Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-02-22
The All.Night Session.

The facts connected with the all-night
session of the House on Monday are de-
serving more notice than they have re-
ceived. The Mexican pension bill, over
which the struggle took place. proposes
to place on the pension rolls the names of
all those who served for sixty days in the
war with Mexico. and all those who served
for thirty days in the Seminole and Creek
and Black Hawk WAITS. Unlike COM
mon pension bill it does not propose to
pension only those who were disabled in
the service. but all who served as men
toned above, whether they had fired a
gun or not. Those who were disabled in
the wars mentioned are already pensioned.
The bill was of democratic and south
ern origin. Its main purpose undoubted-
ly was to obtain pensions for some of the
Coufederates, Jefferson Davis among
them. II contained section which re-
peals section 4716 of the Revised Statutes,
so far rs it relates to the act proposed,
which reads as follows: mo money on
account of pensions shall be paid to any
person. or to the widow, children or heirs
of any deceased person, who in any man.
ner voluntarily engaged in or aided or
abetted the late rebellion against the au-
thority of the United States"
To such a bill as this the republican
members of the House felt that they should
offer all opposition which they were able.
and let the democrats take the undivided
responsibility of passing i; if it passed at
all. There Is democratic majority OF
about seventy in the House. enough to
pass the bill over the republicans at
any time when the former are
presen, and voting. But on the evening
referred to many democrats were absent
or refused to vote. and when the repab-
Leans declined to vote there was no quo
rum. Sc the struggle continued through
the night. The republicans were accused
of skulking, but they pointed out to the
Speaker that there were more democratic
than republican skulkers. One despatch
says when Mr.. Hiscock retorted that
more democrats than republicans were
among the skulkers. Colonel Morrison
anger broke all bounds and he rushed furi-
ously toward the New York Congress
man, who held his ground and continued
his caustic criticisms of the conduct of the
majority. Tucker. Ellis and twenty other
democrats rallied to Morrison's support,
while Reed. Calkius. Boutelle and other
republicans. went to the support of their
champion. Doubled fists made threaten.
ing gestures in the very faces of OPP
poncuts; the lie. parliamentary and un,
parliamentary. was quickly passed by
heated democrats. and tor few seconds
il seemed even tn so cool man as Speaker
Carlisle that the angry combstsnts would
come to blows"
AT O'Clock Tuesday morning the dem
ocrats succeeded in fixing day for the
consideration of the bill aud the coutes
ended. but not until the true character o.
the bill had been shown up and the dem
ocrats were compelled TO assume the re
sponsihility for the action taken. A Fri
bune correspondent says: Under thi,
bill veterans of the Mexican war VIII,
never embarked for Mexico at all ans
others who did embark but failed 10 reacl
that country until the war was ended, vii
be entitled to a pension provided they
served 60 days. Men who served 81
day. in the other wars or disturbances
win also be entitled to = pension, as vii
widows OF those who died since the war
or disturbances mentioned.
Ii the bill is to become law, the It'll,
ought to be amended 50 a. to provide tina
pension Of Is per month shall be paid I,
all who lived in Alabams and Florida a
any time during the period from 1885 Z,
1912 and to the widows of those who hav'
since died. According to careful officia
estimate, the bill il passed win ul,imatel,
cost the national treasury more than 800,
000. 0o0.n