The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-15
THE HOUSE.
A Long Debate Over the Proposition to
Pension JafIerson's Granddaughter.

Pension J6fferson's Granddaughter.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE morning hour
was dispensed WITH on motion of Mr.. Townsend
who moved that the postofIice appropriation
bill be taken up
The motion was lost and the House went into
committee of the whole, GMr. Cox, of New York,
in the chair) on the private calendar.
The bill granting pension of 81, 800 year to
Septimina Randolph Meikleham the sole surviv
ing grandchd of Thomas jefferson, was taken
up and the favorable report OF the committee on
pensions read. AS the clerk was reading the
majority report, complimentary to Mr.. Jefferson,
Mr.. Bedford asked What i'll the name of good is
the use of reading such areport as that's"
Order" cried Mr. ONeiI, of Pennsylvania
The minority report of the committee opposed
the bill on the ground that it provides for grant
ing civil" pension, Jeffersons services being
civil instead of military This report while as
sorting it is disgrace to the people that this
good old lady should be in want, yet contends
that Congress has authority to vote money
for charity. The minority argue that if a pen
sion be granted it would be only short time be
fore efforts would be made to pension living
children and the children of all Presidents.
Mr.. Robinson, of New York, favored the bill.
He said Mrs. DIeikleham was living in humble
dwelling in Georgetown, that cost but 500 q
month She and her three children were de
pendent for support on the eXertions of
thought there was Inconsistency In members
voting many, many thousands to the widows of
Presidents and refusing to grant small pen
sion to the granddaughter of Jefferson. How
could the minority strain at this gnat after
having swallowed so many caneiSf He de
manded room for Jefferson in the vestibule of
American sympathy. Around the venerable
form of Jefferson's grandchild he put a circle of
American womanhood; put but hostile foot, or
cast any mkind glance within that sacred
circle and on the head of the offender, he would
launch the curse of an indignant people. If he
had his way he would make it obi gatory on the
President and his Cabinet to call on Mrs. Meikle
ham every Fourth of July and would give her
q blank check upon the treasury. He
criticised the report of the minority for its
opposition to the civil list, in view of the fact
that three members who signed that report had
stood mute when his nlustliouS colleague (Air
Cox amid the applause of the Republican side
presented bill placing on the civil list the
of Mrs. Garfield. Shade of jefferson, what had
he done to be considered less worthy of national
memory than Garfield, Lincoln, Polk and Tyler3
He tRobinson) would rather have his name re
corded in favor of tins bill, than in favor of any
paper since the Declaration of Independence.
Mr. Hewitt, of Alabama, declared the speech
of the gentleman from New York to be an extra
ordinary one. 1t was condemnation of Thomas
Jefferson, and Jeffersons political career, around
which his glories clustered 1t was con-
domination of every line Jefferson ever
wrote on political matters. lie argued
ing measure, and paraphrasing Mr.. Robinsons
paraphrase, drew around the sacred Constitu-
ton circle of freedoms safeguards and bull
works, and hurled the curse of the American
people against any man who dared invade it.
Mr. Post opposed the bill.
Mr. Mason viewed the proposition from the
stand point of expediency, and warned the House
against the dangerous precedent it would set by
the adoption of a measure which was the begin
ming of a civil pension list.
Mr. WolfoFd said the proposition to pension
the granddaughter of Thomas jefferson was not
unconstitutional If it we're, it was as uneon-
stitutOnal to donate $500,O00 for the relief of the
flood sufferers In fact, every pension ever
voted was unconstitutional if this We're
He trusted the House would not demonstrate
the truth, to-day of the saying that republics
we're ungrateful. He believed every man that
brought mind and soul to tho service of his coun
try ought to be remembered He as much
in favor of a civil pensionSl1st as he was of mil
itary pension list, provided the service rendered
was as good as great, and did as much for the
common country.
tional grounds, and because it would establish
civil list
Mr. Robinson, of New York, closed the debate
by an appeal to tie House not to draw the line
across the face of Thomas jefferson
On motion of Mr. Hewitt, of Alabama, the
enactng clause was stricken out-l29 to 60.
The committee then rose and the House rati-
fed its action,
The Speaker announced the appointment Of
Messrs Keifcr. Forney and Ellis, conferees on
the part Of the House on the military academy
appropriation bill.
The Speaker laid before the House commit
nication from the Secretary of War. asking an
appropriation of 1920, 800 for the erection in San
Francisco of additional buildings for headquar-
ters for the military division of the Pacific Re
ferred.
The House took q recess until 7:30 o'clock The
evening session is for the consideration OF pen
sion bills