New-York tribune., 1886-01-08
PENSION OFFICE INVESTIGATION
MON QUESTION.

PENSION OFFICE INVESTIGATION.
| ITS LATE ADMINIsTRA on THE NOR
MON QUESTION.
| WASHINGTON, Jan. Tn the Senate to-day
Mr. Voorhees, offered a substitute for Mr.. Harrison
resolution regarding the late administration OF the PEN
sion office. Tho Commissioner OF Pensions IN his annual
report dated November Is 1885, stated and alleged that
eat one time the Pension Bureau all but avowedly
q political machine intending thereby said Mr.. NOor-
hees, that the Pension Bureau methodcaly en-
poycd for partisan purposes and has In support OF his
allegation, stated that the bureau filed from
border border with unconprJmsing adhercnts OF a
single organization-mc the Republican party
who had for the claimants other than those Of the
law and who often required In addition to services In
the hed-that to say In the military or naval service
OF the United states-that applicants for pensions
should and support said party considera-
tOn in addition to the dertions required by law
before sad pensions should ISSUE The resolution is as
follows:
Resolccd. That the Committee on Expenditures Of Pub
lie Money hereby directed To inquire INTO the truth 9"
tine allegation and OF each specification hereunder and
to report the facts to the senate. The commitee Is
authorized to semi for persons ard papers and to employ
stcnorrapher and Il hereby directed TO advance the
witness fees and the expenses incident upon such invcs
tgatiOn from the contingent fund of the Senate.
Resored further Tbat the committee be also directed
TO inquire the manner In which the Pension Ohicc
has been condncfed and administered by present
Commissioner OF Pensions and TO report the facts TO the
Senate.
Mr. Logan said no had no:hing say about tho pres
Commissioner OF Pensions Dut ne IhOught the hub
jcct OF removals by the present Administration should
also be looked into r cited the fact that Colonel Fred
Stephenson gallant soldier. who mad been shot through
the body four times. had been discharged MI Logan
moved To amend Mr. Voorhees, resolution 10 cover
the OF the present administration OF tho Pension
Office The discharge OF Colonel Stephenson. according
the Senator's Information. had been brought about
by the insistcnce OF member OF Congress from Colonel
scphcnson's district Colonel ste phenson having voted
for that grntiemans opponent, who was Democratic
=, dier. The country. Mr.. Logan said. should know
whether members of Congress were endeavonng 10
secure the discharge OF solders from the departments
Mr. VOORHEES, had objection to the investigation be
ing made as broad anybody desired. lie said that tho
present Administration would be able TO make show
ing would prove satisfactory 10 any fairninded sol
der General Black he said. would not shrink from tbo
yerest scrutiny OF his " II do show" added
Nj Voorhees, "that he has taken better care Of tho
soldier than his predecessor. We will stand the
condemnation Of the country Mr. voorhees, expressed
his willingness that tho amendment suggested by Mr..
Logan be agreed to- The resolution thou went
day under the rule.
when tho Utah bill was called up Mr. Morgan ad-
dressed the senale in support Of amendment offered
by him providing for the disposal of tue property Of the
Mormon Church according the rules aud principles Of
the law rs In the case OF the dissolution Of
corporation. lie felt, he sad. that the Government
ought to strike tho Mormon Church Organization
out Of existence. Mr. Call diI not be
stroy the religious establishment OF tho Mormons
lie inquired what would be thought OF Congress II Il
should undertake 10 administer, by trustees or other
WISE the property Hnd temporal hn irs OF Tor example
the Roman Catholic Church. lieopposed the bill.
Mr Morgan did not ferl that tho senate was dealing
with an 'esablishIneht OF religion. II might pass
Religion IN Chiui or In the Valley OF tue Congo.
Here, IT establishment not Of religion but OF
vice Mr.. Culiom would prefer to abolish altosrther the
legislative power Of the Territory OF Utah. and thought
that day would have to done the bil how
ever. best that could be got at this time. he
would for IT. SIR. Teller said that he as anG
amy fIFnu ufed
to SEQ II done under the form form and
sGs5 III, OS c law sG GoOr authority IN It tie tS enable
the Government TO complete the end IN view In this
matter, but for fifteen years years tho Goyeroment had
law. lie regarded Joseph Smith nrrant knave
must be wiped out lie thought the Utah Commission |
showed great Improvement among the Mormons. |
when stated that the before last there had been
over 400 plural marriages, while last year there had
Mr. Culom inquired whether Mr.. Teller would favor
commission for thc government OF Utah. Mr. Teller ro
legislative authority and vest that authority In
Congress. He believed the great maSS or the MJrmon7
to he stepped in fanacism. yet II must not be forget
thar 200, 900 900 people believed In Mahommetansm.
Mr. Cullon remarked that tho Senator from Colorado
through SIR. Teller replied that he knew he had taken
some risk In undertaking TO defend ho constitutional
the Senator putting the people who we're not Mormons
always on The defensive. There must be something
other people and that had boon sent away from every
place IN which they had undertaken tove
Considerable debate ensued To the legal effect OF the
provisions relating to the testimony to bc by
bands wives. and amendments OF detail
made but Mr. Mprgans amendment was lost, rs also !
were amendments offered by Mr. Brown. as to
which that certain portions OF the act shOdld apply
cqnally 10 Gcntiles aud MOrmons Mr. Edmunds eY-
claimed I'm low voice: "Oh don't put any such prOvi
sion that into statute OF the United satos Laugh
ter
Al GIT on motion OF Mr. Harris. without concud log
the consideration OF the bill, the Senate adjourned.
BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE
In the House. Immediately after the reading Of the
Journal the call OF States resumed and the follow
ing bills aud resolutions introduced and referred:
by Mr. GoG, Of West Yirgina-ro repeal tho internal
revenue tobacco by Mr.. Price, OF Wlsconsn-F T
the creation of a commission on the subject OF the alco
holc liquor traffic. BY Mr. Clifford OF Dakota-For the
admission OF the OF Dakota. by Mr. Voorhees,. OF
Washington TerroryFor the admission OF the State OF
Washington BY Mr. Pulitzer OF New Yorh-ProvIding
for the appointment Of Board Of Commissioners for
New York larbOr. BY Mr. Symen, OF Coorado-FOr the
Unlimited coinage 1f the silver dollar. BY Mr. DunhaD
OF InOis-TO establish department OF commerce. BY
Mr. Anderson, kausas-IO prevent unjust di~Crlmna
ons Ivy railroad companies. aud TO subject thcm TO the
control states; also prohibiting the OF railroad
Congress aud the Judiciary; also, 10 create tho postal
telegraph OF the United ates.
Al $50 the House adjourned until Monday.
FOURTH.CLASS POSrMASTERS.
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE Postmaster-Gen-
fha