The National tribune., 1886-02-11

! ne vote was q SiIlCtlE OhG--IsepuDllCan
| voting aye and Democrats voting no-with the
| exception of Mr.. voorhees, Dem Ind J. who
voted for the bill If the fight against the bill
on the party line IS renewed in the House, its
! fate in that body viii be at least doubtful
RELATING TO PENSIONS.
Among the bills introduced were the follow
| ing:
| Mr.. Henderson Iowa. H. r. 1902, to extend
| the benefits of the act approved March 3 1879,
| and the act of March =. 1855, to certain pen
sioners whose disabilities are caused by ampu-
| tation, and increasing the rate therefor, aud
| for other purposes.
| Dir. Lyman Iowa, II. r. 1914, to increase
the pensions of soldiers and sailors of the late
| civil war on account of deafness.
Mr.. Hepburn Iowa, II. l.. 1911. increasing
| the pensions of persons totally deaf to $40
| Mr.. Frederick iowa, Ii. r. 1901 to amend
| Section 1920 of the Revised Pension Laws
| Mr.. Wheeler Ala II. X. 1914 granting pen
| sions to survivors of Indian wars from 1850 to
| 1912
| The bill passed by the House to increase the
pensions of widows and dependent relatives of
deceased soldiers and sailors was read twice by
its title in the Senate and referred to the Com
| mittee on Pensions
The Senate directed the Committee on PEN
sions to print 900 copies OF the remarks of
the Pension Committee OF the Grand Army of
the Republic on general pension legislation be.
fore the Committee on Pensions.
PENSION APPROPRIATION BILL.
The House Committee on Pensions fixed the
amount of the pension appropriation bill for the
ensuing year at SO, 200. This IS according
to the estimates of Commissioner Black.
COUNTIES, ETC.
Mr. Curtin pa, H. r. 5OSl, to eauaize
bountics in certain cases of soldiers OF the late
war.
Mr. Moffatt Mich }, H. R. 1867, to provide
for the payment of bounty in certain cases.
Mr. Dougherty (Fla.1, III. T. 1851 granting
land warrants to soldiers and sailors in the
United States service in the Seminole war of
1856, their widows and orphans.
DONATION OF CONDEMNED CANNON
Mr. Hepburn iowa, II. r. 1912, granting
condemned cannon and carriage to Osceola Post,
No. 173, Grand Army of the Republic.
RETIREMENT OF OFFICERS
Mr. Henderson (Neb.), s. 1870, to facilitate
promotions, and retire from active service upon
their own application officers of the army who
served during the rebellion as officers of voiun-
teers.
NATIONAL CEMETERIES.
Mr. Houck (Tenn.) from the Committee on
Military Affairs, reported back favorably the
bill to construct road to the National Gene
terry at Natchez, Miss.
Mr.. Wheeler (Ala.) introduced bill for the
construction of macadamized road from the
city of Memphis, Tenn to the National Gene
terry near that city.
Mr.. Houk (Tenn.) introduced bill to con-
struct road to the National Cemetery at
Knoxville Tenn.
WAR TAXES AS A "sET-oFF."
There was some debate in the House on the
bill of Mr.. Hammond (Ga.) to prevent the
claims of States against the General Govern
ment being applied as "set-off" against
unpaid war taxes imposed by Congress upon
the several States under the act of Aug 5, 1861.
This bill grows out of the experience of the
State of Georgia 1t will be remembered that
none of the States which seeded in 1861 re-
sponded with alacrity in payment of the war
tax levied by the act cited. Two or three years
ago bill passed Congress to reimburse the
State of Georgia for some $4,000 paid by that
State for the common defense in the RevOlu-
tionary war. The claim was no doubt just but
when representative Of the State went to the
Treasury to get the money he was politely in
formed that Georgia had owed the United
States little bill of over 100000 for more
than 90 years, and the $36, 900 would be placed
to her credit on the books as so much paid on
her war tax. The gentleman kicked" in
vain, and finally withdrew in high dudgeorA
This bill seeks to prevent any such "set-offs."
Mr.. Barksdale Miss. made speech in its favor,
and was replied to by Mr.. Hepburn iowa,
who assailed the bill with much vigor. He
argued that if the States lately in rebellion
were to be released from payment of the war
tax, justice would require that all the States
/ which did pay, so promptly and fully, should
be reimbursed. No final action was taken on
the bill.
THE SENATE AND THE PRESIDENT.
In the Senate the issue was fully made be-
tween the Republican Senators and the Presi-
dent and his supporters in the matter of infor-
nation relative to removals from and appoint
ments to Office. Mr.. Riddleberger VA intro
duced a resolution declaring it to be the sense
Of the Senate that the Executive Of the United
States is not restricted by Constitution or law
in removing or suspendng appointees; that the
Senate has no constitutional right to require
that reasons shall be given for such removals or
suspensions; but that it is the right of the SEN
ate to call for papers relating to the conduct of
removed or suspended appointees, or to the
qualification and fitness of all persons whose
names are presented to the Senate for confr,na-
ton or rejection, and it is the duty of the Ex-
ecutive to comply with all demands for the
same Mr.. Pugh (Ala.) offered resolution de-
claring that the President had perfect right
to withhold such papers as he might choose,
and that the Senate had no right to demand
them. Both resolutions were laid over for
future consideration.
AMENDMENT OF SHIPPING LAWS.
The House on Thursday, after a long debate
on its minor Details passed. without division,
the bill of Dir. Dingley (Me.) prescribing
large number of amendments to the shipping
laws Its purpose is to assist and encourage
American shipping by removing some of the
burdens which have rested upon it, placing us
at disadvantage with foreign countries.
INMATES OF SOLDIERS HOMES
The Speaker laid before the House letter
from the Secretary of War. transmitting let
ter from the President of the Board of Commits
sioners of the Soldiers Home recommending
that the estates of inmates remaining un-
claimed three years after the death of the owner
shall eScheat to the Home, and asking legisla-
ton to that end; also recommending legisla-
ton fixing the charge for medical treatment of
inmates of the Home at the Government Hos
pital at 50 per annum, which was referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs.
HOURS OF LETTER CARRIERS.
Representatives of the letter carriers of vari-
Gus cities appeared before the House Committee
on Labor and urged a reduction of hours of
duty. Mr. McAdoo IN. j. introduced a bill (H.
X. 5000 fixing eight hours per day as the time
which letter carriers in cities shall be employed
EULoGIES.
The House devoted Tuesday to euloges upon
tho late Vice President Hendricks. Addresses
were delivered by Messr5. Bynum (Ind.) Nc