The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-11
An Interesting Discussion In the Sem
ate on the Application OF It's
Rule to the Pension APP
preparations.
The House Talks About Several
Things, but Principally the
Postoface Appropriation.
FORrY-EIGHrH CONGRESS-.
The Senate.

Joint resolution, from the Legislature Of d.
kots, urging division OF the territory and
admission of its southern portion as State.
The Senate passed Sherman's joint resolu.
tion providing for the striking of medals to
commemorate the dedication of Washing.
tons monument.
Dir. voorhees, called up his bill 20 increase
the appropriation for the public building at
Fort Wayne from 500 900 to s175. 900, and
making $4,000 the amount immediately
available. Passed.
The consideration of the bill to prevent
unlawful occupancy of public lands was re-
sumed. This Is the bill known as the ''snti-
fencing BILL" 1t passed with slight amend.
ments
The Senate resolved to stand by its action
OF yesterday in regard to riders" on zen
eral appropriation bills.
Mr. Ingslls: Now, Mr. President. there ap-
pears to be some discrimination exercised by
the Committee on Appropriations in their
report upon the bill. Some of the general
legislation that came to us FROM the House
has been stricken out and other features of
that legislation they have allowed to stand.
am unable to see why, il the rule is to be
applied, Why IL should not be applied uni
formiy. Mr. ingalls, here pointed out some
features of the House bill which the Senate
Con mittee had allowed to remain IN
changed. and asked the Senator from Iowa
(Allisonl whether they were not general leg
lslation. Ore clause poin ted out by Mr..
Ingalls, was admitted by Allison to be OF that
character. but he (Allison for one had not
been willing to recommend that it be strick-
en- out. 1t was the clause providing that the
presumption OF soundnsss at the tine of en-
listment sboald operate now in the case of
applicants for pensions.
Mf. ingalls, supposed the reason why Mr..
Allison hat
valuable and necessary legislation.
Mr.. Allison said: Not that alone but tbs
Senate had already twice passed on the pro-
vision. Any Senator, however, could move
10 strike il out Mr.. Allison did not regard
the clause as change in the existing law.
Mr.. ingalls, said it was q change In the ex-
sting law, but not q change in the existing
practice of the Pension Office. OF course
after the Government had examined a man,
and declared him sound and accepted his
service, 1t would seem unjust It should
claim he was not sound at his enlistment.
IL would seem the Government ought to be
estopped from such claim Mr.. Ingalls, had
been informed at the Pension Office that the
law was practically interpreted that way,
but that discretion should be permitted to
the Pension Commissioner to cover special
and exceptional cases. IL seemed to Mr..
ingalls,, however, that the clause in ques-
tinn WIS general legislation.
Mr.. jackson moved to add to the bill
provision of the bill recently passed by the
Senate relating to the compensation, etc, of
Pension Attorneys, in the amendment
Mr.. ingalls, moved to strike out rs general
legislation the clause requiring that the
presumption of soundness shall operate, but
thst such presumption NAV be reb1tted.
Mr.. Sherman hoped IL wo1ld not be
stricken out IL would be physically impos.
sible, be said. for many deserving soldiers TO
prove that, after twenty years had elapsed,
tney were sound when they enlisted. We
should not carry on this farce about the
operation OF the Senate rule any farther;
we should not deny soldiers their rights
merely on the ground that an 'T' was not
dotted or "1'' crossed
Mr.. voorhees, strongly opposed the striking
cut OF the provlsloH. A meaner or more
contemplate spectacle. he taid, had never
been presented by the United States govern
ment when IL said TO soldier after its own
examination and acceptance of him, aud
after he had served aad suffered exposure,
resulting IN the long continued and wasting
diseases, or had been MANNED and crippled
IN the service OF his country that he must
now afirmatlyely prove his s0undness at
the time of his enlistment. a shocking in
stance, Voorhees, said, had lately come I'M
der his observation. During the late canvass,
little man had come to him with his pa
pers from ths pension office showing his
pension application bad been rejected be.
cause he wss not sound at the time Of mis- en-
iistment He had served three years aud half
IN the army. Observing on the lapel Of his
coat something looking nike silver dollar,
voorhees, WIS surprised that poor looking
man should nse silver dollars for orna-
ments On inquiry VOORHEES, found the CD
jet to be silver medal. The medal read:
Presented by the United States of America
TO Michael Torpey for distinguished and
conspicuous gallantry at EdEe6eld Junction,
Tenn, August %, 1868" This man, Grip
pied and warped with inhammatory rheu
matism contracted from lying on the ground,
bore q medal dearer to him than ever had
been the cross of the Legion of Honor to a
soldier Of Napoleon. That man, when en-
gagged IN difficult and dangerous task ex
posed to heavy fire, when ordered by his
commanding officer to retire or he would be
killed, had replied, what are We here for in
not to succeed or take our chances of death?'
let that soldier had in bis pocket letter
from the Pension Office notifying him that
he was not sound at the time of his enlist
ment and that he could have no pension.
After some further discussion Mr.. ingalls,
amendment was voted down by yeas 10 nays
A, Mr.. ingalls, himself veting in the mega
tive. The bill then passed substantially. as
u came from the Senate COMMITTEES, all
The legislation found on the bill as il came
from the House, relating to the compensa-
ton OF pension attorneys, etc, being struck
out, the Senate having already passed a
special bill containing these provisions.
1ne Dill now gees TO the House for concur
renee or non-concurrence in the Senates &C
ton in strikingout the provisions referred to.
The Senate then took up and resumed con.
sideration Of the House bill repeating the
presumption and timber culture laws.
After some debate the Senate adjourned.
Before adjournment Mr.. Butler presented
the credentials of the re election of Senator
Hampton.
The House.
The House met in continuation of Sstur-
1anla rosasor. "a 80