Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-15
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
CLAIM AGENTS AND SOLDIERS.
The Senate Orders an Investigation.
CONGRESSMEN AND LAND GRANTS.
Personal Explanations in the House.

Personal Explanations in the House.
The Senate.
CLAIM AGENTS AND UNION SOLDIERS.
In the Senate to-day Mr. Plumb sent to the
clerks desk, and had read, letter purporting to
Eave been written by pension claim agent In this
city to an ex-soldier of Kansas Mr.. Plumb asked
that the name OF the firm and of the ex-soldier be
suppressed. The letter was dated Washington,
February Is, 1883, and it stated that the firm had
on previous occasion advised the soldier
osd thas tSe m wss
zant OF the claim and that If properly pre-
sented, there was no doubt that Congress
to pass it. The letter went on to state that the
terms OF the firm were SIS OF which SO must be
paid in advance, and the balance upon the passage
tailed. The flrm added that the late Congress
passed 1888 private pension bills, and that no
doubt the present Congress would pass q number
present pension claims to Congress-" as In the
face OF q congressional and presidential campaign
both parties are on their mettle to make records
for the approaching contests.
UNION SOLDIERS IMPOSED UPON.
Senator Plumb said he believed that large sums
OF money are being obtained from ex-soldiers by
men who render them no service whatever. He
was not member OF the pensions committee, but
had been informed that its rules do not permit any
M ".
Plumb expressed the hope that the pensions COM
mittee would investigate the matter and take some
action to prevent Union soldiers being thus i'm
Senator Hale wanted the name of the firm that
sent out the letter or circular. He said it was q
remarkable letter. and in view Of the fact that no
attorney could influence Congress In these claims
1t was plain that 1t was designed to mislead and
deceive. The name should be made public
Mr.. Plumb replied that while he thought the
animus and object OF the letter plain enough he
would prefer to await the result OF an 1nvestiga-
ton, as he did not want to do any Injustice. Mr..
Cockrell said he had received copies OF just such
letters that were sent out by claim agents OF
Washington and he mentioned one that was sent
to him by an ex-soldier last session.
CLAIM AGENTS SHUT OUT AT THE CAPITOL.
Senator Dawes said the rules OF the pension CON-
mittee preclude all attorneys and claim agents
from making any argument or presenting any
claim, and that they cannot render any possible
service to soldiers
senator Plumb added that early in the session
letter was addressed, and that thereafter the
Dill was favOrably reported He was satisfied that
the claim agents watch the proceedings OF Con-
gress, and take advantage Of favorable action to
senators Davis, Cockren Plumb and hale de-
nounced the claim agents as 'sharEA"
THE MATTER TO BE INVESTIGATED.
The letter was referred to the pensions COM
mittee for an investigation.
A large number Of bills were reported from COM
mittees and placed on the calendar, including the
following: House bill! for the erection OF public
nshment Of light house at the mouth mo- M Of M the % WI.
comcO river, Nd. House bill to regulate appoint
ments in the marine hospital service; for the for
OF washington and North Dakota, with minority
reports>.
Mr. Hiscock introduced bill to provide for the
preliminary arrest OF, the demand for, and the
surrender Of fugitives from justice in any or the
states or territories who have taken refuge other
states or territories.
House OF Representative.
Mr.. THOMAS CHARACTERIzBs NEWSPAPER PUBLIcA-
TION ABOUT HIN AS LIE
MI. Thomas (Wis) risingto question OF privi-
lege, sent to the clerks desk and had read an art-
Gle in New York paper relative to the pending
railroad legislation. The article states-while
doubling the truth OF the claim-that a Major
ReddingtOn, the proprietor OF a ticket shop in
mOnOpOiistic members as Messrs Weaver Qowa),
Thomas CNisl.. Mr.. Thomas declared that he did
not know Reddington, had never seen him, and
had never had any communication with him d.
rectly or indirectly. He was not interested in
stocks and the whole ; matter 80 far as he was
little TO do with the article; The men
interested in land grant legislation as lobbyists
had inspired the article. They had caused 1t to be
published In one OF the greatest and most widely
gone over the land that members Of the House
were dealing with men who controlled bucket
shops to influence the stock market for their own
beneflt. These land-grant grabberS-theSe Pacific
railroad men, who had taken from the Treasury,
under false pretenses, s17S 0OO and % OOO 900
acres OF land were seeking now TO slander and be-
smear the character OF every man who dared to
stand up for the rights OF the people.
Mr.. Allen MISSY remarked that he was not mad
about the matter. The only time he had heard OF
ReddingtOn was some two years ago, when he
learned that some Pacific railroad people were
interested in getting some man out OF the Oice Of
met man who talked flippantly about the Pacific
railroads, and whom he presumed to be Redding-
ton. That was the only time he had ever seen
him. The program seemed to be TO make q dis
reputable character OF this man Reddington, and
then TO associate with him everybody who offered
any sort OF opposition to such legislation might
be desired by the Pacific Railroad Companies
The newspaper, or the newspaper correspondent
who intimated or insinuated That he {Allen) had
ever had any connection with bucket shops or
or that he had placed his conduct or action in
this House at the disposal OF any man, was-well,
II ever the idea should prevail requiring news:
that newspaper and that newspaper correspondent
would have TO go out OF business. fLaughterl
THE URGENCY DEFICIENCY BILL
The House, on motion OF Mr. Burnes, OF Missouri,
went into committee of the whole (Mr Blount OF
Georgia, in the chair,) for the consideration Of
Senate amendments TO the urgent deficiency biil
The Mills Revenue Bill.
Mr.. KELLEY's AMENDMENT FOR TOTAL REPEAL OF THE
TOBACCO TAX.
The ways and means committee considered the
internal revenue features Of the tariff bill to-day
1t was developed that the republican members OF
the committee were not in perfect accord on this
subject. Judge Kelley offered an amendment pro-
posing to include in the repeal of tobacco tax the
tax on cigars, cigarettes &c.-for q complete re-
peal of the tax. Three republicans voted with the
democrats against this amendment The tnd1ca.
tions are that there are two or three republicans
on the committee who Will approve Of the internal
nj a a q q a 70
Cutting Timber.
THE INVESTIGATION OF THE DEPRRDATT0NS ON THE
CHIPPEWA RESERVATION.
Senator Blackburn, In speaking to q STAR re-
porter yesterday about the pending investigation
into the cutting of timber the reservation OF the
Chippewa Indians, said: 81 see that Senator Chand-
Ter has published an intervtew-he may call tt let
ter but 1t is substantially an nteryiewgiving his
views In regard TO this subject. Now let me give
you mine. We have wasted in the committee room
every day since last Thursday listening to q lot Of
tedious twaddle and balder1ash translated into an
English pat0is by an irresponsible interpreter
without having developed single material fact
or having found enough suspicion to warrant the
wastage OF one single minute. Up to this time
absolutely nothing has been developed. 1t has
been the dryest, dreariest experience Of my ife !"
Senator Blackburn, has, as q member OF the COM
mfttee attended every meeting and he SAYS that
he did not md It worth the trouble to cross
examine many OF the witnesses.