Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-26
THE NATIONS LEGISLATORS,
Logan Vents His Spleen On Fitz.John
Porter In tho Debate ON the
Pension Bill.
Representative HcMillan, Of Texas,
Speaks In the House in Favor
Of the Silver Dollar.
ABusy, Day. For the President In
ve4sfng and Affirming Pension
e. Bills.

l VAonANoION, June ZOs@10e Cna1f lal0
before the Senate t~elegraphic memorial
from the Portland, Oregon, Board of Trade
in opposition to Mr.. Van Wycke's amend
ment to the Northern Pacific Forfeiture
bill as passed by the Senate. The petition
said that with that amendment to the
bill it will make it impossible for the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company to
secure capital wherewith to complete the
Cascade branch, and that that branch is
necessary to the commerce OF. the North
west. The amendment referred to is that
which forfeits lands coterminus with the
u~nearnet portion of the Cascade branch.
The bill having been passed, the petition
was laid on tho table.
The Senate then took up the Fitz John
Porter bill, and Mr.. Logan addressed the
Senate
Mr.. Il gan opened with an objection to
the bill on constitutional points. The bill,
he said provided for an increase in the
number OF pensions on the retired list of
the army. Provided the President ap-
pointed a certain person to the place, if he
could not name that special applicant a
vacancy was not to exist. Where did the
Senate get the power to name to the Presi-
dent the person whom he should appoint
to al office? Where did the House of
Representatives get any power to name to
the President the person whom he should
nominate to an Office? OF course. if the
Senators were determined to ram
the bill down the threats of others,
they must take the responsibility.
He did not expect his words to
have any weight in the Senate, for he al
ways noticed that when the Senate de-
terminsd to do a thing. it turned a deaf
ear to everything elese, whether law or fact,
that interfered with it's purpose. This case
was not a trial of Porter. Porter had
been tried and condemned. This was q
trial of Abraham Lincoln, James A. Gar
Geld, and OF many brave and distinguished
officers of the army. Mr.. Logan asserted
that Porter was the cause Of the first Bull
Run defeat by ~persuading Patterson to re-
"As God is my Judge" he said, Il would
stand: over the dust Of Lincoln and
swear: by all the gods to his act as
being an honest and just one." Mr..
Logan had pride in the army and it's glory,
and before he would drag into the dust the
name Of Abraham Lincoln for the sake
of this criminal. he would let his tongue
and his arm become palsied. Yet Republic
car Senators here were willing to vote to
give $4,000 to q man who was q traitor 20
his commander. So, if men wanted to be
paid. literally by the United States they
had only to be treacherous when they
should be true. II you are true when you
THAT" said Logan, "is a strange thing
to take place in this country" Mr..
Plumb, in opposing the bill, said
the reinstatement OF power was beginning |
Of an attempt to rewrite the history of the
Uni N army to put that which WAS dis |
and unfaithfui above that which was
and faithful. He said he had just
been informed that the President had ve-
toed the bill giving q pension OF $50 per
to the widow Of Major General
who had been the presiding officer
Of the court martial that had tried Porter. |
That seemed a fitting acc impairment for
the passage OF the Porter bill, but the loyal
ut the country should see to it that |
Hunter should not suffer. Mr.. Plumb
2ifered an amendment to place Mrs:
on the pension roll at $50
per month. Lost, yeas-19; nays-29.
Logan offered an amendment to place
IN the retired list every volunteer officer
who received wounds producing total disa-
oility. Rejected. The bill WAS then brought
20 a vote and passed-yeas 80, nays II.
The bill having already passed the House,
md not having been amended by the Sem
tie, it now goes to the President for his
,ignature.
Mr.. Plumb called up the House bill to
for the adjustment OF the land
made by Congress to aid in the con-
Of railroads within the State of
Kansas and for the forfeiture of unearned
ands.
The Senate then adjourned until Mon
lay.