The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-24

made about a member OF the Senate
having charged poor widow 500 for
helping her to obtain a pension. de
presumed the publications referred TO
himself, but he had nothing TO do
with the case since he entered public
life. Before that, when he was prac-
iicing law, he obtained pension Tor
Mrs. Hannah Ladd. The entire bill
for services, including an outlay OF
SIG, was about $50. When he was
elected to Congress he turned all his
government business over to his part
ner, who, without his knowledge,
brought suit against the widow for
services rendered in collecting the
pension and interest, and writ OF ex-
ecution had been issued, but when he
blair heard of it be directed his
partner to discontinue proceedings.
He had never received a dollar for his
services and expenditures in the mat
ter.
Senator Kenna aaid that it struck
him, and those who had taken any in
terest in tie matter, that the case pre-
scented a question OF much interest, in
view of the wholesale and indiscIlmi-
nate attacks OF the Senator from New
Hampshire upon the President in con-
nection with his pension vetoes. IL
waP, perhaps, somewhat remarkable
that a widow, who had lost her only
son in the army and whose husband
was demented, should have an attach
ment Of 5000 laid upon the little farm
for services rendered to her. That was
regarded rs a matter OF some interest.
Senator Blair explained that the debt
was not 5000, but about 500. There
never bad been time when The WON.
an could not have paid it cit with .
cents, but 1t had been settled by her
paying nothing.
The Senate then took up the Payne
case and was addressed by Senator
Gall in opposition to further investi'
CATION.
Senator Hawley argued in favor OF
the investigation. He proposed, he
said, TO vote for the proposition to i'm
vestigste. 1t could not be said that
this movement was promoted by a
fraction OF the people OF Ohio. 1T
could not be SAID that it came from
one political party in Ohio. If they
looked around and beyond the Legis-
latiye action they perceived that un-
auestionably a great majority OF the
citizens OF tha. State believed that the
seat occupied by Senator Payne had
been obtained by means which would
not bear the light OF investigation.
Senator Evsrts closed the debate in
an Argument against further invesliga-
ton. II was not to be doubted, he
said, that the Senate was master OF
the question presented, and was under
no law or restraint except that i'm
posed by the constitution. But, by
the same reasoning, the scope and
boundary OF the Senate's mastery and
duty were limited and fixed by the
same firm instructions OF the constitu.
ton. Whatever rights, whatever du-
ties in regard to the viudication or the
punishment of those concerned in
frauds in States in Senatorial cleo
tions, rests in the Senate, were fixed
in the constitution. The Senate had
no power and no right to investigate
the conduct OF one political party at
the request OF another. 1t had no
power TO investigate the discords OF a
party at the request or invitation OF a
faction OF that party. 1t had no power
10 measure or estimate any right or
wrong that did not touch the very ex-
tent and authority and scope and re-
suit that was measured to it by the
constitution.
Senator Hoar closed the debate in O
speech in favor OF an investigation
and the Senate proceeded to take the
vote.
The first vote was on the resolution
OF Senators Hoar and Frye for fur
ther investigation, and was rejected
yeas, II nays, "A.
The resolutions Of the msjority (tha
there should be no further investiga
tions) were adopted-yeas, A; nays
1.-THE former vote reverted.
There was slight applause wheI
the result was announced.
Senator Logan announced that ht
had received letter from Lieut.. Gov
Kennedy, of Ohio, asking that his en-
tire letter, from which Senator LogaI
read extracts yesterday, might b.
printed in the Record.
Senator Hoar and Senator Edmund
insisted that II should be read, aud i
was read by the Clerk.
The senate then resumed consider
alton OF the sundry civil, and had onl.
got through three pages, when re
cess was taken till o'clock.
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