The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-15
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
The Senate Passes a Number of Bills
Authorizing New Public Buildings,
And Then Resumes the Debate on the Gen.
eral Pension Bill-The House Talks
Briefly About Patents and Tariffs



House of Lords" Referred
Mr.. Frye, from the committee on commerce,
reported favorably his bill to limit the privileges
States to the privileges accorded vessels of the
United States in foreign ports, Mr. Frye saying
he would at the proper time, offer this bill as an
amendment to the House shipping bill. Placed
on the calendar.
Mr.. Edmunds offered resolution, which was
agreed to- instructing the committee on military
affairs to inquire into the expediency Of estab-
fishing branch national home for disabled vol
unteers, in northern New York or western Yer
mont, with view to the care and assistance of
disabled volunteer soldiers residing in that sec
ton of the country.
On motion of Mr.. Blackburn, House bill was
Railway Transfer and Bridge Company to build
bridge across the Ohio river, between Cincin--
natl and Covington.
The calendar being in order, Mr.. Malone
asked unanimous consent to take up public
building bills already favorably reported from
the committee. =
Mr.. Conger objected to any bills being taken
mp ont of tner order on the calendar.
Mr.. Riddleberger also objected wanting to see
something done besides taking money out of the
Treasury.
Mr. Ingalls, suggested that they be taken up in
their order, each to be by motion instead OF by
unanimous consent.
Mr. Malone accordingly moved to take up the
bill authorizing the extension and enlargement
of the custom house at Kansas City, and appro-
priating $3.50, 600 for the purpose.
The motion was agreed to, and the bill was
passed.
The following bills were also passed. appro
priating the amounts indicated for the purposes
named: Extending the limit of cost on the De-
troit public building to 81 100000 to erect
public building at Lafayette, Ind. $75, 00e, to
erect bonded warehouse at ST. Paul, Mimi,
$40 000 exteding the limit of appropriation for
the public building at Denver, COL, to 500. OOO
Mr.. Riddleberger again protested against these
bills. as taking large amount of money from
the Treasury. He asked how many States were
interested in the bills He would not presume
that any Senator would violate his constitutional
obligation by voting for bill in which he had
an interest He asked how much these bills
now asked to be acted On would take from the
Treasury.
Mr. Palmer and Mr. Morrill, thought the gov
eminent could make no better use of its money
than in constructing buildings where proper, and
so avoiding the payment of rent Mr.. Morrill,
said full report had been already submitted to
the Senate, giving all particulars of the pro-
posed expenditures.
Mr Malone said that the public building bills
to be acted on to-day would involve an expense
of about 81, 225, 600.
The following bills were then passed. To
complete the public building at Harrisonburg,
Va. $400 for q public building at Fort
Dodge Ia, 100000; for an addition to the
United States building at jackson, Miss, Sc, 600;
to increase the appropriation for the public
building at Marquette, Mich, to 1925. 900; to ex-
tend the limit of appropriation for the public build
ing at Terre Haute, Ind, to $l7S,OO0; to com
plete repairs and alterations of tho public build
ing at Parksrsburg, w. Va, So, S67
Mr. Mcmillan from the committee on com
merce reported favorably Mr.. Hears resolution
requiring the committee, when reporting
the river and harbor BILL to state the facts that
Snow the national importance of the several
pieces of work. aud which items of the appropri-
alton are advisable The resolution was agreed to.
afr. Hears resolution providing for an assist
ant clerk for the committee on commerce was
also reported favorably.
take up the bill authorizing the appointment of
IN Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
Mr.. Edmunds said: 1.-THE Senator from Kan
sas who has spoken against the bill Is not in his
seat, and 1t would perhaps be hardly fair to take
mp the bill in his absence"
Mr.. Cameron remarked that the Senator had
made an elaborate speech against the bill, and
be supposed had exhausted the subject far as
that Senator was concerned
Mr. VanWyck remembered that the Senator
from Kansas had expressly declared that the
"vestibule' of the subject had not been entered.
Mr.. Cameron remarked that the Senator from
Kansas had told him that he would vote for the
bill Mr.. Cameron, however. withdrew his re-
quest
The following bills were passed: To pay Mr..
Sewell Coulson and Messrs. Porter, Harrison &
Fishback all of Indiana for legal services; to
authorize the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf
Railroad Company to build railroad through
the Indian Territory.
At 2 o'clock the general pension bill was placed
before the Senate.
Mr.. Vest said the soldier who risked his life
and limbs for his country was entitled to have
the damages incurred by him repaired by his
country If his life was sacrificed his last hours
should be cheered by the confidence that his
loved ones should be cared for by his country
In whose cause he mad died. This was q con-
tract between the soldier and the nation; and the
nation that would not keep that contract as q
sacred obligation deserved to be blotted out from
the map of Christendom. How we'll the people
of the United States had kept their contract was
evidenced by the votes of Senators and Repre-
Bentatiyes from South and North, which had al
ready given 500 600 900 to the Union soldiers of
the war between the United States and the Con
federaey The Southern soldiers and people had
borne without murmur their share of the taxes
necessary to enable the Nation to keep it's con-
tract, and the Southern soldiers, their wild
ows and orphans, had never asked
for anything except the right TO
weep for their dead, and to defend the purity
of purpose for which their men had died. The
anxiety of both political parties, and the eupidity
of penson-claim agents, Mr.. Vest believed. were
responsible for so much pension legislation. He
did not believe it was demanded by the volunteer
soldiers of the country. The astute and pur-
chased intellect OF claim-age cormorants and
eurbstone lawyers in Washington was constant
~ eontriving new devices for increasing pensions
by which to fill their pockets. Mr.. Vest
read letter from claim agent to an ex-soldier,
urging him to apply for an increased pension. 1t
was no wonder that brown-stone houses and i'm
mense fortunes had sprung up, and attested the
activity and zeal of those people. Mr.. Vest I'M
dertook to say that the 900 Union soldiers of
Missouri had not demanded this legislation He
referred to the neglect CT the Mexican soldiers
Platt in connection with the amendgsnts pro-
posed to pension bills
Mr. Logan said bis course had been due to the
Tact that he believed the Mexican pension bill
was meritorious of itself and should pass on its