Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-09
FORTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS,
second Session.
sen ATE.
WASHINGTON. Feb

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.
me chalr laid before the Senate new az,
OF Credentials of the election of VIM. NJ
EVarts, senater-eiect from New York. rear
and filed Ae"e
JOINT resolution was passed acceptinc
tne oHer made to the government by VIM. II
vanderbilt and Mrs. Grant. of the swords
medals, bronzes and other articles of yalne
presented to Gen. Grant by various govern
u lnents OF the world, expressing the thanks OF
congress, and providing that the articles be
p'aceu IN charge OF the librarian of Congress
Inc JOINT resolution was read three time:
and passed
Mr.. Cameron of Pennsylvania called UT
the bill to authorize the retired list for pri.
Yates and non-commissioned officers of the
U. >. army who have served 80 wears OF
upward. The bill was passed.
Among the bills considered was one grant.
ing arrears of pensions to Mrs. Nancy B.
Leach of New Hampshire The report in
the case showed that the papers were made
out by the claimants attorney before the ex.
piratlon of the limit fixed by the arrears of
pensions act but they were mislaid in the
once OF the attorney, and through no fault OF
the claimant were not filed until the limit had
passed The pension was granted from the
time the papers were filed The bill was
passed.
The bill to increase the pension of the
widow of Maj. Gen. Geo. II. Thomas gave
rise to some discussion. The House bill
voted to give her $1,000 year The major
lty of the Senate committee recommen nded
only $1,000, but minority of that committee
voted for the larger amount. The Senate
committees amendment was NOT agreed to-
II to 21-and the bill as it came from the
House was passed without division. Hmade
the pension $1,000 a year.
MIR. Van Wyck moved an amendment to
one of the private pension bills providing
that all soldiers widows or minor children,
who, by the existing law are or may become
entitled to S8 month, shall in the future
receive Sl2.
Mr.. Van Wyck explained that the provis-
ion was the same as that which the Senate
has put in the Mexican pension bill. There
seems To be no other chance, he said, to get
justice done to a large number of deserving
people who were now receiving the pittance
of So a mouth.
Mr.. Blair thought the amendment might
defeat the Mexican pension bill.
Mr.. Van Wyck said it was already sub
stantialy defeated. Neither Mexican SOL
diers nor any others would receive anything
from the House before the 4th of March.
Mr.. Van Wyck's amendment was agreed
to--34 to ~.
Those voting 10 the negative were Messrs.
Bayard, Buck, Chase, Cockrell. Coke, Fair,
Harris, Maxey, Morgan, Riddleberger, Savls-
bury and Vest.
Mr.. Mitchell moved to add to the bill
further provision of the Mexican pension bill,
namely: First, that in considering cases of
dependent parents, it shall be sufficient 10
hnv hat thnr
means of comfortable support than their own
manual labor or contribution from persons
not legally bound for their support, I'd that
proof that the applicant was regularly mus
tered into the service, shall be presump-
tive evidence of soundness at the time, but
subject to rebuttal; and third that no person
shall be entitled to more than one pension at
time unless specially declared by the act of
Congress.
These amendments were agreed to.
Those voting in the negative were Messrs.
Bayard, Beck, Coke, Colquitt, Fair. Gar
land, Hampton. Harris, jackson, Maxey,
Morgan. Riddleberger, Salisbury, Slater,
Vest
Mr. Blair moved to add to the bill further
provision of the Mexican pension bill, namely:
That any soldier who served three months in
the war of the rebellion, and was now dis
abled but not by his own gross carelessness
or vicious habits, should be entitled to pen
sion; lost.
The chair named Messrs. Hoar and Pen
dleton as tellers on the part of the Senate in
the count of the electoral vote Wednesday
next
Mr. Jones of Florida presented the creden-
tails of the reelection of Senator Call; filed
On motion of Mr.. Plumb, the Senate then
took up the District of Columbia appropria-
ton BILL which after some amendment of
detail was passed
After a brief executive session the Senate
adjourned.