The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-05-20
DOINGS OF CONGRESS,
Senate,

LIS SCiltl al ltuSiVii VII Nuo tttNCIl dlNl
debated.
M. Blair of New Hampshire explained
that it was intended to provide for those dis
alb, d union soldiers Of the late war who
found it difficult or impossible without their
own fault CHhether by loss of papers or death
of witness, TO prove their cases under the eX-
isting law. He said it provided aid for al
soldiers who, having served six months or
more, had become disabled since their service,
from any cause no. due to tn If own vicious
conduct, and who were now dependant for
support on their own manual labor, or ON the
contributions of Others not legally liable for
their support. The highest pension under the
bill, MIR. Blair added, would be $24 a month
for total helpleSsneSs, and lropcruonatcly
less for less disability. IN discussing the gen
cral question of pensions, Mr. Blair said that
a pelisioner, or one entitled to become such,
should not be regarded as a debtor, but a
creditor of the country, aud preferred
creditor at that
Nh. Berry of Arkansas and Mr. Logan of
Illinois spoke upon the bill at considerable
length.
Mr.. Vest OF Mobile then obtained the floor
and will speak tomorrow.
A number of amendments were submitted
TO be printed.
Mr. Rice, of Mass, from the foreign affairs
committee, reported back a resolution re-
qucstng the President TO inform the House
what steps had been taken by him to have
the seizure of the David j. Adams invest.-
gated, and to communicate at the earliest
practicable day what were the circumstances
under which the seizure was made; adopted.
Mr. Worthington of H., from the same
committee, reported back resolution calling
on the President for copies Of any CORE
spondence with the Mexican government rela-
tive to the claims specified in the 9TH section
of the act of Congress of june 1878, and for
other information on The subject; adopted.
The House committee of tue whole resumed
consideration of the Chinese indemnity joint
resolution
Mr.. Rice argued III support OF the PROPOSE
ton, contending that the obligation OF this
government 10 pay damages rested not on
goodwill Or spirit of benevolence, but upon
International law Th,re We're many pre-
cedents for his proposition. In 1Si1 Eng
land had compelled the Greeks to pay an i'll
demnity for the ill treatment of jew, Don
Pacifico, at Athens. Lord Palmerston had
been called to account for the position he
had taken on the ground that there was no
international law to sustain it; but after a
days debate the principle maintained by him
had been fixed in English practice SO firmly
that it had never since been shaken. The United
States itself had demanded indemnity from
China for violence done to its citizens by a
mob and by the armament Of England bonn
harding Chinese cities; and China has paid
the bills though some of the damage had ocen
done by the armed forces of England. When
England, through her carlessness had let loose
the cruisers which had driven our commerce
from the sea, the United States had exacted in
demnity and he trusted that there would be
now in arms as long and o voice as strong to
exact indemnify from England for the in
juries her subjects were now perpetratlng
and seeking to perpetIate upon American
fishermen. (Applause.l. The President has
assured Congress that the outrages at Rock
Springs had been committed by aliens as had
the ontrages in Chicago which had been
shocking tho country, and he (Mr. Rice
hoped that The murderers in Chicago would
be visited with that punishment which had
not yet been visited upon their fellow-assa s.
sins in Wyoming.
Messrs. McCreary of Kentucky, Phelps of
| New Jersey and Clements of Georgia also
supported the measure.
Mr.. Carey of Wyoming moved to amend
| by inserting after the appropriation the
words, cor so much thereof as may be neces-
sary," on the ground that the appropriation
was entirely too large. He favored the abso-
lutte prohibition of Chinese immigration and
held that the responsibility for the mob at
Hot Springs rested upon Congress ON account
of its refusal to listen to the demands of the
| people of the Pacific coast for such prohibi
ton.
The clause relating to the publication OF
the consular reports having been reached,
Mr.. McAdoo of New Jersey, offered an
amendment providing that such parts of re-
ports as contain the novel and personal expe.
riences of the writers, portions of standard
history, legendary romantic and other histor
ical episodes, descriptions Of scenery, ac
counts of royal and other courtly fetes, un.
necessary scientific disquisitions and individ
ual opinions on political economy shall
not reprinted at public expense. He ridiculet
some of the dispatches received from diplo
matte officers instancing one received from
Merideth Reid some years ago giving a de
scription of royal ball at Athens HI
wanted to stop this sort of thing, No on,
appreciated more than he fine description
Of Constantiuople, of the beauties of the Bos
phorus, but Mr. Cox could without going e
hegovernmentprinting Office find a publishe
who would give his description TO the coun
try.
The amendment was ruled out on a poin
of order.
Mr.. Belmont moved to increase from $3.50,
900 to $50, 600 the appropriation for contin
gent expenses at United States consulates.
The motion was agreed TO and the bill re
ported to the House and passed.