The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-02-25
WHAT CONGRESS is DOING.


ator Plumb, of Kansas, introduced a bill to Sc
cure to certain meritorous soldiers OF the late war
an honorable discharge from the service, ana TO
provide for the payment OF the salary ana bounty
due to such soldiers The discussion of the Ed
munds anti-polygamy bill occupied the remainder
of the session. 1t very vigorously opposed
from the Democratic side Senators Morgan, Pendle-
ton and Call leading the attack and Senator Brown
succeeded in securing the adoption OF an amend
ment rEoviding that but three out of the five MEM
bers to be appointed by the President as the Com
mission to govern the Territory of Utah Temporal
rily should be of the same political party Numer-
Gus other amendments offered, but voted down,
and finally the bill was ordered to be engrossed for
a third reading, and passed without further Obiec
ton.
In the Senate on Friday, the 18th inst, among
the bills passed were those appropriating 100000
for the improvement of the harbOr at Galveston,
Tex and providing for the final expenses of taking
the tenth census, and reimbursing Paymaster G. w.
Candee, of the U. S. Army, in the sum of s., $50,
which stolen from him in the fall of 1869.
In the Senate, on Monday, the Goth inst, the
House apportionment bill was favorably reported
from Committee Mr.. Call introduced resolution
for the converting of Peace Congress in Washington,
to prevent the further diSmemberment of Peru.
The bill to place General Grant the retired list
of the army, taken up and debated at length.
1t was opposed by Mr.. Vest and advocated by Mr..
Logan. When the pensions arrears resolution
came up as unfinished business, Mr. Mcpherson
offered and advocated substitute, declaring that
shall be computed from the time of disability and
directing the Pensions Committee to bring in bill
by which the business of the Pension Bureau may
he expedited and frauds detected and punished.
In the Senate on Tuesday several resolutions were
presented among which were two bulky packages
by Mr. Dawes lastly decorated with ribbons, in
closing petitions for the better observance
of treaty StipulatlOnS with the Indians asking that
they be given lands in severalty, &c. He said that
year ago he had presented a like number of petit
tions to the same effect.
Messrs. Plumb, teller and others depicted the
fiendishness of the Indians and their breaking of
every treaty obligation. After discussion the de-
bate terminated by the reference of the petitions
TO the Committee on Indian Affairs.
On motion of Mr.. Hale the Senate cat 1:45) took
up the House appOrtonment bill.
After remarks by Messrs. ingalls, and Hoar the
bill passed by a rirG Vote
The resolution declaring that the law granting
arrears of pensions ought not to be repealed and
the amendments thereto again came up the
finished business
Mr.. Beck gave notice of amendment directing
provision to be made for keeping posted up in post
offices printed lists of the names of all pensioners
and pension applicants, &c to detect frauds
A motion to limit the amendment declaring in
favor of pensions to the soldiers of the Mexican and
Indian wars as to omit the word needy" and
apply it only to those disabled in the line of their
duty, discussed and reiected-ayes. 15 noes, SO
Additional propositions by way of charging the
scope of the declarations of the resolution were
of the Mexican and Indian war soldiers who in
CURED disabilities under the Fourteenth Amend
ment and have asked 10 have their disabilities
removed shall not he included with the pensioned
Mr.. Hawlcy and Mr.. Bayard commented upon
the imprudence of the Sena, committing itself by
votes upon the amendments in favor of against
legislation of a character at variance with that
treated Of by the resolution as submitted.
After remarks by Messrs. Williams and ingalls,
motion by Mr.. Hawley to lay the whole subject on
fable
The following the vote:
4yes.-Messrs. Anthony, Bayard. Beck, Cameron
of Pennsylvania, Cameron of Wisconsin, Cockrell,
Coke, COnger, Davis of West Virginia German
ROar Jackson, Johnston, Jones OF Florida. Lapham,
Mitchell, Morgan, Morrill,, Platt, Pugh, Ransom,
Rollins, Sawyer, Slater, Vance, and Windom-26.
N0es-Messrs Allison, Blair Brown, Butler Call
Davis of Illinois, Dawes Grover. Hampton, Harris
Harrison, ingalls,, Logan, McDill, Maxey, Plumb
Saunders, Teller, Van WICK, Vest, Voorhees, Wal
ker, and Williams-23
On motion of Mr.. Logan the Grant retirement
bill was taken up and laid over as the unfinished
business for Thursday.
The chair submitted messages from the Presi-
dent, including communication enclosing one
from the Commissioner of Pensions, recommending
that more adequate provision be made for the pay
ment of the expense of obtaining evidence of the
extent of the disability of pensioners and pension
applicants residing in forei gn countries.
At 400 after thirty minute executive session.
the Senate adjourned until Thursday.
House.
In the House on Thursday, the 10Th inst, the bill
granting pension Of 50 600 year to Mrs Lucretia
r. Garfield was passed. The attention of the House
called to the fact that the Senate had passed
bill penslOnlng at the same rate all the widows of
eX- Presidents, but action was taken the sug-
geStiOn The rest Of the session was occupied with
the consideration OF the apportiOnment bill, and
after long debate it was amended as to fix the
number of representatives hereafter at 325, ia
crease of 80 over the present number. The vote on
the amendment 1872 yeas to 104 nays, the Dem
Ocrats a rule voting III the negative. Among the
petitions presented was from the honOrably
soldiers and sailors of Blair county, Pa
and Of members of Stephen Potts Post Grand Army
of the Republic, praying Congress to establish
Soldiers Home at Erie Pa
In the House. on Thursday, the 18th inst, the
apportionment bill was further considered and
passed without the formaity of yea and nay vote.
The only bill of consequence reported from the
committees the regular agricultural apprOpria-
ton bill.
In the House on Saturday, the 18th instant, the
deficiency bill (appropratng 81 1922, 9S3)
was considered in Committee of the Whole, and
after the adoption of amendments providing for the
rental of a building in Washington for the postal
money order department and striking out the clause
for the payment Of $500 as salary to the Deputy
Commissioner of Pensions and $500 to the chief
clerk, was reported back to the House and passed.
The Senate bill apprOpriating $4,000 for the base
and pedestal OF a monument to the late Rear-Ad-
miral Dupont was also passed Among the commu-
nications presented resolution of the Utah
Legislature protesting against the passage by Con.
gress of the anti-polygamy bill.
In the House, on Monday, the Doth Mr.. Randall
introduced bill providing that all public buildings
shall be constructed of materials found in the State
where the huildnp is n he erected Mr. Cows hill