Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-22

| and be done with IT." Mr.. Sherman though,
that was what the bill already did.
Mr.. Evarts opposed the hill on con.titu.
| tionsl grounds Though do not wish tc
discuss this question now. with all due respec,
TO the honorable Senator from Ohio who ha.
addressed the Senate. it seems to me his
proposition to solve this grave constitutional
| difficulty is precisely Pickwick advise to his
followers TO shout with the mob. and when
Tupman suggests suppose there are two
mobs, Pickwiek replied, then shout with the
| largest" Laughter.
/ At 10 the Senate went into executive
session and when the doors reopsned sd-
journed till Monday next.
HOUSE.
A number of executive communication.
were laid befor the House by the speaker and
appropriately referred. Among them wa.
one from the secretary of the treasury sub
mitting an account of the investment of the
sinking fund Of the Union Pscifc and Cen.
trail Pacific railroads, and recommending
such modification of the act of March I, 1878
as will authorize the secretary of the treas
ury 10 invest the sinking fund in other thar
government securities.
The Heuse then resumed the consideration
of the bill to increase pension. Of soldiers
widows.
Mr. Reagan of Texas, took the ground that
only soldiers who had been disabled in the
war or widows who had been wives of sol.
diers at the time the disability had occurred
should receive pensions. He criticized the
manner in which the special pension bill. had
been passed by Congress and stated that he
would drive the petitioners to the pension Of
1 flee and make them give proofs required
by law. | was in the House when the arrears
act passed and had seen democrats urging
democrats TO vote for it because it would give
them the soldier vote, and republicans urg
| ing republicans to vote for it in order to get
| ahead OF the democrsts. No one would doub,
that instead Of the supreme ard solemn mo-
| tive tor this legislation, being to secure jus
! tice to those who had served their country
| another and stronger motive was to secure
| political supremacy. What was this to come
to? He warned the members that poin,
might be reached when public opinion would
revolt against voting away the money Of the
toiling millions in this sort Of way. He as.
serted that there were numbers of men, he
might say thousands, who were receiving
| pensions who had no right to them. dc
not expect to defeat thi. proposition, but in
the name of my constituents. in the name OF
the tax-payers Of this country | propose to
make a protest against universal and indis-
criminate granting of pensions to all men and
all women who ask for them
| Mr.. Dunn of Ark, said he did NOT expect
this bill to be made an omnibus bill, but
spoke strongly in favor of a proposed amend
ment in favor of pensions for veterans of the
Mexican and Indian wars.
Mr.. Matson of Ind, spoke briefly in favor
of the bill urging it to be passed without
amendment. He incidentally replied to Mr.
Reagan's speech and quoting that gentleman
query, What is this to come TOP by re-
marking, "In all kindness to nv friend say
| that he ought to have though about that Ion ng
ago " Applause on the republican side
| Mr.. Reagan thought he had a right to ex
press his views and represent his constitu-
ents on this floor without being subject to
personal taunts.
! The bill va. then read by sections for
amendments.
| Mr.. Warner of Ohio, offered an amend
ment, providing that this act shall apply only
to widows who were married before its pas
sage.
| Mr. Townsend of H., offered an amend
ment as a substitute for Warmers amend
ment, providing that when an invalid pension
| er shall die his widow or minor childrenisha
be entitled to the original pension without
being required to prove that the death of tbs
pensioner was due to his military or nava
! service
! Several gentlemen resented the impugn
ment of the motives of the members made b,
| Mr.. Reagan.
! Mr.. Townsend's amendment was rejected
! by vote Of los to Is, and MIR. Warmers by
a vote OF l05 to 1876.
| Mr. Milliken of Maine, in speaking of the
! pro forma amendment advocated the repeal o
| the limitation clause Of the areas act ant
/ linked the gentleman, who, while favorinl
the repeal opposed the repeal at this time, tc
Judge Stebbens of Maine who while in favor
OF prohibitory law wa. opposed to its en-
! forcement.
! On motion of Mr.. Sowden of Penn, Al
amendment was adopted making it a mis-
deamor for any person to receive any money
! for prosecution of any claim arising under
| this act.
| Mr. Browne of Indiana, then offered hi
amendment repeating the limitation On ar
rears of pension act,
Mr.. Rogers of Ark, raised the point tha
! the amendment was not in order as it contained
the substance of the bill pending before tn
/ House
A long discussion of the point followed
and In order to enable the matter to be looke et
into still further the House at 4. l5 adjourned