The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-06-24
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
SENATE

Vi oisoursing othcers in some Of the departments
in Washingtontand alleged frauds upon the nayy;de-
partment and to enquire into the system of making
| disbursements and the purchase of supplies with
view to determining whether it embraces sufficient
safeguards against defalcations and frauds and Civ
| ing the committee power to send for persons and
papers:
Mr.. Morgan asked why the resolution was limit
cd to some of the departments"
MIR. Hale said there had been defalcations in come
Of the departments and he had not wished to par
| ticularize. ~ -
| Mr.. Morgan hoped it would he made to cover the
post office department.
Mr.. Hale replied that he had in mind the post
1mee, state and navy departments. His object has
Deen 10 include matters that lately have come be-
fore the public eye through the press
MI. MCPHERSON asked why not cover the methods
| OF Keeping accounts in all the departments.
MT Hale said he meant to include that In fact
ne thought that the chief work of the COMMITTEES
| would be to elaborate and perfect a system by
| which the treasury NAV be thoronrhlv n3rotected
expenditures should be scrutinized with Jealous
| eye ana some plan of account keeping should be
/ lection. F
Mr. Hale accepted the amendment offered by Mr.
MCPHERSON to include all the departments.
Mr. ingalls, said that there must be some radical
oeIect IN Keeping the departmental accounts which
permittsd peeulations to go on for years undscov-
ered Ii the resolution was not broad enough in
terms to direct the committee to make their exam
NATION minute, through comprehensive and search
ing in the last particular he hoped it woud he so
amended as to accomplish that object.
/ it broad. "
4 -NSoANeAoAA
TO cover appointment of a clerk and stenographer
| when necessary.
Mr.. Garland from the committee on Judiciary re-
ported ano the Senate read the third time and
passed the bill comforting on all Senators and mem
bers OF Congress- authority to administer oaths to
witnesses In matter pending before Congress.
The Mexican pension bill was then taken up the
pending question being an amendment of Mr.. In
| gals dating pensions Of Union soldiers from the
date of discharge disability and extending to Oc-
tober list, 1884, the limitation of time to file appli
cations for arrears of pensions.
f,rol,r a44.a
to oppose any proposition that was favored BY IN
ion soldiers, but he knew that the soldiers them
selves were divided about this proposition. The
commissioner of pensions had estimated that
this proposition would involve payment of S246-
100000. The mere amount would not deter him
Il mere was legal promise to pay, or if promise
had been made by the United States to soldiers that
we would pay them from the date of their discharge
to this time. But there was no law and no moral
ground for that argument TO apply to PENSIONS No
government in the world could endure if it should
attempt to pay all claims and of claims arts
ing out OF its misfortunes. Mr.. Sherman put him
self on the broad ground that soldier who had for
twenty years waived his right to pensions either be-
cause no dd not desire IL or was too proud to claim
1t had no legal or even moral or equitable right
now to embarrass his government. He believed the
adoption OF this amendment would be embarrass-
ing thing for the people of the United States for it
would break down all restrictions on all sorts of
claims.
Mr.. Ingalls, said that the Senator from Ohio rMr.
Sherman) was the most eminent member of the Re-
publican party. He had been the finance minister
OF the United States, and had had respectable pre-
W.
therefore be gratifying to the country to under
stand that he (Mr. Sherman) held that pensions
were not CONTRACTS but gratuity charity which
the United States could give withhold as it
pleased. Mr.. Ingalls, called Mr.. Sherman's atten-
ton to the fact that the Republican platform of
Ohio two years ago and that of the Republican ma
tonal convention this year declared for the thing
which this measure embodied. Yet the Senator
from Ohio (Mr. She, mani deliberately djsavowed
that declaration and declared that it was not bind
ing upon the conscience upon the political ac-
ton Of those who may be called to vste upon the
question Mr.. ingalls, favored liberty of opinion
but the declaration referred to here is to be de-
ciared by those In authority not to be binding then
1t would be well for the party managers to put up
are not allowed to stand on the PLATFORM
Mr.. Sherman deprecated this introduction of
party platforms to guide Senators in the perform
ance Of their sworn duties When be remembered
that the platform Of the late Republican convention
had been made up in a few hours time on sweIter-
ing holiday by AZ men suddenly called together.
and most of whom never saw each other before he
d1d not think it should be called guide for Sena-
He thought it an extraordinary spectacle that it
should be attempted to make it guide He had as
much respect as anybody for the opinion of his
party, but it the Congress of the United States
that under the CONSTITUTE must prescribe the laws
for our country. Our Democratic friends would be
in sorry predicament if he should present to them
their party platforms for the last twenty years as
guide for their action here. But Senator of the
Limited states must have some better guide than
28 to 80. 'o'01 uO"H'
Messrs. Harrison, Wilson and Mitchell and were
agreed to. One of MIR. Harrison's amendments lin
tied Mexican pensions to soldiers or sailors who if
not actually engaged in battle were at least four
teen days in Mexico on its coast so as not to give
pensions to men who never left home. Mr.. Wilson's
amendment provided that pensions to whom
the law shall apply must be either SO years of age
OF subject to some disability recognized by the gen
eral pension laws of the United States. 1t is not
however to cover the cases of men who may have ac
CURED such disability by fighting against the
Union.
