham
Lincoln.
Senator Vance offered resolution
directing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to furnish copies of all charges
and complaints, reports or other in
formation on file concerning the ir-
regularities in the collection of In
ternal Revenue, in the Sixth Col
lection District of North Carolina,
and copies of any orders by the col
lector thereof, forbiddipg the arrest
OF taking out the process of arrest,
of the offenders against the revenue
laws. Adopted.
Senator Hale, from the committee
on appropriations, reported favor>
ably the House census deficiency
bill making an appropriation of $540-
600. Passed.
The Senate then, ON motion Of
Senator ingalls,, took up his resolu>
ton to the effect that the arr ars o1
pension act ought not to be repealed
Senator Voorhees,, in support OF the
resolution, said the denunciations o.
the act by the press of the country
particularly by the prom
inent organs of all kinds
of corporation wealth, were
made without the slightest basis fol
their support or justification. A
repetition of these denunciations b,
members of the Senate had filed hin
with amazement and pain. If tn,
Senator from Kentucky, Mr.. Beck
should make good his allegation
against the pension arrears act, it
supporters would have cause to hang
their heads in shame, but he (Voor
hees) claimed that it was work o
justice on the part of the government
dictated by duty and patriotism. HI
then read the terms Of the act t.
show that its meaning was not OBJ
scure or likely to misconstruction
and that it's design was simply to re
move that mean defense to th
payment of honest debt, name
ly: Bar of statute of imita
tions as to pensions allowed un
der carefully prepared provision
Of previous acts. Taking up separated
and replying to the charges mad
against the pension arrears act, Ser
ator Voorhees, contended that thes
had not been substantiated in on
instance. 1t had been charged tina
the bill was passed in the Senat
without discussion and under som
sort of parliamentary compulsio1
The records disproved this, an
showed that 21 Senators participate
in the debate upon it.
Senator Beck said that in the pas
sage of the bill referred to, bot
houses of Congress were impose
upon by set of pension claim agents
who had devised a scheme of pen
sion arrearage for their own benef
and that if it's actual cost ha
been foretold, or in any way ind
Gated at the time, the bill woul
not have received the support {
any of the members who voted for
He gave the outline of progress c
the bill, showing that it passed tt
House under the suspension of rule
which cut off the debate; that tt
measure which passed was not tt
one recommended by the committe
but one that had not been before I'll
committee. That the question W,
pressed for action upon the eve !
adjournment when the member
were going home for reelection, an
were indisposed to vote against
proposition which, upon its face, ha
only patriotic object. III
: bill, although not understoo