St. Landry democrat., 1882-01-28
TOPICS OF THE DAY.
News from Everywhere
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

news rom EVofyWQeres
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
THE Senate, on the 10Th, passed the Cen
sus deficiency bill. When Mr.. Ingallss reso.
luton that the Pensions Arrears act ought not
to be repealed came up, Mr.. Voorhees, said
the dennnciations of the act by the press of
the country, and particularly by prominent
organs of all kinds of corporation wealth,
were made without the slightest basis tor
their support or justification. A repetition
of these denunciations by members of the
Senate had filed him with Amusement and
pain. If the Senator from Kentucky (Beck)
should make good his allegations against
the Pensions Arrears act its supporters
would have cause to hang their heads in
shame; he (voorhees) claimed that it
Government, dictated by duty and patriotism
The only question raised was whether the
payment of a pension should date from the
wOunding, disease or death of q soldier, or
should not commence until he had spent fif-
teen or sixteen years in hunting up proofs of
the fact of his wounds or disease. He secuted
as absurd the charge that claim agents pro-
cured passage of the act; the frauds commit
ted were trivial in amount, compared with
that in popular imagination. Mr.. Beck said
that in the passage of the bill both Houses of
Congress were imposed upon by pension
claims agents, who devised the scheme for
their benefit and that if its actual cost had
been foretold or in any way indicated at the
port of any of the members who voted for it.
He gave an outline of the progress of the bill,
showing it had passed the House under a
suspension of the rules which cut off debate;
that the measure passed was not the one
recommended by the committee, but one that
had not been before the committee; that the
question was passed for action upon the eve
of adjournment, when members were going
home for re election and were indisposed to
vote against proposition which upon its
face had only patriotic object The bill, al
Though not IlnHprStOn0 allowed
without discussion. The adoption of the reso-
buttons would be equivalent to telling the
House that it might as well cease to consider
all notifications of the law, rs the Senate had
committed itself against them. Mr.. Ingalls,
" If a majority of members think, with the
Senator that the Arrears bill was fraud and
an ignorant and selfish coward, invita-
ton will be given the House to pass their
BILL Mr.. Cameron (Pa.) spoke upon the
general subject of taxation taking as his text
dent to reduce the revenue by abolishing all
internal revenue taxes except those upon
highwines and distilled spirits. In the
House, Mr.. Robson called up as privileged
question the report of the Committee on Rules,
increasing the membership of the various
committees. point of order and the ques-
ton of consideration being raised. it was de-
cided not to considerthe question of privilege
Bills were introduced. By Mr.. Parsons-To
define the crime of bigamy; by MI. Hazelton
Authorizing fractional paper CURRENCY; by
Mr.. MISUNDERSTANDING four years the term of
Office of Electors and giving them power to
act in case of death or disability of President
or Vice President; by Mr.. BurrOWs-To retire
national bank notes.
REsUMING his remarks upon the ingalls,
resolution, l7th Senator Beck read from the
records of an investigation by the House COM
mittee in 1879, shortly after the act became a
law, showing the existence in Washington of
an organization protesting to be the Soldiers
and Sailors Association, which was actively
engaged, when the bill was pending. in send
ing out for Signatures and having returned to
congress as though voluntarily prepared by
their signers, petitions favoring the passage
of the act. He added that he had perhaps
used expressions that were too vigorous
when announcing the measure, but thought
that he had not transcribed the ordinary
parliamentary para Tferea limits in in that re-
sioner Bentley, he expressed the opinion that
pension agents were at the bottom of his re-
moval; he zeaIousy endeayored to pre-
nected with new legislation. Consideration
of Sherman's funding bill was resumed and
Mr.. Plumb argued that the redemption fund
for United States notes ought to be dimin
fshed; that it was the solemn duty of Con-
greS5 not only to cut dewn but to definitely
limit that fund at a stated figure, thereby
making saving to the country in the item Of
horded in the Treasury to circulate. He be-
lieved q reduction of the fund to
5000. goo could be safely made. Mr.. Pugn
emit with the pending bill. MIR. Teller failed to
see how refunding would be of advantage to
the government, and took issue with the rec
'ommendations ofthe Secretary OF the Treas
ury for discontinuance of silver coinage
claiming that the West would never consent
to silver losing its rightfnl place as q money
metal. Mr.. Pendleton supported Mr.. Vests
amendment. lin the House, Mr.. Robson
called up the report Of the committee on
rules, increasing the membership of the var
tous committees He stated thirteen commit
nearly 30 per cent Of all the business Of the
House. As Mr.. Robson concluded his brief
remarks he demanded the previous question.
Dries OF "Oh, nop' came from all parts
OF the chamber, and the confusion was very
great. As soon as he could be heard Robson
declared his intention was to have the previ-
GUS question ordered and then give the full-
est possible debate. and further stated he
Then let ns sxota III down." cried several
members Motions to lay the report on the
SON opposed the report. MIR. Orth then offered
as substitute far the committees report his
amendment forFthe election, at the beginning
Of each Congress- of 3 commission charged
with the duty OF assigning the membership of
committees.
JAN. IS, Mr.. Brown addressed the Senate
on the currency question. He reviewed the
legislation on the silver question, showing its
untrfendly character and centending that
while silver had not been able to withstand
1t, gold would not have stood it any better If ]
an assault had been made upon that metal. 4
AS to the proposed withdrawal OF silver cetif-
Gates, he argued these furnished bet
ter currency than would bank bills,
which, If he understood the PROPOSE
tons of the President and the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, It was proposed to sub
stitute silver certificates. BY retaining silver
certificates the Government avoids some
cumbrous machinery and secures the profits
on circulation, which, In the other case are
given to the banks Mr. Brown then con.
Guided his address and his resolution went
over without action. The Senate resumed
consideration of the Sherman 1efnntiing BILL
The House proceeded to consider the
report ofthe Committee on Rules prop sing to
increase in membership certain committees, |
the pending question being on Orth's substi-
tute for an appointment board to select COM
rnittees. MI. Robson made q point of order
that the substitute was not german to the
original proposition. After much discussion
the question was submitted to the House. |