The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-07
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.
Passage Of Bill Reducing Fees OF Pension
Agents to Ten Dollars.


Agents to Ten Dollars.
WASHINGTON, Feb 6.-The Chair laid before
the Senate the credentials of the reelection CT
Senator ingalls,; also, letter from the Secretary
of the Treasury recommending, on the basis of
the reports of the Supervising Architect of the
Treasury, that the limit of the appropriation
for erection of a public building at Louisville,
KY, be increased to ST. 500 000 ALSO letter from
the Postmaster-general explaining that the
erasure in document sent to the Senate, relat-
ing to the history of the railway mail service had
been made in final revision, and before sigma
ture. 1t had been reported by the general super
intendent of that service that the reason the mat
ter was erased was that it contained an inference
which it was believed best to permit readers to
make for themselves all the facts upon which it
was based being fully set forth in the document
The Postmaster general adds that fair copy of
the document was not made because ofpressure
of time and expense that would be involved
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Sewell calling
on the Secretary of War to report to the Senate
whether any plans or preparations had been
made by the engineers corps of the army or by
the War Department for defending the harbors
on our sea coast and lakes by torpedoes or other
wise, in case of a sudden war with any foreign
power, and if torpedo stations had been estab-
llshed or are contemplated by such defense.
Referred.
Mr.. ingalls,, according to notice given yester-
day, moved an amendment to the Senate rule
that prohibits general legislation on appropria-
ton bills, the amendment being to permit such
legislation as may be germane and relevant to
the subject matter of the bill.
After long debate Mr.. Ingallss motion was
referred to the committee on rules The debate
was participated in by Messrs. Harris Hall,
Beck. Bayard Frye, Ingalls,, Harrison. Sher-
man, Platte, Dawes, Hoar, Allison, Hawley.
Cockerell and Lapham. In the course of his re-
marks Mr.. CockereI alluded to newspaper re-
ports to the effect that$2, 800 had been paid one
eminent attorney in Washington and 81, 900 toan-
other. to get certain pension legislation through
Congress The legislation had been secured,
but Mr. Cockerel said he intended no reflection
on the conference committee that was primarily
responsible for having this legislation passed, as
he, (Mr. Cockerell) believed the committee acted
on its sense of duty, with tho best information
its members could get
Mr.. Hawley said bin could be passed in half an
hour repeating such legislation, and thereupon
Mr.. Jackson called up the bill already on tho
calendar relating to fees to pension claim agents
and attorneys The bill was taken up. but Mr..
Palmer asked and received unanimous consent to
lay it temporarily aside, to allow his delivering
some remarks on the woman suffrage constitu-
tional amendment. The decision to take up the
pension agents bill also temporarily postponed
the antlsllver coinage bill
Mr.. Palmer, of Michigan, then addressed the
Senate in support of the proposed amendment
1t was agreed that the Senate shall meet at Ii
A. NJ. on and after Monday next
The bill TO regulate fees of pension agents and
attorneys was then taken up.
MIR. Beck said that in 1884, the pension agents
wanted their fees increased to $50, but both
houses of Congress declined to increase them;
yet in a conference committee the fees were in
creased.
Mr. Allison said it was mistake as to the con-
ference committee to say that; as he Mr.. ALI
SOM understood the matter, the Pension Com
missioner and the Secretary Of the Interior re-
commended or approved the legislation referred
to-
Mr.. Beck said these officers had no business to
recommend measures after both houses of
Congress had distinctly declined to pass them.
When the conference committee, by that act,
opened up all cases between 1878 and 1884, they
were taaing out of the pockets of pension
ers, So 1913, $50 Ton 238 $50 claims then pending)
and if the 1879 cases that had been
rejected but were still kbeing pressed, should be
restored, which was not impossible, there would
be further sum which that bill would allow to
be squeezed out of pensioners, amounting to
So, 080 600, making total of S.. GA 695 of which
pensioners were robbed The pension attorneys
had agreed to do the work for so, and most of
the contracts requiring $25 were fraudulent and
made under duress.
After further discussion, the bill was passed
without division.
The consular and diplomatic bin was then called
up and passed.
The Chair then laid before the Senate the
action the Senate went into executive session,
and when the doors were reopened adjourned,
leaving that bill as unfinished business for
tomorrow