Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-26
the Committee on Military Affairs, re-
ported the military academy appropria-


mates on which the bill is based. in
GLIDING 1884, for public works, ag.
'gregate sTl7,950. The items that may,
IN the opinion Of the Secretary Of War,
be omitted aggregate 1905, 1915, leaving
the regular annual estimates for 1887,
s4l2,O75. The committee recommend
the appropriation Of 1927, 1905, or
STA, 260 less than the estimates. The
appropriation for the current fiscal year
amounts to s3l0,02l, or sI2,2l6 more
than is recommended in the new bill.
Mr.. Blount, Of Georgia, from the
Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads, reported the post-oflice appro-
priation bill, and il was referred to the
Committee Of the Whole.
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, presented
a memorial of l22 savings banks Of
New York State, representing | ,l65, 900
depositors, asking for the repeal Of the
Bland silver act. Referred.
Mr.. Reagan, from the Committee on
Commerce, reported bill to incorpo-
rate the Atlantic and Pacific ship.rail-
way. Referred to the Committee Of the
Whole.
In the morning hour the House re-
sumed in Committee of the Whole
the consideration of the Hennepin-canal
bill. Messrs. Murphy, of Iowa, and
Rowell, Of Illinois, consumed the morn
ing hour advocating the passage Of the
bill.
The House then again resolved itself
into Committee Of the Whole on the
pension appropriations bill.
Mir. Townshend, of Illinois, who had
charge of the bill, explained its provi-
sions. 1t appropriated, he said, u.s.
154, 200, or about 100000 more
than was carried by law for the current
year. This increase was occaSioned
by the accelerated work that was being
done in the pension oilice-and for this
work the Commissioner Of Pensions
and his employees deserved commenda-
Gor-and by the larger number of
cases that were now being disposed of.
He then passed on to the discussion Of
the proposition to repeal the limitation
of the arrears-of.pension act, and adyo-
Gated it as a measure demanded bygood
faith and patriotism. The question
should not be how much the measure
would cost, but whether it was Just.
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa. while concur
ring with Mr.. Townshend in his general
remarks upon pension matters, differed
from him when he attributed the in
creased appropriation to the accelerated
work of the pension Office. lie said
the amount of the pending bill was
81, G94, 500 below the average for the
last six years.
In closing his lengthy speech Mr..
Henderson said To-day the Constitu-
ton is thrown in our face as a shield to
cover an almost solid vote against the
increase-of-pensions bill, and yet there
is hardly any Of the Constitution Of the
United States to be found in that section.
J state here and now as my conviction,
that if these gentlemen respected the
Constitution as they say, they would
not have control of this chamber.
If they represented the Constitu-
ton instead Of ballot-bOx stufling
and shot guns, they would not have
control Of the Executive Of the nation
Applause on the Republican side and |
groans on the Democratic side You
may groan, gentlemen, but you your
selves do know, and you boast Of it.
too, that you will control this Govern
nent in spite Of the Constitution, and
tell you here and now in this cham
Der that there are as grave crimes
committed under the forms Of law
md the Constitution as there were
when Sumter was fired upon, and
or one protest against sectional
control of this country with the Consti-
luton absolutely defeated. These are
ny sentiments, and | say that the
gauntlet was thrown down in that vote.
In closing desire to say that | sin
,erely trust that no gentlemen, espe-
tally those who were in the ranks
against me, misinterpret me, for | would
rather spend an eternity in hell with a
Confederate than an eternity in heaven
With northern COpperhead. Laughter
md applausel.
Mr.. Warner, of Ohio, defended the
Commissioner of Pensions from Hender-
on S attacks, and in the course Of his re-
marks said he wanted the Pension Bu-
eau made non-partisan by turning out
men who were put in there purely be-
ause they were partlsans; whereat
'lr. Curtin, Of Pennsylvania, ejacu-
ated Z" If you do not turn partisans
ut and put other partisans in, what is
be use of having elections" APP
,lause and laughter
Mr.. Randall, Of Pennsylvania, de-
iIed to leave the arena OF politics for
moment to assume the ground of
history and truth. lie was unwilling
hat the sun should 90 down without
xpressing his recollection on this
uestion. lie had much experience
n the Appropriations Committee, and
his was the first time he had ever
cen partisan politics and sectiOnalism
hrust into the debate on a pension APP
bill. lie should, perhaps,
ave remained silent notwithstanding,
Xcept-whether intended or not-thele
night 60 abroad through the coun-
ry statement that the Democratic
arty, and more particularly the south
IN element Of that party, had in any
'ay shown any hostility whatever to
be ayment of pensions. On the con-
rary, his experience had shown that
ne southern element had developed a
'onderful diSposition-a full heart--to
ension Union soldiers, or widows Of
Mon soldiers. lie placed his expe-
ence against the impression carried
y the speech of the gentleman from
IVA that there was on the Democratic
de any hostility TO the payment of
hat was Justly due to those who were
sabled in the war for the Mon.
Mr.. Morrison, Of Illinois, said that
r all the years Of the war and for ten
Ears thereafter the Republicans had
I'd control Of the Government in all
5 branches. Skilled alike in states
anship and the display of patriotism, 7
e Republican party had made ample
DIVISION for the payment of pensions t
coilia,C Sinca hic avnar;anca have a