The Portland daily press., 1888-03-28
Lth CONGRESS-..FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.

w NAohlNO1O-ss AAhANaA -
Senator Blair called up for its second read
ing, his bill to give preference to disabled
Confederate soldiers as between men who
had been disloyal in appointments to civil
office.
Senator Riddleberger spoke favoring the
bill.
Senator Blair defended the principles Of the
bill, which he had introduced after prolonged
reflection. The bill was not an entering wedge
to pensioning Confederate soldiers. 1t was
simply bill embodying an act of humanity
blended with magnanim1ty. He believed the
proposition was wise one, and had received
many letters expressing commendation for
ex-Confederate soldiers since the bill had
been entered. He calculated that there
were at least quarter of a million ex-Con-
federate soldiers still living, Of whom per-
haps, from fifty thousand to sixty thousand
were without arms or legs. These men
could not be pensioned. Nothing could be
done for them by the Federal government ex-
cept in some indirect manner. Ever since
the close of the war, Confederates had been
appointed to Office under a Republican ad-
ministration. He supposed that 80 out OF
every 100 appointments to the civil service
made in the South were of men who had
been disloyal during the war. 1t was too
late for the Republicans to say it protruded
any novel doctrine upon the Senate. He
wondered whether, if Lincoln occupied a
seat in the Senate or Grant or Sherman or
Sheridan they would object to a second read
ing of the bill.
Senator Edmunds opposed the second read
ing and said the bill proposed that certain
class Of United States citizens, who distln-
guished themselves mitigating against their
country should be in like manner preferred
and for the same reason. He thought 1t safe
to say that no such proposition had ever be-
fore been made in any legislative body. Pro-
baby such proposition would never again
be made. 1t destroyed all the distinction be-
tween patriotism and the reverse. Nobody
objected to Confederate soldiers or Confed-
crate citizens sitting in either House Of Con-
gress. They did not occupy such seats be
cause they had been Confederates, but be-
cause they stood just like every other citizen,
of Nasby and other Confederates by Grant,
he said that General Grant appointed them
not because they had been C0nfederates, but
because they were now useful and patrlouc
citizens. -
He hoped the Senate would take no fur
| ther steps with the bill.
Without disposing of the question, the
| Senate at p. M, took up tue diminished Dus-
| mess Of yesterday, being the consideration
| of the House bond purchase bill, the pending
| question being on the amendment oitered
| yesterday by Senator Stewart authorizing
| the deposit Of gold and silver bullion and the
| issuance Of coin certificates therefor.
| Senator Teller addressed the Senate, ap-
| plying himself to the task Oh relutlng tne .s
| statement made yesterday by Senator Platt
| that the depreciation OF silver was due TO
| oyer-production. He denied that silver had
| fallen. He knew that It would not now buy
as much gold as in, 1879, but II would BUY
| more wheat, corn, land and manufactured
goods than then. If there had been an hon.
est administration of the finances of the
| country, there would not have been any
1 where in the world suggestion that there
was an over production OF silver; Inc di-
| cause of the demonetization of silver, and
/ that alone, Until the United States took
the back track and planted itself squarely on
the doctrine that silver coin must be treated
| the same as gold coin, the United States
would have little or no effect on the financial
| conduct of other nations. When the gov
| ernment had done that, there would be no
further question about the price OF silver.
On the $500, ,O00, ,000sof silver the government
had purchased for coinage, 1t had made a
profit of more than $35,OO0,OO0.
Senator Reagan presented an amendment
which he desired to have printed, to be Of
fered hereafter authorizing the Secretary OF
the Treasury to cancel erest-Dearing Donds
served in the treasury for the redemption OF
legal tender notes, and repeating that por-
ton of the resumption act which requires
the redemption Of legal tender notes in coin
Senator Beck gave notice that he would Of
fer an amendment to the bill which he had
introduced on the same subject.
| On motion of Senator Sherman, a commit
tee of FIVE Senators to attend the funeral OF
the late Chief Justice at Toledo, Ohio, was
ordered. Senators Sherman, Allison, Ey
arts. George and Gray were appointed Sen
ator Sherman suggested that in the absence
of these Senators, further action or discus
sion on the bond bill be suspended.
Senator Hoar asked and obtained unani
mons consent to have the Senate proceed
during the remainder of the week. assuming
there would be no business tomorrow anC
no session Good Friday, to the consideration
of the bills on the calendar
Senator Palmer moved that the bond bill
be recommitted to the committee on finance
ing when the bill is taken up again mex