Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-12-23
PENSION BILLS.
Governmental Control of Subsid-
ised Railroad Telegraph Lines,
Reports of Committees.
Authorized to Investigate the
Condition of Public Benevo-
lent Institutions and
Presidential Appointments Oc-
cupy the Congressional Sa-
Ions ofthe Country.
Forty-Sinth Congress.

"'sy y'-fh'h sohsftss,
SENATE.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec, D.
AT the request vi the Union Veterans
Of the army OF the Republic, Senator
Bland to-day, introduced bill making
considerable change Ia the pension
laws. The bill practically y removes the
Limitation of the arrears of the pen.
sion act and makes the fact o, enlist
ment evidence OF physical soundness
ut the time Of enlistment. 1t enlarges
the classes of persons TO be entitled to
the benefits OF the pension laws, so as
to include all who may have been dis
abled while actually engaged in the
service of the Uni ed States of mill
tary nature. whether they were must
cred or not. IL also grants pension
to all female nurses in the late war.
who shall b We arrived at the aye of
80 years and are without the means of
comfortable support. The pensionable
disabilities are graded from seven TO
twenty, according to the degree of in.
Jury Incurred. The rate OF pension
for minor children il increased from 50
to IS per month. The pension Office is
required to give every claimant fifteen
days notice OF the time and place of
any special examination into the
merits Of his case and an inquiry letter
to the postmaster, or the neighbors of
the claimant concerning his disability
or credibility, or the credibility Of his
witnesses. The pension Office 10 de-
barred from receiving information
under an agreement to conceal the
source Of the matter from the appli-
cant. 1t Is made unlawful to reject q
claim on evidence secured from q
secret investigation, or because the
records Of the war or navy department
fail to show the existence of any dis
ease, wound or injury. II Is also made
unlawful TO reduce pension or strike
the name IT pensioner from the rolls,
without giving fifteen days' notice to
the person affected.
HOUSE.
The bill reported from the commit
tee on post affairs and post roads to-day
by Warner, of Ohio. relative to the con-
struction and maintenance of tele-
graph line by land grant railroads
provides In its first sections that all
subsidized railroads shall forthwith
aud henceforward BY and through its
own officers and employes construct
ana operate for railroad, government,
commercial and other purposes tele-
graph lines, and exercise by themselves
alone all the telegraph franchise con.
conferred upon and obligations as
sumed by them under the granting
act. The second section provides that
any telegraph company that shall
have accepted the provisions Of title
shall extend its lines to the
last terminus or to any station or
offioe of q telegraph line belonging to
any one of the said railroad com panies,
IL shall have the right to connect
with the telegraph line of the railroad
company at the point where the lines
meet for the prompt service of tele.
graphic communication between the
two companies. The railroads are 70.
qulred to operate their telegraph lines
10 a. 20 afford equal facilities to all
without Discrimination In favor Of any
person, company or corporation.
Section 8 provides that In the event
of failure or refusal of any railroad ~
construct, maintain or operate its tele-
graph line without discrimination,
the persons or connecting company
may apply for relief TO the committee
Of railroads. who are directed to ascer-
tain the facts and report them TO the
secretary Of the interior. The secre-
tary shall order what arrangement is
proper TO be made in o particular case,
and this order the railroad com.
pany is bound to abide by. 1t Is made
the duty Of the commissioner OF rail.
roads to see that the order is properly
and efiectually carried into effect, and
II necessary enforced by mandamus or
other legal process.
BY section 4 1t is made the duty OF
the attorney general to prevent any
undue interference with the rights
and equities of the United States under
this act and to have all contracts and
provisions OF contracts set aside or an
nulled which have been unlawfully
entered into by the railroad companies
and by other persons or corporations.
The fifth section provides that any
officer of railroad company who re.
fuses to operate telegraph lines In the
manner provided, shall be deemed
guilty OF o misdemeauor and fined moi
exceeding 81 900, and imprisoned moi
less than ak months. The aRrieveo
party 10 authorized to bring action fol
damages against the general ofilcers
The sixth section requires the Officer
Of the railroad company, within sixty
days after the passage Of the act. q
file with the commissioner of railroadI
copies Of all contracts and agreements
existing between II and every otheI
persou or corporation in reference b
the ownership, possession, mainte
nance. control, use or operation or
their road, and also Q report deecrib
Ing the telegraph lines and property
belonging TO 1t aud the manner Of il
use and other particulars.
IN THE LOBBY.
The nomination of Jas. G. Matbews
to be recorder Of deeds Of the Distric
OF Columbia, which was one of thos,
uont IN thn Goa - ~ A.-