St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-15
NATIONAL LEGISLATION.
The Bill to Place Gen. Grant on
the Retired List Passed by
the Senate.
Again the Interstate Commerce Bill
is Discussed in the Senate With
out Final Action.
The Chinese Indemnity Fund Bill. for the
Conversion Of the Fund into Coin,
Passed by the House.
FoRTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
The Senate.


The Senate
| WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-In the senate
on appropriations, pursuant to recommen da'
ton Of the president, reported the bill which
passed providing for the compensation and
expenses of the special electoral messenger
to be sent to Iowa and Oregon for the returns
of the late presidential elections of those
! states.
Senator CockrelI asked why such bill was
necessary.
| Senator Allison said the returns were not
here, and the laws require in such case that
a messenger should be sent.
Senator Cockrell suggested copy of the
laws be sent to Iowa and Oregon instead Of
messengers at great expense.
Senator Dolph explained the snow block
ade on the Northern Pacific was partially re-
sponsible for the failure to receive the Ore
gon returns. The copy sent by messenger
1 had been received.
Senator Edmunds, calling Senator Frye tc
the chair, took the floor and called up the
bill yesterday offered by him providing the
president may appoint to the retired list one
person who has occupied the position of gen.
era "a commandinff any of the armies of the
| United States army. He moved TO amend
it by adding with rank and full pay such gen.
ersl or general-in-chief, as the case may be.
The amendment was agreed to.
Senator Cockrell desired tc record his vote
| against the bill, not knowing whether the
| yeas and nays would be called on it. The
retired list was not the place for q private
citizen. 1t had been created for officers who
being still in service had been rendered unfit
! for duty. There was neither justice nor pro-
priety in placing private citizens on such list.
| Gen. Grant was now enjoying the receipt of
| Sl5, ZOO year, which was enough for the
support Of any American citizen.
Senator Edmunds said he concurred in the
general principle laid down by Senator
Cockrell as to the retired list, and that it was
not the place for private citizens. He, Ed
munds, was on that point a Democrat OF
| Democrats, but as senator and citizen he
was glad Of the opportunity to ask the passage
of this bill Gen. Grant had served his country
! faithfully and gallantly in the Mexican war
while young lieutenant. He became gen.
eral of the armies Of the United States on the
occasion Of considerable importance and in
| terest. Edmunds was stating IL mildly in or
der not TO excite the temperaments of any
body on the other side of the chamber. Cen.
Grant has been removed from the office OF
general OF the armies of the United States,
from which be would have been retired whe o
he reached the proper age, and put on this
very list TO assume again the comm an
of the armies OF the United States as COM
nander In chief under its constitution. He
had not sought II. He had obeyed the call
duty. That removed him from a technical
place he had held In the army TO a higher
place as constitutional commander OF the
United States under the law. When his
term expired he became a private ctiz n.
In that state Of the case, and under circum-
stances which all knew, and in view OF the
honor, respect, gratitude and duty we owe
him as ''Primus in Illustrius'' history of
this country. Edmunds would be glad to
have q unanimous vote for the bill.
Senator Maxey had heretofore opposed ef-
forts Of this character, being opposed 10 plac-
ing private citizens on the retired list, but
the circumstances Of this case we're excep-
tioual. As a southern man who had opposed
not but recognize that when the supreme
hour came To the southern states, when they
had to yield up all save thsir honor, no man
had ever acted with more magnanimity and
generosity than Ulysses $. Grant did at Ap-
pomattox. Not only did Senator Msxey re-
member that fact, but the people among
whom he lived remembered II, and be did not
believe there vas to-day q man in
the south who would begrudge a
reasonable and fair support for Gen. Grant
in his declining years. Senator Msxey added
he had known Gen. Grant forty years, aud
believed bis recent troubles entirely from
Gen. Grants supreme confidence in his
friends.
Senator Gibson said that while the form Of
the bill might not commend itself to his
judgment. its subject did. lie sympathized
with the people of the country who desired
10 testify their appreciation Of Gen. Grants
service. As senator from Louisiana he
feh II incumbent upon him TO vote for the
bill to show the good will and sympathy Of
that state for Gen Grant.
Senator George said he was here as
senator from Mississippi in the restored
Union. on being com missioned by his peo-
pie to come here. he had made a covenant
with himself that in his votes in the senate
90 all questions that did not affect the honor
Of his people, he would vote exactly as IL he
| had worn me federal instead OF the eonfed-
rrate uuifuun. He believed the people de-
sired the passage Of TIE proposed measure.
Senator Jouas said be hsd opposed sim
! ilaE messuse when proposed some years ago.
/ because bfshad not approved certain acts of
Gens GrAuts administration, aud because
Cieuy Cant fiid not then need aid. Under
the prsseut circumstances Of the general,
however, be favored the bill.
senator voorhees, said Senator Cockrelrs
reference to Gen. Grants income might
create 4 misapprehension in the popular
mind. When the guaranteed term should
! xpire six years hence, the investment Of the
iund would be Of little value. Senator Yoor-
1ees added II be As q southern man be
would strongly favor this measure.
He recalled the fact that Secretary
Stanton wanted TO arrest and
I'M mprisou Gen. Robert z. Lee after the sur
render Of AppomaiiOI, and Gen. Grant told
stanton that Lee was lis fGrsRt's} parOled
prisoner and not a hair Of his head should be
nolested. De remembered also Grants fear
less acknowledgement Of his error In the
Fitz John Porter matter.
The bin then passed. .yeas 40. navs 9.
The nsys were Beck. COckrell, Coke,
Harris. Peudleton, salisbury, Slater, Vance
and Walker.
senator CulloJn introduced bin 70 in
crease the appropriation FOR the public build
ing al Quincy, H., from Sl75.0 900 to s30O. 900.
TIE ssnste, upon motion Of Senator Hale,
took up the naval appropriation bill- The
senate appropriation e0mmittee's amend
ments Esre eoncurred in and the bill passed.
Senator Morgan asked unanimous consent
70 cal up TIE btu declaring The forfeiture Of
lands granted the state Of Michigan in aid
Of the construction OF the road from
Little Bay TO Marquette and ontOuAgon.
Granted.
he moved the bin Be recomnitted. He