The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-24
THEF0RTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
TheSenate Passes theBill Appropriating
$250,000 for Grant Monument.
Another Debate on the Education Bill, in the
Course of Which Mr.. Plumb Violently OPP
poses the Proposed Appropriation.

the Senate calendar, was one by Mr.. Van WycE,
from the committee on public lands, to connrm
entries of public lands made under the pubic
land laws of the United States.
Among bills introduced and appropriately re-
ferred, was one by Mr. Edmunds to facilitate the
administration of the laws in Alaska Mr. Ed
munds explained that persons appointed to Office
in Alaska could not give bond in that Territory
and the bill was intended to enable such persons
to give bond in the States from which appointed
Mr. Morgan offered preamble and resolution,
which, at his request was ordered printed and
laid on the table for the present The purpose
OF the preamble and resolution is to show that
the Senate Judiciary committee has not the au-
thority TO arraien the Attorney general. as it did
in its recent report and accompanying resolu-
tons in regard to the refusal of the Attorney
general to transmit to the committee certain pa
pers in regard to the removal of an officer, which
had been asked for by the committee. The pre-
amble says, referring to the recent judiciary
committee resolution: "If said resolution is
adopted as being true upon the facts, and as
matter of law. it will thereby announce the pre-
judgment of majority Of this body. without
any trial according to law, that the Attorney
general of the United States is guilty of and con-
demned for wilfully committing an offense in the
conduct Of his Office, which is in violation Of his
official duty, and is subversive of the fundamen-
tai principles of the government of the United
States; the Attorney general, If he has in fact
wilfully committed any offense that is in viola
ton Of his official duty and is subversive of the
fundamental principles Of the government of the
United States. is only amenable to the condemna
q Al. II - E
with the Chief justice Of the United States as q
court of impeachment. to hear aud decide upon
articles of impeachment presented by the House
OF Representatives.
Mr.. Dolph, from the committee on public
lands, reported a resolution calling on the Sec
rotary OF the Interior for full information con-
corning the selection, surveying and patenting
the lands given in aid of the construction of the
Northern Pacific railroad. The resolution was
agreed to.
Mr. Hoar called up the bill appropriating
$3.50 600 for the erection Of a monument in
Washington city to the memory of General
Grant
Mr.. Plumb thought the bill ought not to pass
lie was sure he voiced the wish of the great sol
der whose fame the proposed monument would
commemorate, when he Mr. Plumb said that
no such monument was necessary. No monu-
ment had been erected, or thought necessary, to
the memory of Lincoln. General CRAFTS fame
aid not depend on monuments The feeling for
lasting than any monument could witness A
monument would be idle as n testimonial of the
Nations love and regard for General Grant 1t
had come to be too much thought that the ex-
penditure of money was the best way to show
regard for the distinguished dead Mr.. Plumb
thought the widows Of the men whom General
Grant commanded. and who made Donelson
Vieksburg the Wilderness and Appomattox
memorable, we're entitled to the grateful and mr.
gent considerations of the government, yet
though the war had closed for more than twenty
years, we did not find Senators urging the Sen
ate to set aside all other business in order to pass
bills granting them pittance of q pension.
Mr. Hear was sure Mr.. Plumb was as sincere
% any body in his respect for the great memory
which it was proposed to commemorate but.
Mr.. Hoar said, all civilized nations honor their
great leaders by the erection of monuments.
Mr. Hoar briefly but warmly eulogized the Nom
CRY of Grant This bill, Mr. Hoar said, had the
support of our most distinguished volunteer sol
der (aluding to General Logan)
Mr.. Blair thought the amount provided by the
bill too small for the purpose intended. He re-
GREETED that Congress had not yet seen proper to
erect fitting monument to the memory of
Abraham Lincoln, and characterized the Lin
coin monument erected in Washington as not
worth S25 as work OF art
The bill was passed, Mr.. Hoar saying that tho
committee on library would consider the matter
Of an appropriate monument to the memory OF
Lincoln.
On going to the calendar. among the bills post
poRed to O later day was found the woman suf-
frage constitutional amendment, Mr.. Blair say
ing that. although it was very important meas
ure it could not be discussed under the i've
minute rule.
The educational bill was placed before the
Senate, and Mr. Gray took the floor in opposi-
ton to the bill. taking the ground
that education in the States was not only
wholly outside of the jurisdiction Of the United
States government, but exclusively in that of the
several States. In conclusion Mr.. Gray said:
II trust it may not be considered presumption
In me if advise the older and wiser Senators to
hesitate and consider long before passing this
bill. Over the level bulwarks of the Constitu-
ton will come throngng. thick and fast, the
armies of Capitalization and the enemies OF local
self-government We may still find life worth
living under the new dispepsation. but will never
cease to mourn the Constitution of our fathers
wounded to death in the house of it's friends.
have no desire to see the map OF the United
States painted over with one color. /, at least,
shall not assist in thus oblterating the lines of
the States and, with them, the ancient land
marks OF the Constitution"
Mr.. Plumb also opposed the bill He regarded
it as an anomaly in legislation, appropriating the
money not only for one year but for eight years.
We must understand that in passing this bill we
were arranging for expenditures tor the general
welfare OF those yet to come. Large appropria-
tions had come to have something attractive in
them, and an appropriation of $1,000, 600 was
seventy seven times more attractive than an ap-
preparation of $1,000 600. This bill. Mr. Plumb
said, was the outgrowth of that demoraliZed and
demoralizing period preceding the last presi-
Dental election. IL there was any period
when public men were less qualified than at
any other time. it was the season preceding
q presidential election, when the issues were be-
ing made and the interests of candidates were
being forwarded. when We were laying plans and
plots whereby We might catch our unwary op
ponents. He Mr. Plumb could count on the
fingers of his two hands the Senator's who really
favored the BILL independent OF some special
reason. and IL the bill could, in some way. be got
rid of without submitting it to vote. nine Sen.
sstors in every ten would regret it. "A dangerous
piece of legislation was about to be- enacted that
did not meet the calm and considerable approval
of those who would vote for it. Mr. Plumb
quoted detailed statistics to show the assessed
valuation of property in the Southern States,
and insisted that each snch State was amply able
to educate Its own illiterates. He quoted also,
Agures showing that much the larger proportion
of tina money would GO to the States of the