Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-07-04
in CONGRESS.
Summary gifts Work for the Past few Days
Senate.


lie money to investigate the recent deialcaiions
of discussing officers in some of the depart
ments OF Washington and the alleged frauds
upon the navy department and 10 inquire into
the system ofmaking disbursements and pur-
chases of supplies with view of determining
whether it embraces sufficient safeguards
against dcialcations and frauds.
A bill was passed comforting on oil Senators
and members of Congress authority to admin
lister oaths to witnesses in matters pending be-
10 G Congress.
Mr. Frye, of No, introduced a bill TO pro-
vide for the appointment by the president OF
commission of naval architects and marine en-
gineers to report upon improvements In naval
architecture and in connecti' Herewith to
make thorough investigation and examina-
ton Of the plans, models, designs, calculations
AMI principles for improvement in ocean steam
ships invented, made and designed by Charles
6. Lundborg. The bill is identical in its pro-
visions with one reported to the House last
week from the select committee on American
shin building and ship owning interests
The Mexican pension bill was then taken up,
the pending question being on the Ingalls,
amendment dating pensions of Union soldiers
from date of discharge or disability, and extend
ing to October l, 1884, the limitation Of time to
file applications for arrears of pensions. Mr..
Sherman of o., and Mr.. Ingalls, of Kan, spoke
on the question, and the amendment was then
voted down.
Various amendments were offered by
Messrs. Harrison, Wilson and Mitchell and
were agreed TO. One of Mr. Harrison's amend
mens limited the Mexican pensions to soldiers
or sailors who, if not actually engaged in bat
| tie, were at least IA days in Mexico or on its
coast This is intended to cut off men who
never left home. Mr.. Wilson's amendment
provided that the persons to whom the law
shall apply must be either 62 years old or sub
ject to some disability recognized by the general
pension laws. 1t is not, however, to cover the
cases OF men who may have acquired such dis
ability in fighting against the Union.
Mr.. Mcpherson, n. j., from the naval COM
miltee, reported iavorably the bill to equalize
the rank of graduates in the naval academy
upon their assignment to the various corps and
1t was passed 1t provides that graduates OF
the naval academy assigned to the line Of the
navy on the successful completion of the six
years course shall be commissioned ensigns Of
| the navy.
The bill to prevent the importation of tea
dust was also passed and the Mexican pension
| bill was taken up.
Mr.. Ingalls, of Kan submitted a modfca-
ton of his arrears of ension provision, pro-
viding that so far as the aTTearages are con-
cerned there shall be no discrimination be-
tween the rate allowed to private soldier and
an officer 1t limits arrears to the persons who
file their applications prior to October l, 1882;
as to applications filed after that time the pen
sion shall be computed only from the date of
filing the same.
After some preliminary discussion as to the
probable increase of the amount of the pen
sion list by the amendment, Mr.. Beck of Ky.
estimated it at about 10000, 000 Mr.. Mitch
ell of Pa. said it was impossible to make any
intelligent estimate and Mr.. Blair ofN. FL.
said the estimate had been based upon the
idea of allowing arrears according to grades
and ranks.
Mr., Morgan of Ala. inquired whether it was
expected to pay these pensions by an inteTfer-
ence with the interest on the public debt OF by
increased tariff taxation. This, he continued,
was distinctively Republican measure, hav-
ing had the indorsement in advance of the Re-
| publican convention. He was sorry, however,
to see the Republicans of the Senate so half
hearted about it. Ii they intended to obey the
mandate Of the convention, why not boldly as
sumo the responsibility for it, toss up their
hats and glory in the whole thing.
! Mr., Ingalls, said Mr.. Morgan'5 speech was
!; the kind he always expected to hear from
| Southern Democrats upon question Of PEN
sioning Union soldiers. They were wiling to
pension those of the Mexican soldiers who
went into the confederate army and did their
| best to shoot the soldiers If the Union and
over-run their own government; but on a
proposition to extend some broad general
measures of relief to the soldiers OF the late
war, the Republicans are always met by a
vague denunciation of extravaganza, of the
outrageous assaults intended to be made on the
| treasury and OF the insincerity of the Repub-
lican party in its professions of devotion to the
soldiers.
| Mr.. Williams stigmatized the bill as an in
suit to the Mexican veterans.
Mr.. Morgan of Ala. characterized the present
object as a political one-to press the demo-
Gratis to the wall; to attempt to prove that they
were opposed to pensioning Union soldiers,
while the fact was that they were not satisfied
that it was the deliberate judgment of the
northern people that such pensions should not
be paid.
The debate then closed and an amendment
offered by Mr.. Mitchell of Pa. providing that
no person shall be entitled to more than one
| pension at one time under the laws of the
| United States, unless that fact be specially
stated in the law, was agreed to.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Call Of Fla.
TO pension disabled or dependent survivors of
the Black Hawk and Creek and Seminole
Indian wars was vo;ed down.
After further amendments the b II was re-
ported to the Senate and when the chair had
should be agi eed to, Mr.. Hawley of CT. asked
Tor information as to how much this bill would
add yearly to the expenditures Of the govern
ment.
Mr.. Jackson of Tenn. said it might take
$4,000, 600, $50,001,000 or 500, 000, 900. The
committee had been unable to determine how
much.
The bill was then passed, yeas 81, nays 81
Mersrs. Edmund of VT. and Hawley Of CT
being the n. E. nay voters.
Mr.. Mcmillan Of Mimi, from the commerce
committee, reported frvorably the bill to estabC
fish signal stations upon Nantucket island anG
to establish submarine telegraph communica.
ton with the main land; also bill authorizing
the erection of lighthouse on an island j.
Management bay.
The committee on the expenditure of public
money was authorized to act by sub-commit
tees and to sit during the vacation to investi
gate the government departments frauds,
The Senate then resumed consideration OF the
legislative, executive and judicial appropriation
bill, and Mr.. Beck of Ky. opposed the amend
ment proposed by the Senate appropriations
committee striking out the clause consolidating
and recognizing the customs collecting dis.
trcts.
Mr.. Hawley of ct. emphatically supported
the committees recommendations. The com.
merce of Connecticut would be surely injured
by the plan proposed by the secretary Of thu
treasury. If a prope ly prepared measure were
brought in and carefully considered, reduc
ton may prove to be feasible, but hardly 50
great a reduction as that suggested.
Mr.. Hale of Me. said it was attempted by 9
clause inserted in an appropriation bill to
obliterate agreat system elaborated with ex,
IRENE care ninety years ago. Under the pro
posed consolidation smuggling would grow to
enormous proportions
After further debate the committees amend
ment was agreed to.
The appropriations committees amendment
striking out the clause permitting small dis
tilleries to be run without storekeepers gave
rise to long discussion, which was not con
cluded when the Senate Adjourned.