The National tribune., 1888-02-16

W
1t also empowers the Secretary 10 remove the
charge where any man, after such charge of de-
sertion or absence without leave, voluntarily
returned to and served in the line of his duty
until mustered out, or, while so absent, and be-
fore the expiration of his term of enlistment,
died from wounds, injury, or disease received
or contracted in the service and in the line OF
duty.
Mr. McMillin opposed the bill, because it
seemed TO be so far-reaching in its effects; not
only going to back pay, but laying the founda-
ton for pensions
Mr. Boutelle explained that the entire bill
and amendment applied to the soldiers and
marines the terms of the law in reference to
the army.
Mr.. Cox advocated the bill because it was an
advance in favor of general against special
legislation.
The amendments were agreed to and the bill
passed.
Mr. Hooker (3Iiss.) reported back the bill
authorizing the President to appoint Alfred
Pleasonton as Brigadier- General on the retired
list
Mr. Warner introduced bill for the appoint
ment of commission on the reform Of orthog-
Taphy.
The House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. s.
In the Senate, Senator Stewart asked that the
proceed to the consideration of the bill author
izing the sale of ce tain mineral lands to aliens
He said that the bill applied only to the min
eral lands acquired under our mineral-land
laws which guarded them very thoroughly
against monopolies and the foreign capital
that had been invested in developing them IN
the last so years was beneficial. Foreign capt.
talists had probably expended more money
than they had taken out of them. 1t was
business where the owners had to employ
great many people and spend large amount of
money, and whether they were foreigners or ma
tives made no difference. There was universal
desire among those familiar with the subject
that the mines be exempted from the operation
of the alien land law.
Senator Mitchell supported the bill, and said
that he believed it had been strongly advO-
Gated by every one of the present Governors
Of the Territories, with one exception and that
there could be no objection to it.
Senator Mcpherson was hot conversant with
the mineral-land laws, but understood that they
were very important He thought if this
amendment should pass, foreign capitalists
would come in and purchase large tracts OF land
which possess vast mineral wealth, and hold
them away from the occupancy of citizens. 1t
was an abandonment of the principle intended
to be embodied in the law passed last year in
respect TO restricting the ownership of lands Of
the United States TO actual settlers and citizens
Of the United States.
Senator Stewart denied that there was any
possibility Of monopoly in the mining lands. The
laws guard against such things, and there were
no communities more jealous Of monopoly
than mining communities.
Senator Spooner called up the bill which au-
thorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to re-
NIT the duties which have been collected
on animals imported for breeding purposes,
whether they were for the importers own
use or for sale; which was passed.
The Senate, in Committee Of the Whole, re-
sumed consideration of the Blair Educational
Bill, the pending question being the amend
ment proposed by Senator Plumb
Senator Call made an argument in favor of 1t,
controverting the constitutional opposition Of
the assailants of the bill. He said that every
appropriation bill was chock full of appropria-
tons giving money for purposes outside of the
enumerated powers of the Constitution and he
cited Dir. Calhoun supporting an extension of
Congressional power such as is contemplated by
the Blair bill.
Senator Reagan denied that the general well
fare clause was delegation of power, and that
the commentators from Justice Story down sup
ported that view.
Senator George admitted the proposition OF
the Senator from Texas, but affirmed that no
decision Of the Supreme Court limited the
1 power as stated. On the contrary, as stated by
the Senator from Florida, the uniform con-
struction of that clause Of the Constitution from
very early period down to the present
time, was that while Congress could not
| legislate so as to acquire jurisdiction over a
! matter, under those words it might legislate By
/ appropriating money TO objects outside of the
enumerated clauses of the Constitution. That
/ was the proposition upon which the friends Of
/ the bill stood. 1t was power that was used
every day in Congress. The last appropriation
/ bill was chock full OF appropriations giving
money to purposes outside Of the enumerated
powers OF the Constitution, and these had beer
sanctioned by Mr. Calhoun, and by the uniform
practice Of the country from the beginning
/ down 10 the present time.
Senator Reagan said that he did not know
that Mr.. Calhoun ever distinctly repudiatet
| the language and the construction of tina
/ clause, as had been attributed to him, but hi
whole sfter-lile was general reputation o
I that doctrine. The Senator reaffirmed that til,
commentators Of the Constitution had uni
fornly opposed such exercise of power as wa
| contemplated.
Senator George said that while he had no
the book with him, he would undertake t.
prove that Judge Story had distinctly and un
equiFocally announced the doctrine that tn
power to appropriate money was not confinet
TO the powers enumerated in the Constitution
Senator Call said that he did not think tina
the doctrine Of the Senator from Texas had
right to consideration because he had voted a
the present session and had voted every yea
in denial Of il, and every other mau who ha
been in Congress had done so; he had vote
for internal improvements, and knew that th
great statesmen Madison and Calhoun denie
entirely the power as it is now exercised.
Senator Reagan said that there was a broa
distinction between the purposes of this bi
aud the appropriation for the improvement {
rivers and harbors.
dispute followed, with several Senator
upon the floor at once, which was terminate
by the call to order by the President and I'll
statement that the Senator from Florida ";
, entitled 10 the floor and it could not be take
. from him without his consent.
IL was decided that the debate should e,
: tend until o'clock the next Wednesday afte
noon, when q vote should be taken upon it an
Its amendments, and that no vote should
taken until that time.
! The Senate adjourned.
In the House, Mr.. Ford Mich. presented
q petition signed by 40 furniture manufacture
Of "a different States of the Union, asking th
the tariff OH French plate glass be reduce
/, and that coal, burlaps, German lookinggla
: plates, spOnges, etc, be placed on the free lii
A number of bills were taken from the pl
G vate Calendar, considered aud disposed of.
The House adjourned.
j. THURSDAY, FEB 8.
4 In the Senate Senator Henderson, from {
/ Committee on Printing, reported a joint res
o luton for the disposition OF undstributed CO
2 les Of the Records of the Rebellion the repOl