The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-22
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Passage of the Bill Providing for Closing Up
the Business of the Alabama Claims Court.

WASHINGTON. May 21.-Mr. Rddleberger offered
resolution providing for the printing of all papers
relative the nomination of Matthews recorder of
deeds of the District of Columbia
Mr.. Hoar Mr.. Edmunds Mr.. Miller and othe-7 OBJ
ected to the reception of the resolution being
ecutive business and it declared not now in order
Mr.. Doph endeavored to the setting apart Of
day for the consideration of the bill repeating the
presumption and timber-culture acts.
Objections were made by several Senators, among
them Mr. Sewel who said he would object to further
special orders till the Ftz John Porter bill was taken
UP and disposed of and that he would ask the Senate
to take up that bill when the bankruptcy bill should
have been disposed Of
On motion of Mr.. Hoar the Senate took up the bill
providing for closing the business OF the Court OIL
Alabama Claims
The reports of the majority and minority of the
committee read. The majority report MAINTAINS
that the difference in value between coin and currency
at the time of the Geneva award and after the award
at the sale of the Geneva award bonds and is the
property of the United States Treasury, and should
not form any part of the out of which the Judg-
ments of the courts should be paid The minority
port contends the contrary that the United States
occupied the position of trustee for the claimants
and could not sell the bonds named and
credit itself with the difference between
the gold and currency values When the bill was
about to come to vote in the form in which it
from the House. Mr. George stated his understanding
of it to be that it provided for the payment OF exactly
the amount of money received by the United States
fit of the premium made the gold for greenbacks.
He also understood the bill to pay all the interest
which the United States had agreed to pay from the
time of the receipt OF the money IN 10 70 up TO 1870
when the money was covered into the Treasury.
Mr. Hoar said that understanding was exactly cor
rect; or in other words, the United States gives
nothing and loses nothing by this transaction 1t pays
the money got from Great Britain and when il in
vests the money in certain securities and sells them
again. it pays out the money it gets. and does not
make speculation Of the transaction.
Mr. Beck asked whether we're not thus paying
these people premium the legal-tender notes of
the country
MUM realized by the government on the sale OF coin
and bonds and paying them interest BESIDES In other
words this bill placed the United States in the posi-
ton of ordinary trustee. and this on behalf OF
claimants who were not within the principle OF the
Geneva award who had said they were satisfied with
the act of 1892 but who asked. and by this bill
obtained an additional amount of 1885. 900.
Mr. Beck did not think it right to pay interest
The bill was passed as it came from the House
yeas 80 nays ID.
The urgent deficiency bill being reported by Mr..
Allison from the committee on appropriations, it was
passed without debate.
Mr. Plumb moved that the Senate insist its
amendments to the postofce appropriation bill. The
Senate agreed to the motion and the Chair appointed
Messrs. Plumb, Malone and Call as the conference
committee.
On motion of Mr. Dolph bill was passed providing
for the forfeiture of wagon broad land grants In Ore
gon.
On motion of Mr.. Conger House bill was pissed
establishing saving stations at the following places
One at Plum island. Lake Michgan one at South NJ an
itou island, Lake Michigan one at South Chicago, ILL.,;
one at Bots Blaze island, Straits of Mackinaw one
at Duluth, Lake Superor at Port Adams, Ore;
between Port Reyes and Point Diable, Cal; one
between Point San Jose and Point Labos, CAL and
one Lake Ontario, New York. at or near the mouth
On motion of Mr. Blair the Senate then proceeded
to consideration of favoraby reported pension bills
standing on the calendar.
After the passage of a number of such bills, Mr.
Beck suggested that in awhileonce in ten times
so-it might be well to have the committee report
bearing on the case, to show that somebody had
looked at the The expression read third
time and passed gave very little information We
had two three votes and several suggestions but
nobody knew ANYTHING about what was being done
He Mr. Beckl certainly did not know. and he did not
believe any member of the Senate did
Mr. Blair replied that there full and carefully
printed report the file of each Senator, showing
the facts of each The reports had been there
month"; and Senators who wanted information had
only to read it.
Mr. Allison remarked that the cases had all been
amned by the pension committee and reported by tho
committee.
that he had allowed several bills to become law with
out being able to ascertain whether they were right
not. Could the Senator from New Hampshire Mr.
Bair tell the Senate now, without reference to he
report whether the just presented to the Senate
a proper one or not!
Mr.. Blair replied that he could not That bill had
been reported not by Mr. Blair, but by another Sen
ator. It was hardly likely. however that with large
number of cases in hand, any Senator could remem-
Der all the facts OF every case without reference to
the report.
Mr.. Blair added that It was no matter Of his mr.
Blair'sl what the President had done--though he
thought it rather contrary the rules of the Senate
to refer to the action of the President for the
of influencing the action of the Senate. Ii the Presi-
dent fit to admonsh the Senate IN messages that
all very well, but the President had not under
taken say that the Senate had not one its duty
that it had acted favorably cases that did not
Justify favorable action. If the President saw fit to
administer such it question whether the
Senate might not do the same in kind. The Presi-
dent had vetoed two bills. of which vetoes was
due to msconception on the part Of the President
as to the effect OF the law
Mr. Beck said the bills passed 50 rapidly that
Senat ors did not have time to examine the reports
He had observed no member of the committee rise to
explain the and he had not supposed it any
offense TO ask to have an occasional report read.
There had been 200 bills to the President in
day. ai &c majority of them did not seem to have
been considered
Mr. SAWYER remarked that the bill Immediately
under consideration had been reported by him. It
was Just BILL he said. though he could not give the
details without reference to the report He had not
reported to the Senate single case that he had not
believed to be just
Mr. Beck mentioned the bill that had been vetoed
because it gave pension to the wrong man.
Mr. Blair said the only effect of passing that bill
would have been that nobody would get pension.
and the bill would have to be reintroduced and passed
Mr. Beck supposed the best way to avoid censure for
impertnent interference to let every pension
pass without comment.
Mr.. bialr inquired WneJner any fneulper OF inc peu
sion committee mad accused the Senator from Ken.
lucky of impertinence improper interference.
Mr. Beck replied that he did not to that
question,
Mr. Blair remarked that he could not answer it and
tell the truth if lie answered in the affirmative.
Mr.. Beck did not propose to answer the Senator
from New Hampshire AS to telling the truth, Mr.
Beck thought himself as truthful as Mr. Blair would
venture to be.
Mr.. Blair said it for that reason that ne Mr.
Blair had stated that Mr.. Beck could not otherwise
answer. That Senator we'll knew that nobody had
found fault with him.
After further debate. the Senate went into execu-
tive session and when the doors re-opened adj
journed until Monday.
Proceedings in the House.
WASHINGTON. May 21.-,Mr. Hen bert, of Alabama
from the committee naval affairs. reported the
naval appropriation BILL and it referred to the
committee of the whole.
The House then resumed consideration of the bill
the of rnackaral 6urinp the