The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-18
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-
The House Shipping Bill Amended in
the Senate and Finally Passed.
Continuation of the Debate on General Fem
sions-Study of the Effects of Alcohol To
Be Taught in Territorial Schools.
THE SENATE.
Passage of the Shipping BilI-Continuation
Of the Debate on Pensions.

Passage OF the Shipping INSTRUMENTATION
| Of the Debate Pensions.
WASHINGTON, May 17.-Atter routine business
| in the Senate, to-day Mr. Frye called up the
| House shipping bill, entitled "a bill to abolish
certain fees for official services to American ves-
| sells, and to amend the laws relating to shipping
| commissioners, seamen and owners of vessels. )"
| This is the bill passed by the House of Rep
resentatives on February last, abolishing the
fees for measuring tonnage for issuing licenses,
registry certificates, and great variety of other
fees:
The bill having been read, Mr.. Frye moved to
add to it, as new section, the provisions of the
bill recently reported by him from the commit
tee on commerce. authorizing the President to
issue proclamation. whenever he may deem
proper, denying to vessels of foreign countries.
such privileges are denied in such foreign
countries TO vessels of the United States
This is the provision authorizing retaliation
for the recent action of the Dominion of Canada
In excluding United States vessels from certain
privileges in Canadian ports but the provision
of Mr.. Frye's dill is not confined to Canada, but
| is made general so as to apply to all foreign
countries
After some inquiry by Mr.. Mcpherson and
Mr. Vest, and word of reply by Mr.. Frye, the
amendment was agreed TO- without debate The
bill as amended by the Senate was then passed,
| and on motion Of NJ. Frye a committee of con-
ference was ordered on the disagreeirg votes of
the two houses upon the bill
Proceeding to the calendar, the Senate passed
the following measures
A joint resolution authorizing the Treasury
Department to audit and pay claim of the Kan
a
the mails; bill to authorize the State of Cali
fornia to take lands in lien of the sixteenth and
thirty sixth sections, found to be mineral lands.
The Chair appointed as the conference com
mittee on the shipping bill, passed this morning,
Messrs. Miller. Dolph and Vest. Mr.. Frye had
announced that he was obliged to be absent
from the Senate for an indefinite time.
At O'Clock the pension bill was laid before
the Senate. The pending amendment was that
heretofore offered by Mr.. Van Wyck, providing
that no soldier under this act shall receive less
than So per month.
Mr.. Blair moved to amend the amendment by
substituting four dollars for eight
Mr.. Van Wyck said injustice had been done
by the methods OF the Pension Office estimating
the amount of pension that should be paid under
acts fixing maximum sums and not minimum
sums in bills providing for the payment of PEN
sons according to the proportion of disability"
Under such bills we saw pensioners getting such
rdculously small sums as ST. per month or So
blame in the matter, because Congress had made
the law and set the example, and the Pension
Ofice bad, no doubt. measured the disability
well as it could
would move the following amendment to the
| amendment of Mr. Van Wyck: This rate, as
applied to the least disability for which any
soldier shall be pensioned under this act, shall
furnish basis on which all pensions hereunder,
or under any other law, shall be adjusted and
paid hereafter, saving only pensions for what
are known as specific disability" In support of
this amendment Mr.. Plumb said he thought the
proper course would be to take the least disabil-
ity and make that the basis for all others
Mr.. Logan moved amendment providing
that all pensions heretofore granted under any
previous act to any soldier SHALL where less than
$S a month has been allowed, be increased to So
a month, and no less amount shall be allowed to
any pensioner, being soldier, under this or any
previous act. Mr.. Logan expressed himself ut
terly opposed to pensions of ST, So, So or 81 q
month. Ii man was entitled to pension at
all he was entitled to more than that
The first question being taken on Mr. Blar's
amendment to amend Mr.. Van Wyck's amend.
ment. it was rejected.
The question required on Mr. Logans amend
ment to the amendment of Mr. Van Wyck.
Mr.. Cockrell was opposed to the amendment.
1t would add, he thought, $10 0OO 900 year to
tho pension list, and would establish great in
| equalities as between pensioners
| Mr.. Logan hoped the Republican party woul
| never forget the services of the volunteer sol
diers for the sake of any desire to accumulate
| money mountain high in the Treasury.
| Mr.. Logan's amendment to the amendment of
Mr.. Van Wyck was rejected-yeas %, nays 81.
Mr.. Blair moved, as a substitute for the pend
| ing amendment, proviso that no pension here
| after to be paid under any law to any soldier
shall be rated at less than 81 month.
| Mr.. Butler submitted an amendment to be
proposed by him at the proper time, providing
| for pension of So month TO each surviving sol
der of the Mexican war.
Without further action. the Senate went into
| executive session, and when the doors reopened
| adjourned