The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-09
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
THE SENATE.
Routine Business and Consideration of Pri-
yate Pension Bills.

Routine Business aud Consideration Of Pri-
yate Pension Bills.
WASHINGTON, Feb. THE Chair laid before
the Senate new set of credentials for William
NJ Evarts senator-elect from New York, which
were read and filed
Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin, presented joint
resolution of the Legislature of Wisconsin urg-
ing Congress to purchase the Sturgeon Bay s.
Lake Michigan Canal; also, joint resolution re-
lating to the purchase of the Portage Lake
canal
Mr. Sherman, from the committee on library,
reported joint resolution, which was passed.
accepting the offer made the government by
William FL. Vanderbilt and Mrs. Grant Of the
swords, medals, bronzes, paintings and other
articles of value presented General U. S.
Grant by various governments as to-
kens of appreciation Of his illus
The resolution expresses the thanks of Congress
to Mr.. Vanderbilt and Mrs. Grant, and provides
that the articles be placed in. the charge of the
librarian Of Congress and the Secretary Of War
for safe keeping until a proper repository may
be provided for them in the congressional
library
The Chair was authorized toappoint two telers
to act on the part of the Senate on the occasion
of the count of the presidential vote, Feb IL.
Mr.. Cameron, of Pennsylvania, called up the
bill to authorize a retired list for privates and
noncommissioned officers of the United States
army who have served thirty years Or upward.
After debate the bill was passed-yeas 81, nays
5-the nays being Messrs Coke, Coiquitt, Har-
ris. Salisbury and Vest.
Private pension bills already favorably re-
ported and on the calendar were then taken up.
Several private bills were passed, among them
one granting pension to Margaret G. Halpin.
The bill to increase the pension of the widow
of Major general George Fl. Thomas gave rise to
some discussion. The House bill would give her
So coo year, while majority of the Senate
committee recommends only $1,000, but q mi
nority of the committee favors larger amount
The discussion was participated In by Messrs
Cullom, Blair. Platt, Cockrell, Mitchell, Plumb
and Miller of California.
The Senate committees amendment was not
agreed to-yeas II, nays 27-and the bill as it
came from the House was passed without divis-
ion. 1t makes the pension So, 900 year.
Mr. Van Wyck moved an amendment t. one
of the private pension bills, providing that all
soldiers widows or minor children who, by ex-
listing law, or may become entitled to So per
month, shall in future receive $l2 He explained
that the provision was the same as that which
the Senate had put in the Mexican pension bills.
There seemed to be no other chance, Mr.. Van
Wyck said, to get justice done to a large number
of deserving people who were now receiving pit
tances of So per month.
Mr.. Blair thought the amendment might de-
feat the Mexican BILL
Mr.. Van Wyck said it was already substan-
TALLY defeated; neither Mexican soldiers nor any
others would receive anything from the House
before the 4th of March.
Mr.. VanWyck's amendment was agreed to
were Messrs Bayard, Beck. Chace Cockrell,
Coke, Fair. Harris, Maxey, Morgan, heidelberg
er, Salisbury and Vest
Mr.. Mitchell moved to add to the bill the
further provisions of the Mexican pension bill,
viz: first, that in considering cases of dependent
parents it shall be sufficient to show that such
parents are without other means of comfortable
support than their own manual labor contri-
buttons from persons not legally bound for their
support second. that proof that the applicant
was regularly mustered into the service shall be
presumptive evidence of his soundness
at the time, but subject to rebuttal,
and, third, that person shall be
entitled to more than one pension at a time IN
less specially declared by act of Congress. These
amendments were agreed to-yeas 80, nays II.
Those voting in the negative were Messrs Bay
ard Beck. Call, Cockrell. Coke. Colquitt. Fair,
Garland Hampton. Harris, jackson, Maxey.
Morgan, Riddleberger, Salisbury. Slater and
Vest.
Consideration of private pension bills was then
concluded
The chair named Messrs. Hoar and Pendleton
as tellers on the part of the Senate to count the
electoral vote on Wednesday next.
Mr.. Jones, of Florida. presented the creden-
tials of the reelection of Senator Call and they
were filed.
The Senate then took up the District of Co
lumbia appropriation bill, which, after some
amendments of detail, was passed.
Mr. Hampton called upon the bill to restore
Tenedore Teneyck to his rank in the army and
place him on the retired list and it was passed
1t does not include pay for the term he has been
out of the army.
After an executive session, the Senate ad-
journed.