Among Mr.. Mitchell's amendments was the sub
stance or the pension bill introduced by Mr.. Gull
lom, providing pension for "invalid" soldiers and
sailors who have been discharged from the army or
navy OF the United States after three months in the
war of the rebellion, and for the widows and de-
pendent parents of deceased pensioners,
Before this was agreed to, Mr.. Morgan moved to
postpone the consideration OF the bill Till December
as he said that the Mexican soldiers could not get
fair chance while this bill was being treated as
political measure.
Mr.. Morgan's motion was not agreed to.
Mr.. Vest said the object of the majority was evil
IDENTIFY to kill the bill by loading it down with
amendments. He could not vote for it as amended
Inc 1eenng OF the majority was influenced by the
fact that the war with Mexico which had shed so
much glory on American arms was democratic
war.
the war for the Union had been republican war
Mr.. Vest said he had not said so.
Mr.. Cbnger remarked that he would then say so
on his own account
After further discussion it was agreed to adopt
the 10 minute rule for speeches tomorrow and come
to vote on the bill and amendments at 3 o'clock.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
The only bills of any public Importance introduc-
ed and referred under the call Of States In the
House were the following;
By Mr.. Kean of New Jersey, for the protection
of fisheries on the Atlantic coast.
BY Mr.. Hancock of Texas. authorizing the fund.
ing of the entire bonded debt of the United States
in per cent five year bonds.
By Mr.. Hutchins of New York, amending the
laws regulating the appraisal of imported merchan-
disc.
MIR. Randall of Pennsylvania, chairman of the
committee on appropriations, said he was directed
by the unanimous voice of that committee to move
to suspend the rules and pass the sundry civil ap-
preparation BILL He wished first to give the House
an opportunity to vote upon few amendments, the
most important of which was that reported by the
committee on expenditures in the Department of
Justice relative to the salar ies of the United States
marshals and district attorneys.
Mr. Bedford of Colorado, showed disposition to
object to Mr.. Randall's programme unless he
should be permitted to off er an amendment appro-
priating $500 900 for the erection of Confeder-
ate soldiers Home, but he did not formally object.
Mr.. Cameron of Illinois, as a member of the
committee on appropriations, expressed the reuc-
lance with which he had assented to the PROPOSE
ton to have the bill passed under suspension of the
rules. Congress has been in session seven months
and wasted much time which might have been de-
voted to the thorough consideration of appropria-
ton bills.
Mr.. Randall said that from the very nature of the
bill, 1t being an omnium gatherum measure, it
could not be reported till towards the end of the
session. and he called attention to the fact that at
the first session of the 47th Congress the sundry
civil Dill was not reported until after the expira-
ton of the fiscal year.
Mr.. Ryan of Kansas regarded the bill as reason
ably fair one. In view of the desire of both sides
and especially of the country that there should be
speedy adjournment Of Congress, he had given his
assent to Mr.. Randalls proposition.
Mr.. Morrison of Illinois asked unanimous consent
to be allowed to offer amendment directing the
Secretary OF the Treasury to apply the surplus
revenue at any time in the treasury in excess of
$lOO. 1000, 900 and not otherwise appropriated to
the redemption of United States bonds, and when
any OF said bonds redeemabe at the pleasure of
the government it shall not be lawful to apply any
portion Of the surplus to the purchase of bonds at
premium.
MI. Randall joined Mr.. Morrison in this request,
but Mr.. Hscock of New York objected.
The reading of the bill was then proceeded with,
after which thirty minutes debate was entered
upon Various provisions of the bill were critciz-
ed BY several members, and we're defended by Mr..
Randall.
Mr.. Potter of New York protested against the
appropriation of 100000 to enable the depart
ments to be represented at the New Orleans exposi
ton as entirely unnecessary.
Mr. Randall then offered amendment, direct
ing the secretary of TO sell at public auction,
the following arsenals: Allegheny arsenal, Penn
sylvania; Augusta arsenal, Georgia. Indiana arse
town arsenal Massachusetts,. Adopted
employees. Adopted.
Also to strike out the provision that no speech
shall be printed in the Record which has not been
delivered upon the floor of Congress. Adopted 1872
to IT.
Mr. Snrinoar af Illinois than offarad on apoand