Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-21
THE FOuTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
Mondays Session.
The House.

Henley offered resolution authorizing an
investigation INTO the circumstances attend
ing the making of lease by the United
States TO the Alaska commercial company
and the power of Congress to terminate the
lease.
Mr.. Connolly offered resolution of en-
quiry regarding the manner Of constructing
the public buildings.
Mr. Hewitt introduced bill for the sus-
pension Of the coinage Of silver, which was
recommended by the New York chamber of
commerce.
Mr.. Springer introduced resolution call
ing on the Postmaster General for copies Of
further correspondence between the dapart-
ments of justice and the postoiiice depart
mcnt in relation to Star-rOute Frauds
Mr.. SlOcum introduced arcsolution calling
on the Secretary Of Treasury for copies of the
CORE oOnd"ncc relating to the preference
given in appointments to the New York GUS
tom house t. honOraDly discharged soldiers
and sailors.
The special deficiency hill of S1,G79, 900
was usscd. The resolutions were adopted
requesting the Attorney General TO cause to
be made such investigation by the examiners
Of the department as may be desired by the
committee on expenditures in the depart
mcnt of Justice ant appropriating out OF
the contingent fund $4,000 to enable the
committee ON naval affairs to prosecute the
investigation In relation TO the loss OF the
Jcannctte. Adjourned.
The senate.
WAsuuNGToN, d. c., March 17.--Senators
Miller of New York, Dawes, and Sawyer
presented petitions from commercial bodies
praying for repeal of the law authorizing
the Coinage of the silver dollar.
Senators Mcmillan, Palmer, aud Mandcr-
son presented petitions from the citizens Of
their States, praying Congress to propose a
sxle,nth amendment prohibiting the dis
reimbursement of citizens on account Of sex.
a bill was reported fixing the salaries of
Judges of the United States District courts at
$4,000. Senator lIoar offered resolution
calling on the Secretary of the Interior to
renort the names of the parties who have had
pension applications pending for more than
two years, and TO show the condition of such
applications and the reasons why they have
not been disposed of. Senator Hoar said,
ono tragedy could be put on the stage which
ought more to move the feelings of right
minded men than the stories which come to
us Of hopes deferred, Of poverty, sorrow
and agony Of the men who suf-
ferel wounds and privations and gave
up their strength and health for their coun-
try; and the widows and orphans Of those
who have given their lives for it," lie
found no fault with the pension office, but
something should be done to help forward
the pension cases.
Senator Blair suid ''the present system
is one of prolonged murder inflicted by a
process of slow starvation, but as there are
probably CSC, coo cases OF the character in
dcated it would involve the labor of severa
months if not of years.
Senator Dawes said the principal difficulty
was in the existence Of claim agencies which
gathered in the pension claims by the tens Of
thousands.
Senator Ingalls, repealed the assertion thai
large numbers of just and proven pension
claims were uudispOsed Of .and that hun
dreds Of thousands of men entitled to pen
sious were starving to death. There was NJ
ground for charging the government will
negligence. The difficulty was that a larry,
numtcr Of applicants had not proved their
right to pensions. lie believed that 50 few
| proven cases were undispOsed of in the pen
sion office that one weeks time would suffice
for their disposal.
Senator Blair id there were thousands
and thousands IF cases undisposed Of Tn,
| Government ought to provide an efficient sys
| TEN for the the examination of cases. The
resolution was finally referred to the com
mittcc on pensions.
Senator Van Wyck offered resolution
which was adopted directing the committee
on public lands to enquire in what manner
large quantities Of public lands have become
transferred to or poss ssed by foreign cOrpor'
ations or syndicates, and wha. legislation is
| necessary to prevent such transfers or pos
| session.
The resolution approprating $50, 900 fol
| the suppression Of the foot and mouth dis
eases was taken up.
Senator Bayard spoke of the utter made
quacy of the appropriation. He thought ii
II was made it would be followed by claim
| for -, 500 00J for cattle slaughter to accom-
plsh the eradication OF the disease.
Inc assumption Of police power by
| the United States over the States
was entirely unWarranted, There was, in hi;
belief, M eu.lrc want of any authority in the
constitution for the power sought TO be be.
slowed upon the measure. lie thought the
work could he done more economically by
the States.
Senator pQudlcton took the same cJEstitU-
tional view Of the question. Senator Cul
ION while no. favoring every measure pro
posing the intervention in State affairs by the
general government said lie thought
there were measures in which that
Intervention was jusitiable aud necessary.
lie asked whctb. I they were not here splitting
hairs while the whole property Of the cOun-
try was going to destruction.
Senator Garland said he was a States rights
man. but the view taken by the opp )nents of