Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-07
The SenDte,

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.-President pro TEN
Davis, few minutes after the assembling of
the senate, vacated the chair for the day to
Senator Garland.
Senator MaxeY offered resolution instruct
ing the secretary of the interior to furnish the
report, if any, on the survey of the United
States and Texas boundary commission, made
under the act of June 5th, 1858, and if no
final report of said commission was made he
will report that fact, together with The maps
of the surveys and reports of the work as far
as it WAS prosecuted. He explained that the
purpose of the act of 1853 was to ascertain the
true northern Texan boundary, that is to say,
what is the main Red River line as laid down
on the Mellish map of January 1st, 1918, by
which the boundary was fixed between the
United States and Mexico under the treaty of
1928. The work of the commission showing
nothing definite on the point, Texas claimed
the North Fork and the interior department of
the South Fork of the Red River to be the
true Red River according to the Mellish map.
Resolution adopted.
Senator Beck offered a resolution directing
the secretary of the treasury to inform the
senate at once what reason he has, if any, for
failing to comply with the senate resolution
of December 81, 1881, relating to the tariff
duties imposed on English and American
goods by France, Germany and Mexico.
Mr.. Hoar asked that the resolution lie over
one day under the rule. So ordered.
Bills introduced:
By Senator Rollins-To fix the term Of Of
flee of collectors of Internal revenue.
By Senator Logan-Amendatory the pension
laws.
By Senator Windom-Appropriatin money
for the selection of site and location of gov
eminent buildings in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The morning hour being extended, considera-
ton of the calendar was taken up and several
resolutions, including one for u woman suf
frage commission, were passed over because of
the absence OF senators interested in them
Senator Halls resolution for a special COM
mittee on the mode of electing the 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 20, offered by
Senator Davis West Virginia), relating to
pension frauds, and 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
estimated annual expenditure required the
eStimsted total cost of arreages paid, and
to be paid, and the total regular pension roll
after damages have been determined, come up,
and some discussion ensued upon an amend
ment by Edwards, striking out the direction
to the secretary of the interior to report his
opinion upon such legislation as he thought
advisable.
Senator Edwards argued that the presideut
alone was empowered to recommend legisla-
ton.
Senator Hill, of Georgia, commended that
while 1t was the duty Of the president to do
this, there vas no limitation Of the power of
congress g.. ~, i.iud from others.
Senator L..vis, of West Virginia, in course
of the debate, said the secretary had estimated
that 300 ,0G1u00 would be required for this
year 10 pay tie pension roll, and his esti-
mate he had learned had been increased by the
commissioner to $4,000, 600. Nobody knew
where the increase would stop, and next year,
for aught we know, it would reach Sl50,000,-
600. He (DWis) had stated last year that the
arrears of pensions bill would cost the govern
uieht Il sum greater than the National debt,
and the statement was laughed at. Present
indications seemed fully to justify the state
ment he then made.
Senator Logan repIyisg to Davis said state
mentS rot based Oh accurate information
should not he allowed to go TO the country
uucontradicted The statement that pension
arreages would cost more than the national
debt was certainly not based on any reliable
basis. The inference from this had been stated
would be that our pension roll would continue
10 costSlO0, 100000 per year right along, with
probable increase. The report of the commits
sIoner showed that with proper force at his
command The arrears of pensions could be
paid in two years, and that after thus paid the
roll would be reduced to forty or not over
fifty millions. The senator from West Vir-
glna could not help knowing this, for the re-
port was before him. There was, therefore,
no reason TO alarm the country by a statement
S11IIn ha Iac or 1.,1 40
resolution as modified by Edmund's amend
ment was adopted.
After the morning business Senator Sher-
man moved to take up his bill for the issue of
3 per centum bonds. Objection to its present
consideration was made by Senator Beck, who
proposed to autogonize its discussion with
that Of the tariff commission bill lin the
hands of Senator Bayard, now ABSENT, to be
reported Monday, and by Senator Mcpherson,
who Gesiredto have printed an amendment he
had framed.
Senator Sherman said, as his motion was
notification OF his purpose to try to get the
bill up on Monday, he had accomplished his
present object. He withdrew the motion.
The amendment of Senator Mcpherson
makes the bonds redeemable after january 1,
1881, instead of redeemable after January i,
1887, and extends the time of payment to
thirty years from date of issue.
Senator Plumb gave notice of an amend
ment directing the use of all funds now held
in the treasury for redemption of United
States notes IN excess of 00,00O,000 for re-
demptIon of 81 per cents. The amendments
were ordered inserted and the bill reprinted
After an executive session, the senate ad-
iourned till Monday.