The Portland daily press., 1886-06-23
The Senate bill was passed granting the

right Of way TO fallroau companies through
Indian reservations in northern Montana.
Mr., Davis of Massachusetts, from the COM
mittee on commerce, reported back the SEN
Ote bill for the appointment of commission
to investigate the truth Of the alleged dis
cOyery of specific causes of yellow fever
and the method OF preventing that disease by
innoculation. Referred TO the committee OF
the whole.
The Senate bill for the erection of monu-
ment to Abraham Lincoln and setting apart
public reservations for the statues of Column
bus, Lafayette and Garfield were referred to
the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Dingley of Maine, from the committee
on shipping, reported q bill to amend the
laws relating to the inspection of steam yes
sells. Referred to the committee of the
whole.
Mr. Morrison of Illinois said that on last
Thursday he had given notice he would to-
day move to go into committee of the whole
on the tariff bill He had no expectation
now that any different result would be at
tanned from that of Thursday, and he there
fore would not make the motion today. He
then called up as a privileged question the
report of the committee on rules, amending
the rules so as to provide that it shall be in
order when the general pension bill is report
ed to the House to attach thereto provision
for raising the revenue necessary to meet the
expenditure involved. In advocating the
proposition Mr.. Morrison argued its adop-
tion was absolutely necessary unless Con-
gress was prepared to grant pensions and
leave the government without the means to
pay them. Since the war the government
had paid out $500, ,000,0 600 in pensions. When
it had paid out $780, 600 more there would
be pensions yet to pay. 1t had been esti-
mated when the arrears act was passed in
1879 that it would cost $35,0000o0. There
had already been paid out nearly 5000, 100000
and by the time the act was fully executed
there would have been paid out $3.50, ,000, 900;
sAf Toin 10
with some interest to the reasons which had
governed the majority OF the committee on
rules in reporting the proposed change OF
rules. He admitted the gravity of the ques-
tion, and had no desire to disguise it; but he
was surprised to see the action which the
majority proposed to take. If there was
anything in the logic presented in favor OF
the change it would be equally applicable to
all subjects of appropriation, as well as that
of pensions, and yet this rule was proposed
to be confined to pensions alone. What was
the real object, and what would be the prac-
tical effect of this action? Certainly consid-
GRAFTON of the question of pensions ought
to be separate from any other, and every
member ought to have the opportunity to ex-
press his views on the pension questions un-
disturbed by any other consideration, and
yet there was not a practicable man in the
House who did not know that the proposed
rule would be applied to faSten upon every
pension bill some method of taxation which
would prove obnoxious to the men who
might be desirous of voting for pension
tion made? On purpose to saddle on the
pension bills legislation which would result
in the defeat of the bills themselves? The
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Morrisonl had
alluded to the debate IN which the question
of probable deficiency had been raised. He
would not undertake to say whether
that gentleman or the gentleman from New
York (Hiscock) was correct in his figures
but he knew that the situation was quite liza
BILE to become such that the government
would not be able to continue the payment
of the public debt, except by paying out a
very great premium, but the country was
wonderfully recuperatiyc as to its income
and all who looked around could see signs of
coming prosperity, which might lift the gov
ernment income $100,000,000 he did not
feel there was any great danger that the
government would exceed its income. at least
he saw no such crisis which demanded that
theHouse should insidiously single out sim
gle class of legislation and give the opportu-
nifty to hamper it by tacking on legislation
which would be obnoxious to those who fa-
vored the first class. He, for one, was not
willing to enter on such an insidiouS course
as proposed by the gentleman from Illinois
HiScock regarded the proposed rule as
more than an attempt to make an insidious
distinction against pension bills. 1t was an
attempt on the part of the gentleman from
Illinois to award the responsibility of the de-
feat of pension legislation by direct votes.
The debate was continued at great length and
finally took somewhat partisan turn, but
Randall urged the House to avoid pettlfoggy
and demagoguery and consider the pension
bill upon common sense basis. That II
money were appropriated for pensions some
measures must be taken to raise the money
thus appropriated.
Mr. Hiscock said the proposition was a
direct confession that the Democracy could
not redeem its pledge TO reduce taxation.
Mr.. Milliken of Maine contended that the
proposition was intended to make it as diff
iicult to pass federal pension bill as it was
for camel to pass through the eye of a
needle.
Mr.. Reed said that tho proposition was one
of the examples of the indirectness which
long years of servitude had caused to be the
habit of the Democratic party. Having
been for long years in the minority, they had
the fashion of indirectness, and they could
not drop it now when they were in the ma
jority He argued that the purpose of the
proposition was to attach tariff legislation
to pension bills, and inquired in sarcastic
manner what legislation on earth could stand
tariff discussion. The House had expressed
its disgust with the subject to such an ex-
tent that though the tariff bill was still-born,
it refused it even the orat0rical ceremony of
burial. Maughter.) The Democratic party
had pledged internal revenue to pensions.
That was another evidence of indirectness.
they might run riot in tariff schedules, and
yet after all their careful preparations there
did not seem to be much running riot in tariff
schedules.
Mr. Bragg of Wisconsin made character
istic speech. which led Mr.. Randall to pro-
nounce his contempt for Mr.. Bragg. Mr..
Randall also paid his respects to Mr. Hewitt,
and somewhat acrimonious tariff debate
followed, participated in by Messrs. Randall,
Hewitt and Morrison.
Mr.. Morrison then moved the previous
question ON the adoption of the resolution.
Mr. Reed moved to lay the resolution on
the table.
The yeas and nays were ordered, and Mr..
Reeds motion was defeated@yeas, 126; nays
139.
Before vote could be taken on the origi-
nal motion, Mr.. Reed moved an adjournment
and the Republicans, by dilatory tactics,
managed to consume the time up to 5 o'clock,
when, under standing order. the Speaker
declared the House adjourned, amid an out
burst of applause and derisive laughter
from tl,a