The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-07-15
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Work Of the Senate and House
At Representatives

inst for the protection OF women and children
in the District. A very large number OF petit
tons gotten up aud signed through the exertions
OF the Knights OF Labor, praying for the passage
OF the bills FORGETTING railroad land grants,
were presented. bill was introduced
by Mr. Cockrell 60 regulate the pay
OF army and navy officers who refuse or neglect
to provide for their families. The Senate spent
some time In discussing an itein OF sl5O,OOO in
the river and harDor bill for the purchase of the
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, but reached no con-
clusion. The President nominated Fitz John
Porter TO be n Colonel on the retired list of the
army, in accordance with the terms OF
the act recently passed for his relief The
House. in committee Of the whole, reached
the end OF the general deficiency bill, and re-
ported il back to the House. The President
transmitted TO the House messages announcing
his disapproval OF twenty private pension bills.
In Vetong the bill granting pension 70 Fran
els Deming, who claims that he contracted
blindness, the result OF rheumatism in
CURED in the service, the President says
that there seems TO be no testimony
showing the soldiers condition from the
time OF his discharge TO 1880, period
OF fifteen years. The President continues:
Il am satisfied that fair examination
OF the facts in this case justifies the statement
that the bill under consideration can rest only
upon the grounds that aid should be furnished
TO this ex-soldier because he served in the
army, and because, n long time thereafter,
he became blind, disabled, and depend
emit None of is entitled to credit for
extreme tenderness and consideration for those
who fought their countrys battles these are
sentiments common 70 all good citizens They
lead TO the most benevolent care on the part OF
the Government and deeds OF charity and mercy
in private life The blatant and noisy self-as-
sertion OF those who from motives that may
well be suspected, declare themselves above all
others the friends Of the soldier, can not dis
credit nor belittle the calm, steady, and atfec-
Tomato regard OF a grateful nation Legislation
has been at the present session Of Congress
perfected which considerably increases the rate
of pension in certain cases. Appropriations
have also been made OF large sums for the sup
port Of national homes where sick, disabled,
or needy soldiers are cared for, and within q
few days liberal sum has been appropri-
ated for the enlargement and increased 40
commodation and convenience OF these in
stitutions All this is no more than should
be done. But with all this. and with the
plumbers OF special acts which have been
pushed, granting pensions in cases where, for
my part, am willing 70 confess that sympathy
rather than judgment has often led 70 the dis
covery OF a relation between injury or death
and the military service, am constrained by
a sense Of public duty TO interpose against es-
tablishing principle and setting precedent
which must result in unregulated, partial and
unjust gifts OF public money under the pretext
OF indemnifying those who suffered in their
means OF support as an incident OF military
service.
IN considering the river and harbor bill, on
the 9TH inst. the Senate adopted an item appro-
priating $4,000 TO make the Sturgeon Bay
Canal free Of toll to commerce. A Presidential
veto was sent TO the Senate OF the bill author1z-
ing the construction OF railroads through the
Indian reservation in Northern Montana. The
Speaker laid before the House OF Representa-
tves twenty-one pension veto messages from
the President. Mr. Jackson, of Pennsylvania,
attacked the veto policy Of the Execu-
tive who, he said, was not actuated by regard
for the worth and merit Of private pension bills.
Mr.. Bragg Wis., said that there seemed to be
an idea in the House that it was the duty OF
the President 70 abdicate his Office in favor OF
majority OF the Committee on Invalid Pen
sions. Whenever, in the exercise OF his
constitutional prerogatives, he examined
W or W
provident and wise, il was charged that
he had perpetrated an outrage on the
American people He (NTr. Bragg was glad TO
find that ut last there man in the execu-
tive chair who had the nerve and courage to
place his hand upon legislation when he
thought il improper, whether il We're pension or
railroad legislation. Congress had gone alto
gether too far in the way of pension legisla-
ton Before the House went further in
pensioning the dead-wood of the army
II should make some provision for the
tnen who went to the front in 1861. Mr.. Browne
(Indiana) criticised the action of the President.
and invoked God mercy on "a man who had the
heart 20 veto n bill for the relief of the widow
of man who died in the line OF duty
to his country. His Excellency belonged
TO that class OF men who, during the
war, were afraid of nothing but danger.
Mr.. Cannon I'LL read in the vetoes the story
that while Cleveland was President there would
be no further pension legislation. There We're
great questions in this country calling for the
attention of the executive, yet the President
brushed them all aside and appeared anxious
knot that came from the solid South.
There he Stood looking through a gimlet-
hole with magnfying glass, hunting for ex:
cuses and heaping derision upon the heads Of
the poor men who lost their health in the
service OF the country. He assured the gentle
men on the Democratic side that they would
have TO defend the Presidents actions before
November Mr.. Matson showed that nearly all
pension legislation of importance had been en-
acted by Democrats, and that nearly all OF
these bills had been vetoed by Republican
Commissioner OF Pensions years ago.
The Hennepin Canal amendment to the river
and harbor bill was taken up in the Senate on
the sth inst. Senators Logan and Cullom both
made speeches in ito favor. A bill was intro
duced authorizing the Secretary of War 10 have
published additional volumes Of "The War OF
the Rebellion" sufficient to supply all Grand
Army posts. The resolution for open ex-
order for Wednesday, December S, thus
practically disposng of il at the present ses-
sion. The Senate passed the bill 70 establish a
forest reservation on the headwaters Of the
Missouri River and on the headwaters Of Clark s
Fork of the Columbia River Resolutions in
quiring into the authority under which a
so-called State Legislature had been organ
lied in the Territory of Dakota were indef-
nitely postponed. The Commerce Committee Of
the Senate reported unfavorably upon the NOM
inaton of Captain II. +. Beecher, son of the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher to be Collector of
Port Townsend W. L. IL is charged that he
appropriated to his own use funds intrusted to
ately adjourned, account of the death Of
Representative Cole, Of NJ aryland.
Mr.. HoAR offered resolution in the Senate
on the 9th inst, calling on the President for in
formation as 10 the seizure detention in any
foreign ports Of any American vessels, the pre-
texts or alleged causes therefor and what
efforts have been made 10 provide redress
for such seizures and to prevent their
recurrence. The resolution went over.
Mr. Call offered resolution calling on the
President 70 direct the American representa-
tive i'm Mexico 70 investigate the truth of state
ments made in the newspapers that citizens OF
the United States are confined in Mexican dun
geons without trial for alleged offenses against
the laws OF Mexico, and that their final trial
has been postponed without cause, and requir-
ing the United States Government Gf such
statements are found to be true to
demand the trial OF such persons
and their humane treatment. The
Senate, in executive session, rejected the
nomination of John Goode, Of Virginia, TO
be Solicitor General OF the United States. In
the House OF Representatives motion To refer
TO the Committee on Invalid Pensions the mes
sage OF the President vetoing the bill granting
a pension to Sarah Ann BRADLEY gave rise TO
an animated debate, i'm the course OF which
the Executive was arraigned by Messrs, Grosve-
nor, Barrows, McComas, and Boutelle, and
defended by Mr.. Springer. The message was