The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-17
AFFAIRS In CONGRESS.
THE PROCEEDINGS YESTERDAY
In the Senate and HOu.s-rhs Cause for D.lay
In Acting On Mrs. IlneOlnI Pension.
vOOrhssI Defense Of Arrears Of Pen.
1lOuI Ast-InpOrtaat Bnls.

ARLINGTON, January lU.-ln the Senate
to-day, Mr.. Logan introduced and asked
present consideration Of bill granting
arrears Of pension 10 the widow Of Abra.
ham Lincoln. He had read letter from
the surgeons attending the lady, showing
her to be sufferer from spinal and other
troubles and from cataraets on both eyes.
He said he had statements from persons
who knew the lady well that her income
was insufficient to pay for the necessary
medical and nurse attendance which her
comparatively helpless condition required.
The arrearage under the bill would be at
the rate OF q pension Of S, 1000 per year for
five years, or $4,000.
Mr.. Ingersoll said his resolution, which
was offered before the holidays, directing
inquiry asto what further allowance should
be made Mrs. Lincoln, was now being con-
sidered by the Pension Committee, to
which 1t was referred, and he suggested the
reference Of the bill TO that committee, as it
was perfecting more comprehensive bill,
which would include this case and that OF
Ms. Garfield. The bill was so referred.
The Senate took up Mr.. Ingalls, resolu-
ton, declaring that the arrears pensions act
ought not be repealed.
Mr. voorhees,, in support Of the resolu-
ton, said the denunciations Of the act by
the press Of the country, and particularly
by the prominent organs, all kinds
OF corporation wealth were made
without the slightest basis for their support
or justification. He then read terms Of
the act to show that its meaning was not
obscure or liable to misconstruCtion, and
that its design was simply TO remove that
mean defense to the payment OF an honest
debt, namely: the bar OF the statute OF lin
itation as to pensions allowed under the
carefully prepared provisions Of the preyi-
Gus acts.
Voorhees, contended that the soldier was
entitled to have the Government perform
all the conditions Of its contract with him,
and he (Voorhees) would say that those
who asserted TO the contrary would have
no idle encounter in making good their as
sertions.
In the House to-day, Robeson, imme-
diately after tho reading Of the journal,
called up as u privileged question the re-
port from the Committee on Rules sub
mitted by him on Thursday last, increasing
the membership OF the various committees.
A point Of order was raised by Townshend
and Burrows that call OF States for bills
could not be interfered with. The Speaker
overruled the point OF order, holding that
the privileged question took precedence
OF a call oil States. Mr.. Burrows raised the
question OF consideration, and the House
decided not to consider the question OF
privilege ut the present time. Under the
call Of States a number Of bills were intro
:duced and referred, among them the fol-
lowing:
by Mr.. HorE To provide for n postal
card with flexible cover to conceal the
message.
By Mr.. Willots To make a wife COM
petent witness in trial for bigamy in the
territories.
By MI. ;NICord: For the judicial asccr.
tainment Of claims against the United
States; also for making the term Of Office Of
Presidential Electors four years, and giving
them power to net in case OF the death OF
the President or Vice President.
Mr.. Cook, on behalf OF the Committee on
Public Lands, moved to adopt a resolution
calling on the Secretary Of the Treasury for
information as 10 what action had been
taken by the Solicitor OF the Treasury to sell
or lease all zeal estate and riparian rights
now owned by the United States at Har-
per's Ferry, W. Va. Agreed to.
Mr.. Garretson, on behalf OF the Com
mittee on District OF Columbia, moved to
pass bill to incorporate tie Garfield
Memorial Hospital.
A halthourIs debate disclosed some OBJ
lection to the measure on the ground that
there were already enough hospitals in the
Districts for all practicable purposes, that
the incorporation OF another would have
the effect Of bringingt to the District per-
sons from adjacent States whl should be
taken care Of in the various State institu-
tions, and that there was nothing in the
bill which would prevent the incorporators
from applying to the government for assist
ance.
The motion TO suspend t rules and
pass the bill was defeated-yeas 40, nays
So; not the necessary two.thirds in the
affirmative.