The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-24
FORTK-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
senate Proceedings Yesterday.
WAsmINGTON. juno 23. IsSl

UOuS OF Inc ulSbIrSlnG officers in some oi
the departments Of Washington and IN,
alleged frauds upon the Navy Depart.
ment, and TO inquire into the system OF
making disbursements and purchases OF
supplies, with a view Of determining
whether it embraces sufficient safeguards
against defalcatIOns ana frauds. and giving
the committee power TO send for persons
and papers.
Mr.. Morgan asked why the resolution
wS limited 10 "sOme" Of the Depart
merits.
Mr.. Hale said there had been defalca-
tionS in some OF the Departments, ana he
had not wished TO part,cularize.
Mr.. Morgan hoped il would be made to
cover the Post-Oflice Department.
Mr.. Hale replied that he had in mind the
PoSt-Ofiice, state. and Navy Departments.
His object had boon -. - ~l.-I~ ---~-%9s.
that had lately come before the public eye
through the press.
Mr.. Mcpherson asked why not cover the
methods OF keeping accounts in all depart
mcntS.
Mr.. Hale said he meant TO include that.
In fact, he thought that the chief work Of
the committee would be to elaborate and
prrfec! the system by which the Treasury
may be thoroughly protected. The cXpen-
diturcS should be scrutinized with Il jealous
eye. and some plan OF account-kceping
should be adopted that would secure the
most complete protection.
Mr. Hale accepted IN amcndmcn. offered
By Mr.. Mcpherson to include all depart
mcntS.
The resolution was agreed to after being
amended to cover the appointment OF a
clerk and stcnOgTapher when ncccSSa v.
Mr.. Garland. from the Committee on Jul
dietary. reported, and the Senate read a
third time and passed, the bill comforting
on all senators and members OF Congress
authority to administer oathS TO witnesses
in matters pending before Congress.
The Mexican pension bin was then
taken up and lis consideration proceeded
with. Mr.. Plumb giving notice that whe-
Their the bill be finished to-day or not,
he would tomorrow move to take up the
Atlantic and Pacific Immigrant forfeiture
bill.
The pending question in connection with
the Mexican persian bill was on the amend
mcnt Of Mr.. ingalls, dating the pensions Of
Union soldiers from the date OF discharge
and disability. and extending TO October |,
1884, the limitation OF time TO file applica-
tons for arrears OF pensions.
Mr.. Sherman very much regretted to be
obliged TO oppose any proposition that was
favored by the Union soldiers but he knew
that the soldier, themselves were divided
about this proposition. His heart and his
feelings were all with the soldiers; he APP
preciatcd the value Of their services
10 the country for generations yet tn
born. This proposition. however, affected
the interests Of the people OF the United
States not only soldiers bUt citizens.
The Committee on Pensions had not recon-
mended il; the House Of Representatives
had not recommended it. 1t was based on
the motion of q single senator. The Com
missioner OF Pensions had estimated that
this proposition would Involve the pay
ment OF S24G. 900, 600, and although Mr..
Sherman thought this estimate too high,
vet the amount would unqueStionaOly be
very large. No government in the world
could endure if it should attempt to pay
all the claims and arrears OF claims arising
out OF its misiortunes.
Mr.. sherman PIT himself on the broad
ground that a soldier who had for twenty
yerls waived his right to pension, either
because he did not desire it CT was too
proud to claim it, had no legal or even
moral or equitable right now to embarraSs
his Government. He believed the adoption
of this amendment would be an embarrass-
ing thing for the people Of the United
States. II would break down all restrictions
on all sorts Of claims.
MIR. ingalls, said that the Senator from
Ohio (Sherman) was one Of the most emi-
nent members OF the Republican party; he
had been finance minister OF the United
States. and had had respectable professions
10 the presidential candidacy. II would.
therefore. be gratifying to the country to
understand that he (Sherman) held that
pensions were not a contract, but a gratu-
iv or charity which the United States could
rive or withhold, as it pleased; that we
were authorized under the contract
OF enlistment TO treat mutilatcd and
disabled soldier as hOSpitabe and
charitable citizens trea- the vagrant and
the tramp who applies at his area door for
a mouthiul Of food TO keep HIM from
starvation. Mr.. Sherman had claimed
that we were poor. Why, our difficulty to
get rid of our surplus amount TO be pad
under this amendment would be divided
among several years. lie did not think
Mr.. sherman entirely sincere a. to the
DANGER Of this measure to the treasury.
MIR. mgals called Fir. Shcrman's atten-
ton 10 the fact that the Republican plat
form Of Ohio two years ago and that Of
the Republican National Convention
this wear declared for the thing
which this measure embodied. Yet
the senator from Chic (Sherman) delibc-
rately diSavowed that declaration, and
declared that IT was not binding upon the
c.Aascience nor upon the political action
* those who may be called on to vote
on this question. Mr.. ingalls, favored
liberty OF opinion, but ii the declaration
referred to were to be declared by those in
authority not to be binuing, then it would
be well for party managers TO put up a
notice. as railroad managers did, that
:. passengers are not allowed TO stand on
the platform" ..
MIR. Sherman deprecated this introduce
tion of party platforms TO guide senators in
the performance OF their sworn duties.
When he remembered that the platform OF
the lote Republican Convention had been
made mn i'm a few hours time on Il swelter-
ing hot dav by forty-twO men suddenly
roIled together, most OF whom never saw
each other before. he did not think it sho:ld
be called a guide for senators IN lhe per
Jornance Of their public duty here. He
thought 1t an cAlTdOIulu"i! 'P'N'N
IT should be attempted To so MAKE IL
guide. He had as much respect aS any
body for the opinion OF HI, party, put II
was the Congress OF the Umted states
that under the Constitution must
laws for our country. our Dem
ocratic friends would be IN sorry preac-
amcnt If he should present to them thelr
marty platforms for the last twenty years as
a Guide for their action here. In iact tley
were IN a sorry predicament any way Du1
a senator OF the United states must nave
some better guide than hastily-arrangeu
marty platform. He (Sherman) would not
ice afraid TO 90 before any crowd OF soldiers