The National tribune., 1884-06-05
DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
No Action Yet on the Mexican Pen
sion Bill.

(Ill) motion, offered the 18th ult., to strike
out the proviso reported by the committee
" that no such officer, enlisted man, or widow
shall be entitled to the benefits of this act
unless dependent in whole or in part upon his
or her own labor or assistance from others for
support" was reected-yeas "a, nays 32-in
that FORM but on motion of Mr.. ingalls, (Kan.),
the entire committee amendment Including
the dependent clause) was laid on the table by
vote of 30 yeas TO 90 nays, and, when Mr..
Blair IN. H. moved to insert the dependent
clause again, his proposition was also laid on
| the table--yeas 3, nays o.
| Mr.. Hoar Mass then moved the addition
of proyiso that the provisions of this act
! should not apply to any person who is not dis
| qualified from earning his or her own living
until such person has reached the age of sew
enty years Laid on the table-yeas "a, nays
q.
Mr. Hoar thereupon moved TO amend the
bill so as to include the soldiers of the late war
| in its provisions air. Logan (lll.) suggested
! that this amendment offered not IN good
faith, but TO defeat the bill, and Mr.. Hoar adj
| mitted that such was the case. Thereupon Mr..
| Van Wyck (Neb.) ayowed himself in favor OF
pensioning Union soldiers as well as Mexican
| soldiers, notwithstanding the cost and pend
! ing further discussion of the amendment, the
Senate adjourned.
Among the bills reported from committee,
| during the session. was that by Mr.. Cullom
{lll), from the Committee on Pensions Is.
220S), to provide pensions for certain invalid
soldiers and sailors who have been discharged
| from the army or navy of the United States
after three months service therein during the
| war of the rebellion, and for the widows and
dependent parents of deceased pensioners, and
to increase the rate of pension in certain cases.
| Dir. Cullom announced that he would call it up
| on his return from the West.
Mr.. ingalls, (Kan) introduced bill IS. 2271)
declaring Memorial Day public holiday In the
District of Columbia
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Thursday, the House reso-
luton appropriating 100000 for the relief of
the sufferers by the Mississippi overflow was
called up and passed, after being amended so as
to read as follows:
That so much of the appropriation for the relief
of the sufferers by the overflow of the Ohio River
and its tributaries as remains unexpended may he
used by the Secretary of War in the purchase and
distribution of subsistence stores and payment for
necessary transportation to aid in the relief of des
titute persons In the district overfiowed by the
Mississippi River and its tributaries; and he is
thorized TO cooperate with the authorities of the
several States of which such district Is part IN
making distribution of supplies.
The ameuut unexpended is estimated at
$4,000, which will be sufficient to insure the
Issue Of 100000 rations.
The Mexican pension bill was called up, but
informally laid aside, in order to allow the
District of Columbia appropriation bill to be
considered; and the latter, after brief debate,
was passed. The Senate then adjourned until
Monday.
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Monday, among the bills
passed were the following:
Mr.. Garland's ARK bill providing for the
collection of statistics of marriage and divorce
1T directs the bureau of statistics of the
Treasury Department to collect the statistics. |
The House bill fixing the rate of postage on
mail matter Of the second class when sent By
persons other than the publishers or news
agents. This bill, as it came from the Hense,
fixed one cent as the rate on newspapers weigh
iRg three ounces or less. As passed by the
Senate the rate is one cent for four ounces or
less.
The bill introduced by Mr. Butler (S c.
providing for the return to the owners of GER
tain jewelry portraits, silyerware, ETC., captur-
ed during the war.
The bin introduced by Mr. Miller fCal) pro-
yiding for the execution of article of the
supplemental commercial treaty of November
II, 1886, between the United States and China
for the repression of the opium trade.
The bill 70 establish forest reservation on
the headwaters of the Missouri River, and the
heaGwaters and Clark's Forks Of the Columbia
River.
The bill for the relief Of the Neg Perces In
dams in the Territory of Idaho, and of the
allied tribes residing upon the Grande Ronde
Indian reservation. This bill gives to the
members of the tribes named lands in severalty
in lieu of the lands given by treaties of 1855
and 1863.
The bill introduced by Mr. Hawley (R. L.
extending the provisions of section of the
army appropriation bill, approved March 3,
1865, so as TO entitle TO the three months pay
proper, provided for therein, the heirs or legal
representatives Of all officers of volunteers
specified therein who were killed or who died
/ in fha hat
April, 1865"
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, among the bills
Passed, was that introduced by Mr.. Congor
(Mich.), granting an annual leave of absence,
with pay, to letter-earrers. The BILL as intro
duced, provided for thirty days leave but the
Senate Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads recommended that the vacation, without
reduction of pay, be made fifteen instead of
thirty. The bill was amended to correspond
with the recommendation of the committee,
and then passed. 1t authorizes the Post
master-General to employ the number of SUBJ
stitute letter-carriers rendered necessary by
the provisions Of the bill, the compensation of
such substitutes TO be $500 year.
The Senate then, on motion of Mr.. ingalls,
(Kan.), adjourned until Friday.
House.
In the House, on Wednesday, the 2sth uIt,
the entire session-day and evening-was
spent in discussing the legislative appropria-
ton bill.
A motion made by Mr.. White (Ky.) to strike
out the appropriation for the oivil-service COM
mission was lost
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, on Thursday, the session was
occupied with the consideration of the legisla-
) tive appropriation BILL After debate the prop
osition in the bill to repeal the act establishing
an assay Office in st. Louis was stricken out
An amendment was adopted which leaves the
| appointment Of the $50 new special examiners
a In the Pension Office subject to the ciyil-seryice
rules. Another amendment was adopted pro.
! Yiding that after June 80, 1884, there shall be
q no more than forty-th internal revenue col.
i lection districts and no more than sixty-seven
! customs collection districts. Among other
o amendments adopted was one reducing the
d number OF internal revenue agents to FIVE and
J. another prohibiting any Government clerk OF
employee from performing any private service
for any Senator, member head of department
or campaign committee. The committee then
rose and reported the bill to the House. The
previous question was ordered, and then, with.
, out further action, the House adjourned until
Saturday.
e SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, on Saturday, Mr.. Ballantyne
q tTenn1, by unanimous consent, from the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, reported back with an
adverse recommendation the bill (H r. IA