The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-06-26
.D0INGS OF CONGRESS.
The Amended Mexican Pension Bill
Passes the Senate.

Democratic. THE bill provides that the law
full husband or wife may be compelled to testify
in prosecutions for bigamy, polygamy or UNI
lawful cehabitation. Every marriage ceremony
in any Territory shall be certified in writing,
signed by the parties and the person perform
ing the ceremony, and shall be recorded. Vio-
lation of this provision is punishable by fine
of not more than s., 900 or imprisonment for not
more than two years, or both. Women shall
not be entitled to vote in Utah. All laws con-
ferring rights ofinheritance on Legitimate chill
dren are annulled. Prosecutions for adultery
may be instituted as prosecutions for other
crimes. The President is authorized to appoint
fourteen trustees of the corporation known as
the Church of Latter-Day Saints, who shall
make an annual report as to its property, busl-
ness affairs, &c. All laws relating to the Per-
petual Emigrating Fund Company are annulled,
and the Utah Legislature is forbidden to create
or recognize any corporation for the bringing
of persons into the Territory for any purpose
whatever. The Acknowledgement is directed
to bring suit for the dissolution of the emigra-
ton company, its property to escheat to the
United States The punishment for adultery
is fixed at imprisonment in the penitentiary
for not more than three years.
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Thursday, the bill to equal
iZe the rank of graduates of the Naval Academy
upon their assignment to the various corps was
read third time and passed. 1t provides that
graduates of the Naval Academy assigned tothe
line of the navy, on the successful completion
of the six years course, shall be commissioned
ensigns of the navy, and the grade of Junior
ensign is abolished, the persons now being
junior ensigns to be commissioned ensigns
The Mexican pension bill was then taken up,
the question being on the adoption of the
arrears or pension amendment offered by Mr..
ingalls, (kan.) to that of Mr. Van Wyck's
ah \ m brq ri thp nf n
bill. Mr.. ingalls, asked leave to modify his
amendment SO as to make October l, 1854, the
date prior to which claims must be filed in
order to entitle the claimants to arrears of
pension, and so as to provide that in the adj
Indication of claims to arrears no distinction of
rank shall be made.
A discussion then arose as the propriety of
adopting the amendment in its modified form.
Mr.. Voorhees, (Dem. Ind.) called attention
to the fact that if the amendment in its present
shape were adopted, statute of Limitation
would again be operative after October 1, 1885,
and he therefore moved that the limitation
clause be entirely stricken out.
In reply Mr.. ingalls, said that he agreed with
Dir. Voorhees, as to the injustice of limiting
the time within which applications could be
made under the arrears law, but he had done so
as compromise and for the purpose of getting
the votes of Senators who would not support it
if it contained no such Limitation. The act Of
June 25, 1879, had been compromise, as was
this, and if he could not obtain the whole loaf
for our deserving veterans he would take a
crumb. With regard TO the estimation of the
J Commissioner of Pensions that this legislation
would cost $246.000, 000 he declared that he
did not propose TO be misled by estimates con-
fessedly conjectural, and even if it cost $780,
100000 it would require five or six years to dis
burse it through the Pension Office so that the
annual cost would only be forty or fifty mil
lions additional.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, ON Friday, among the bills
passed was that granting pensions to the Mitch
ell raiders [the heroes of Capturing Loco
motive at the rate of $24 per month. Dis
eussion of the Mexican pension bill was then
resumed, the pending amendment being that
offered by Mr.. Voorhees, (Ind) to strike out of
the amendment proposed by Mr.. ingalls, in
regard to arrears of pension the provision that
application must be made not later than Octo-
Der L, 1884. On a vote being taken it was de-
feated-yeas IL, nays a.
The question then required on the amend
ment offered by Van Wyck (Neb) to the In
gals arrears amendment, that in granting pen
sions hereafter no distinction of rank shall be
made. On vote being taken this amendment
was also rejected, yeas 81, nays %.
Pending vote on the ingalls, amendment
extending the time limit Of fling claims under
ing that in the adjudication of claims for ar
rears no distinction shall be made between
claimants on account of rank, the Senate adj
journed.
SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the Senate, on Saturday, there was a fierce
debate over the disposition of the House bill
amending the Thurman act relating to the
Pacific Railroads. Mr.. Van Wyck (Neb.) de-
sired it referred to the Committee on Railroads
rather than the judiciary committee, but in
consideration of the declarations by Senators
Hoar tMass.) and Garland (Ark.l that there
would be no disposition on the part of the COM
rnittee to delay action, finally withdrew his
motion, and it was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary.
On the suggestion of Mr. Plumb Kan sup
ported by Mr. Sherman or Mr. Cullom TILL
consented to allow the Mexican pension bill to
go over until Monday in order to take up the
army appropriation bill, the consideration of
which was at once proceeded with. The bill
was passed without giving rise to debate and
substantially as recommended by the Commit
tee on Appropriations. The committee of con-
ference On the shipping bill submitted its re-
| port, winch was agreed to. On motion of Mr.
Coke (Tex.). the House bill granting right of
way through the Indian Territory to the Gulf
OF Colorado and Santa IS Railway COMPANY
was read third time, and after being amended
was passed.
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
| In the Senate, on Monday resolution pro-
| posed by Mr.. Hale (1Ie.) directing the Com
mittee on the Expenditure of Public Moneys to
investigate the recent defalcations in some /"
OF the Departments was adopted after being
amended on motion Of Mr.. Mcpherson On. u
SO as to require an investigation of the system
OF making disbursements and purchasing sup
plies in all Departments
Mir. Garland Ark from the Committee on
the Judiciary, reported, and the Senate read a
| third time and passed bill comforting on all
Senator's and members of Congress authority
to administer oaths in matters pending before
| Congress.
| The Mexican pensions bill was then taken up
and Its consideration proceeded with.
The pending question was On the amendment
OF MIR. ingalls, (Kan.) dating pensions of Union
soldiers from date of discharge or disability.
and extending TO October l. 1884 the Iimita-
ton of time TO file applications for arrears of
pensions.
Mr.. Sherman (O.) opposed the amendment,
and declared that soldier who for twenty
years waived his right to pension, either be-
cause he did not desire it, or was too proud to
claim it, had no legal or even moral or eauita-
! BILE right now TO embarrass his Government
On vote being taken, the amendment was
rejected-yeas 26, nays 80.
The yeas were as follows:
| Allison. Blair, Bowen, Cameron (Wis) Conger.
Cullom, Dawes, Dolph, Frye, Hale Harrison In,
gals Lapham, Logan Mcmillan, Malone, Man
derson, Miller Call, Miller IN. W, Mitchell.
Palmer Pike, Plumb, Sawyer, Van WICK and