Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-26
WRTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
First Session,
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25
Among the bills favorably reported were
the following:
BY Mr.. Edmunds, from the judiciary COM
mittee-To relieve Robert h. Anderson of
Georgia from political disabilities. On mo-
tlon of Mr.. Edmunds the bill was at once
passed.
Mr.. Hoar, from the committee on elections
and privileges, reported back with amend
ments bill which had been recommitted by
the Senate to the committee, fixing day for
the meeting of presidential electors. 1t was
ordered printed and placed on the calendar,
Mr.. Hoar saying that he would call it up at
a later day.
Mr.. Frye, from the committee on COM
merce, favored bill authorizing the con-
structlon of bridge across Staten Island
Sound and TO establish the same post road :;
calendar
Among the bills introduced and referred
was one by Mr.. Edmunds providing for the
inspection of meats for expectation and
against the importation of adulterated ar
tlcies of food and drink.
The Senate, on motion of the chair, re-
sumed the consideration of the bill 10 provide
for the allotment of lands in severalty to
Indians.
After considerable discussion the bill was
passed,
Mr.. Hale gave notice that after Mr.
Georges remarks on the education bill he
would move for an executive session upon
some matters of importance that would prob
ably occupy the remainder of the day. 1t is
understood that Mr.. Hale referred to the
nominations of Pillsbury and Chase to be
collectors of internal revenue respectively at
Boston and Portland, which are reported ad-
verselv.
At two o'clock the education bill was laid
before the Senate and Mr. George took the
floor to continue his remarks in favor of the
bill.
The people of Mississippi, he said, had so
much interest in the bill that he felt con-
strained to present some further views in ad
vocacy of the bill. He called Mr.. Morgan's
attention to the resolution presented by him
(Morgan) at former session of the Senate
giving months extra pay to congressional
clerks, He found no warrant in the con-
stitution for such payment, and if Mr.. Nor
gan's idea of the constitutionalty of the ed
ucation bill was true one
Mr.. Morgan inquired what had become of
the resolution.
Mr.. George didn't know. He, for himself
and the senators who favored the bill, dis
avOwed that Congress could constitutionally
do anything in the States other than make an
appropriation in aid of the States on that
subject. That was the meaning of the bill.
Mr.. Blair said that the true theory was to
trust the States, but if the nation should fl nd
any discrimination practised subsequent ap-
preparations could be withheld from the
State discriminating
After remarks by Messrs. Allison and Ed
munds the debate closed for the day and the
Senate at six o'clock adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Hewitt of New York presented me-
mortal of l22 savings banks in New York
State, representing l, ,l65. 900 depostors, ask
ing for the repeal of the Bland silver act re-
ferred.
Mr.. Regan of Texas, from the committee
on commerce. reported a bill to incorporate
the Atlantic & Pacific Ship Railway Co. :;
committee of the whole.
Mr. Hewitt of New York, from the COM
mittee on ways and means, submitted re-
port in regard to the case of l.. l.. Lehman
of New York, and it was referred to the cal
endar.
The committee finds that Lehman has
notified the secretary of the treasury that he
was prepared to furnish proof of fraudulent
conspiracy between the merchants, appraiser
and certain custom house officers of the port
of New York, by which his invoice was
traudulently raised.
MIR. Rowell of Illinois, supported the bill.
Pending his remarks the morning hour ex-
pired and the committee rose. The House
then resolved itself into committee of the
whole on the pension appropriation bill.
Mr.. Townshend OF Illinois. who had charge
of hill pyplaipp1 ia nroyisnus II
propriated, he said, S75, ,754, ,2070 or about
SIS 900, 900 more than was carried by law for
the current year. This increase was occa-
stoned by accelerated work being done in the
pension office, and for this work the commits
sioner of pensions and his employees deserved
commentator, and that by the large number
of cases that were now being disposed of. he
referred to the proposition to repeal the limi-
tation of the arrears pension act. and advo-
Gated it as measure demanded by good faith
and patriotism.
Mr. Henderson of Iowa, denied that the
increased appropriation was due to the accel
Grated work of the pension office. 1t was not
his purpose to attempt to detract III the slight
est degree from the good work of any
officer of the government, bnt he did not be-
lieve the gentleman had stated the correct
reason for an increase. Tie gentleman had
Ialleu 10 call htteDtloH W tuc IaCt tudt tue
commissioner of pensions had stated to the
committee on appropriation that there would
be deficiency of about S6,000000 for the
current year, so that the S6,000,000 which
had been appropriated for the fiscal year of
1886 was confessed by the commissioner to
be insufficient to meet the requirements of
the law. The average appropriation for the
last six years was S77, ,449 ,90C, showing that
the appropriation contained in the pending
bill was 81 694 800 below the average. Pass
ing on to the discussion of the general sub
icct of pensions, he said. there appeared to
be a well considered effort on the part of
some gentlemen IN the House to frighten the
country with the idea that the appropriation
for pensions were so tremendous
that a halt should instantly be called
The country lately had been treated with a
very large amount of information in regsrd
to arrearages. 1t had a letter from the COM
missioner of pensions to the chairman of the
committee on appropriations giving estimates
as to what the passage of the Limitation repeal
would probably cost. The New York Herald
of the 27th of January had published the
commissioners letter with startling head
lines and commended the action Of Mr.. Ran
dali in the premises. He was glad there was
gentlemen in the House so patriotic and far