The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-09

General Grant Declines Pension and Sem
ator Mitchell Withdraws His Bill.
WASHINGTON. Dec. s-The Chair laid before
The Senate letter from the Postmaster general
recommending larger clerical force at the post
offices.
When the Chair laid before the Senate the
naval appropriation bill recently passed by the
House, Mr. Hale explained that it was Il mere
renewal for the coming half year of the lump
appropriation made last session, based on the
appropriation of last year He thought the
Senate should take up and refer to the new con-
ference committee the regular appropriation BILL
which was a subject of conference at the close
of last session, especially as that bill contained
an important provision relating to new ships.
Mr.. Mitchell read letter from General Grant
relating to the bill introduced to give him pen
sion. General Grant expresses the hope that
the bill will be withdrawn as, under no cireum
stances could he accept a pension, even if the
bill passed both houses and received the approval
of the President Mr. Mitchell stated that he
had introduced the bill because he chair
man of the committee on pensions and the
President had recommended the pension for
General Grant He (Mr. Mtehell) had always
felt that General Grant ought to be placed where
he was when, to accept the presidency, he laid
down the great office he won in the war In
Difference to General Grants wishes, Mr.. Mitchell
withdrew the bill.
A message being received from the House an
nouncing the non concurrence of that body in the
Senate amendment to the bin forfeiting the I'M
earned lands granted the Atlantic & Pacific rail
road, the Senate insisted on its amendments,
and ordered committee of conference. The
Chair appointed as such committee Messrs Nor
gan Blair and Plumb
Bills were introduced and referred as follows:
By Mr.. Blair For appropriation to pro-
mote the colored peoples worlds exposition, to
be held in Chicago. 1t recites tnar whereas, in
the opinion of the government of the United
States the exposition Of arts, mechanics, and
products of the colored races of the world to be
held in Chicago, in September 1885, is of nation
al Importance. and intended as one of the means
of cultivating thorough knowledge Of the arts
and trades among the colored people, and to Gre
ate among them a stimulus to industry, and to
show the results Of the colored peoples progress
in agriculture. manufactures and science
OF forestry and horticulture, and to introduce
among them improved machinery and to furn-
jsh to the government information as to the wis
dom of the Ii ration andl enfranchisement of its
colored citizens therefore, be it enacted, that
5000 600 be appropriated in aid Of said exposition.
1t is also provides that j. w A. Thomas, of
Illinois, Daniel johnson, of Mississippi; Philip !
Joseph, of Alabama; w. Wyatt Henderson, of
Illinois, Jos. II. W. Moore, of Tennessee, and
T. Thomas Fortune, of New York, be created
board Of commissioners for the disbursement Of
this amount, and that they shall give bond of
$204OOO conditioned upon the faithful perform
ance Of their duties Part of their duty, the
bill further provides, shall be to audit the ac-
counts Of the exposition and turn into the United
States Treasury within sixty days after the close
of the exposition the 100000 appropriated by
Congress, or the portion of that which
shall remain in the exposition treasury after its
Indebtedness is paid The board is also to re-
port on the number of exhibitors, etc.
By Mr. Ingalls, To amend the Revised Stat |
utes so as to make the day of the Inauguration of
the President of the United States a legal holi- |
day in the District of Columbia.
NJ Allison submitted joint resolution, which |
vas passed, extending the time fixed for sub |
mission Of the report Of the JOINT commission APP
pointed to consider the organization of the civil
service and other bureaus of the government.
Mr.. Dolph called up the bill reported from the
committee on railroads, last session, providing |
for the incorporation of the Spokane Falls & |
Ceur d Alene Railroad Company, in the Terri |
tories of Idaho and Washington
Mr. Harrison criticised the bill as cover
ing class legislation properly belonging to the
Territories. From the number of branches pro
vided for by the bill, he thought it likely the
company could monopoze all the passes through
the mountains, and from other provisions it
seemed the company could receive land enough
to absorb the public domain, as well as the rail
roads in the two Territories named
Mr.. Dolph defended the bill as containing only
the customary provisions.
Mr. Platt said it had come to be the fashion in
the United States to build railroads without any
cash capital, and that the fashion of building
railroads on paper was working infinite mischief
When roads were so built, the people were taxed
twice as much for fares and freights as they
would be if the roads were built for cash, in
order that the roads may pay dividends on the
amount of the capital stock.
Mr.. West inquired if the W. H. Armstrong
named in the bill of the ineorporators Of
the road, the Railroad Commissioner of the
United States!
Mr.. DoIph replied he did not know.
The amendments proposed by Mr.. Harrison
were agreed to, cutting off the company's right
to consolidate with other roads, or build branches
Further consideration was postponed by the
limitation of time
Considerable debate arose on the bill for the
relief of Richard Hawley & Sons, of Detroit. to
refund 1913 for duties alleged to have been il
legally exacted by the Treasury Department on
malt imported from Canada in 1870
Messrs. Palmer. Conger and Cameron, of Wis
consin, advocated the BILL Messrs. Allison,
Aldrich, Cockrell, Hoar, Sherman and Morrill,
opposing it. The principal points made by the
opponents Of the measure WERE first, that the
requirements of the law were not complied with
regarding written and timely protest at the
time of paying the duties, and secondly, that the
passage of this bill would lead to an assault upon
the Treasury by 1nultitudes of similar cases
dating back to an indifhte period.
The bill was defeated-19 yeas % nays
Mr.. Conger gave notice of motion to recon
slider.
Executive session. The Senate adjourned