The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-07-03

Messrs. Harrison, Wilson and Mitchell and
were agreed to. One ofMr. IIarrison's amend
menis limited the Mexican pensions to soldiers
or sailors who, if not actually engaged in bat
tie, were at least II days in Mexico or ON its
coast. This is intended to cut Off men who
never left home. Mr. Wilson's amendment
provided that the persons to whom tile law
shall apply must be either 60 years old or sub
ject TO some disability recognized by the general
pension laws. 1t is not, however, to cover the
cases OF men who may have acquired such dis
ability in fighting against the Union.
MIR. Mcpherson, N, j., from the naval COM
mitee, reported iavoraby the bill to equalze
the rank of graduates in the naval academy
upon thrir assignment to the various corps and
t was passed, 1t provides that graduates OF
the naval academy assigned to the line of the
navy on the successful completion of the six
years course shall be commissioned ensigns OF
the navy.
The bill to prevent the importatlon of tea
dust was also passed and the Mexican pension
bill was taken up.
Mr., Ingalls, OF Kan. submitted a modifca-
ton of his arrears of ension provision, pro-
viding that so far as the arrearag,s aye con-
cerned there shall be no discrimination be.
tween the rate allowed to private soldier and
an officer 1t limits arrears to the persons who
file their applications prior to October /, 1857;
as to applications filed after that time the pen
sion shall be computed only from the date of
filing the same.
After some preliminary discu. sion as to the
probable increase OF the amount OF the PEN
sion list by the amendment, Mr.. Beck Of Ky.
estimated it at about S246, 00O, 900. Mr., Mitch
ell OF Pa. said 1t was impossible to make any
intelligent estimate and Mr.. Blair ofN Ii.
said the estimate had been based upon the
idea of allowing arrears according to grades
and ranks.
Mr.. Morgan of Ala. inquired whether it was
expected to pay these pensions by an mteifer-
ence with the interest on the public debt or by
increased tariff taxation. This, he continued,
was dstinctively Republican measure, hav-
ing had the Endorsement in advance of the Re-
public IN convention He was sorry, however,
to see the Republicans of the Senate so half
hearted about it, Ii they intended to obey the
mandate OF the convention, why not boldly as
sumo the responsibility for it, toss up their
hats and glory in the whole thing.
Mr.. Ingalls, said Mr.. Morgan's speech was
the kind he always expected to hear from
Southern Democrats upon a question OF PEN
sioning Union soldiers. They were wiling to
pension those of the Mexican soldiers who
went into the confederate army and did their
best to shoot the soldiers If the Union and
over-run their own governments but on a
measures of relief to the soldiers OF the late
war, the Republicans are always met by a
vague denunciation of extravaganza, of the
outrageous assaults intended to be made on the
treasury and OF the insincerity OF the Repub-
lican party in its professions of dey cotton TO the
soldiers.
Mr.. Williams stigmatized the bill as an in
suit to the Mexican veterans.
Mr.. Morgan of Ala. characterized the present
obi ct as a political one-to press the demo
Gratis to the wall; to attempt TO prove that they
were opposed to pensioning Union soldiers,
while the fact was that they were not satisfied
that it was the deliberate Judgment of the
nor hern people that such pensions should not
be paid.
The debat then closed, and an amendment
offered by Mr.. Mitchell OF Pa. providing that
no person shall be entitled to more than one
pension at one time under the laws Of the
United States, unless that fact be specially
stated in the law, was agreed to.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Call of Fla.
to pensi n disabled or dependent survivors of
the Black Hawk and Creek and Seminole
Indian wars was vo;ed down.
After further amendments the b II was re-
ported to the Senat. and when the chair had
put the question whether the amendments
should be agl eed to, Mr., Hawley of CT. asked
Tor information as to how much this bill would
add weary to the expenditures OF the govern
ment.
Mr.. Jackson of Tenn. said it might take
$40, 600, 900, $50, 00o 200 Or 500, 100000. The
committee had been unable to determine how
much.
The bill was then passed, yeas 81, nays 81.
Mersrs. Edmund of Vt. and Hawlcy OF Ct.
being the n. +. nay voters.
Mr. Mcmillan of Mimi, from the commerce
Committee, reported fIvorably the bill to estabe
fish signal stations upon Nantucket island and
to establish submarine telegraph communica-
ton with the main land also a bill authorizing
the erection OF a lighthouse on an island ia
NarIagan cit bay
The committee on the expenditure Of public
money was authorized to uct by sub-commit-
tees and to sit during the vacation to investi-
gate the government Departments frauds.
The Senate then resumed consideration OF the
legislative, executive and judicial appropriation
bill, and Mr.. Beck of KY opposed the amend
ment proposed by the Senate appropriations
committee striking out the clause consolidating
and re- organizing the customs collecting dis
tricts.
Mr. Hawley of Ct. emphatically supported
the committees recommendations. The com
merce of Connecticut would be surely injured
by the plan proposed by the secretary OF the
treasury. If orope ly prepared measure were
brought in and carefully considered, reduc-
ton may prove to be feasible but hardly 50
great reduction as that suggested.
Mr.. Hale of Me. said it was attempted by a
clause inserted in an appropriation bill TO
obliterate a great system elaborated with ex-
treme care ninety years ago. Under the pro-
posed consolidation smuggling would grow to
enormous proportions.
Altert further debate the committees amend
ment was agreed to.
The appropriations committees amendment
striking out the clause permitting small dis
tilleIies TO he run without storekeepers gave
rise to long discussion, which was not con-
cluded when the Senate adjourned.
House,
Bills introduced: BY Mr. Kean of N. j. for
the protection Of fisheries on the Atlantic
coast; by Mr.. Hancock OF Tex. authorizing the
funding of the entire bonded debt Of the United
States in 2 per cent. so year bonds; by MIR.
Hutchins OF N. Y. amending the laws Iegulat-
ing the appraisal of imported merchandise.
Mr. Randall ofPa., chairman of the appro-
priation committee, said that ne was directed
by the unanimous voice of that committee to
move to Luspend the rules and pass the sundry
civil bill. lie wished first to give the House
an opportunity to, vote upon few amend
ments, the most important of which was that
reported by the committee OF expenditures in
the department OF justice relative to salaries o
United States muIshals and district attorney.
Mr. Morrison OF Ill. asked unanimous con-
sent to be allowed to offer an amendment, d-
recting the secretary Of the treasury to apply
the SUI plus revenue at any time in the treasury
in excess of 100000, 900 and not otherwise
| appropriated to the redemption of United States
bonds; and providing that when any of said
bonds are redeemable at the pleasure of the
government it shall not be lawful TO apply
any portion of the surplus to the purchase OF
bonds at "a premium.
MIR. Hscock of n. Y. objected.
The reading of the bill was then proceeded
with, alter which the 30-minutes' debate was
entered upon. The various provisions OF the
hi were criticized by several members.
MIR. Potter Of N. Y. protested against the an.
preparation of $500 900 to enable the depart
ments TO be represented at the New Orleans
exposition as entirely unnecessary.
Amendments were adopted directing the sec
rotary of war to sci at public auction the ar.
senals a. Allegheny, Pa, gusta, Gu.
| indianapolis, Ind, kennebec, Me-, and Water.
| town. Mass: otunti. q IL months xtr,, nav 10