The National tribune., 1884-05-29
DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
The Mexican Pension BiIl---MuSter
ard Pay Of 0iioerS.

q ID.
one at Nickshurg, Miss. 100000; one at Chat
tanooga, Tenn, Sl00,090, one at Opelousa, La,
s50009: u8s Al Troy. n. Y. $4,000; one at
Portland. Oreg- $3.50 090; one at Sacramento,
CAL Sl0e000; one at Asheville, X. c., 100000;
one at Ssrat0ga Springs, \. y, 100000; one at
Dayton, Ohio, $4,000; one at Springfield,
Ohio, $4,000. The foregoing sums include
fail cost or sites and buildings Bills were also
passed anpropriating 5000 for the erection of
public building on Government property at
Fortress Monroe aHd SS7. 500 for the erection of
necessary buildings, including a gymnasium,
on the Government reservation &t West Point,
Ny
On motion Of 1Er. Sherman (O), a joint reso-
luton was passed to authorize the issue OF the
Congressional Record and statutes-at-large 10
public libraries.
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
IN the Senate, on Thursday, Mr. Morgan
{Ala9, from the COMMITTEES on Foreign kela-
tions, submitted proposed amendment 20 the
consular and diplomatic bin, appropriating
$4,000 to enable the President to open COM
mercial OF diplomatic intercourse with the
Congo country.
Proceeding 10 the calendar Of the cases IN
objected to- the Senate took up the bill to pro-
hbt mailing Of newspapers and other pablica-
lions con aiming lottery advertisements.
The Senate, by vote of - yeas TO % nays,
decided not 10 proceed with the bill at present.
1t Therefore goes to the foot Of the calendar.
The biz providing for the establishment Of
bureau Of labor statistics was then taken up,
but no progress was made IN its consideration.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
in the Senate on Friday, Ar. Jonas (La-)
presented petition Of ex-UniOn soldiers and
sailors members ef Joseph 4. Mower Post, No.
], Grand Army of the Republic, Department of
the Gulf praying for the passage Of a bin TO
establish a branch Of the National Home for
Disabled Volunteer Soldiers for the care of
helpless ex-Unipn soldiers and sailors at some
point on the Gulf coast between New Orleans
and Mobile; which was referred TO the Com
Inittee on Military Affairs.
The House bill TO provide for the muster and
pay Of certain officers and enlisted men Of the
volunteer forces was taken up, and, after some
debate, the substitute reported by the Commit
tee on Military Affairs was adopted after being
slightly amended. The full text of the bill
viii be found in another column]
On motion Of Mr.. Logan (Ill), the Senate
took up the pension appropriation bill and the
amendments Of the appropriation committee,
striking out al legislation with reference TO
pension agents and attorneys fees, were adopted.
The item Cor pay and allowances Of pension
agents, lor salary, fees for preparing vouchers,
rent fuel, lights, and postage on letters TO the
Executive Departments and TO pensioners
was increased from S240,SO0 to 1896 200 and
the bill passed.
The House bill to establish bureau Of labor
statistics was then taken up and the substitute
offered By Dir. Aldrich T. l. adopted BIZ vote
OF IS yeas 10 Is nays. The bill as passed is as
follows:
Be Il enacted &C. That there shall be established
IN the Department Of the Interior bureau OF
labor which shall be under the charge OF a
missioner Of labor, who shall be apPoined by the
President, by and with the advice and consent Of
the Senate. The commissioner Of labor shall hold
his Office for four years and until his successor shall
be appointed and qualified, unless sooner removed,
ano shall receive salary Of three thousand dol
lars year. The commissioner shall collect infor-
NATION upon the subject OF labor, ITS relations to
capital, the hours Of labor and the earnings of
laboring men and women. and the means OF pro-
LlOtng their material. social. intellectual and
moral prosper1tv. The Secretary of the Interior
shall appoint chief clerk who shall receive
salary OF $3.50 per annuTn. and snch other en-
lscycs az may be necessary for the said bureau,
provided that the total expenses shall not exceed
5000 per aunum. During The necessary absence
oi The commissioner. or when the Office shall be-
come vacant the chief CLERK shall perform the
duties OF commissioner. The commissioner shall
annually make report IL writing 10 the Secretary
oi the Interior Of the information collected and
collated bg hEa. and containing such rcooInmeD-
oations a. be may deem calculated TO promote The
efficiency OF Tie bureau
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS
In thescnate, on Monday, Mr. ingalls, lKan.).
from the Committee on Judiciary, reported
fsvorably, with an amendment, the joint reso-
tuition proposing an amendment to the Con-
stitution changing the terms Of Offices of the
President and Kice-President Of the United
States The amendment is as follows:
Article 2 The executive power shall be vested in
president Of the United States Of America. The
President and Nice-President hereafter elected
shall hold their Offices for the term Of six years but
the President shall not be re-egible shall the
NicePresd dent be eligible 10 The Office Of President
u he shall have exercised Tie same IN case OF
vacancy therein.
The Seuate, then, By vote Of yeas o. nays
1S voted 10 concur In the amendment OF the
House to the Alabama claims commission bill
he -t Ftcoa
81, 1855.
Mr.. Hoar Glass; proceeded to speak on the
Utah bill, bat soon yielded the floor, and the
Mexican pension bili was then taken up and
discussed during the remainder of the session,
although without any conclusion being reached
The first committee amendment proposes to
strike out the clause that limits widows pen
sions 10 the cases Of widows who were married
before the soldiers discharge from the army.
and to permit the payment Of the pension TO
al Mexican soldiers widows who have not re-
married, but limiting the benefits Of the act TO
persons who are dependent IN whole or in part
upon their OWL labor or assistance from Others
for support
Mr. Logan (IIll at once moved to strike out
the Last provision limiting the benefits OF the
act 70 dependents, and said in support Of his
motion:
I understand that is the Senate committees
amendment with the poverty clause attached
which ] propose 10 strike out cannot under
stand why WIDOW who has married a soldier
prior 70 HE discharge should be entitled 10 q pen
sion he dies, and the widow who nlarries SOL
der subsequent to his discharge should not be en-
titled 10 pension. In each case they are certainly
the widows Of soldiers; and why person " ho
Dlarries soldier to-day shall be entitled 10 a pen
sion II he dies tomorrow and the one who alaTries
him tomorrow shall not II he dies the next dsv i
something that cannot get through my intells,sl
Therefore propose that the widow Of ibe soldier
shall receive pension irrespective of the time se
married him.
So far a. the other proposition Is concerned
presume That no person IN the Senate not even
the Senators who reported the bill will insist OF
AZ that soldier shall prove that ne Is a pauper
Enc that be shall be brought out Of the Door heig-t
with q rope around his neck and hauled lll9 beforC
justice OF tho peace IN order TO testify that he Is
pauper and Is therefore entitled 10 q pension,
presume nobody wants 10 heap indignity OF ina
kind upon Iaan who served his country.
This motion led TO long debate, and III,
Senate finally adjourned without action.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, Mr. Slater (Oreg
reported iayorably from the Committee OF
Public Lands the bill 20 forfeit the unearneC
lands Of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
pany.
Mr. Lapham IN. " submitted the report o
the Committee on Privileges and Elections OF
the Danville investigation.
Mr.. Vance ~. C. said he would need THU
week 70 prepare the minority report.
MI. Salisbury Dell submitted the minority
report on the Copiah county investigation.