The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-16
CONGRESS
Merely Playing at Legislation.
Mr.. Wheeler, in the House, Offers
an Aggravating Resolution.
Republicans Squirm, But It Gets
Into the Record.
Question of Pension vetoes Up in
the Senate.
Senator Blair to Make Another Exhibi.
ton of Despicable Partisanship
The Definite Date for
Adjournment.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.-[The Senate. /
The attendance Of senators today is larger
than had been anticipated, there being
/, some thirty Of them present when the
journal was read.
The message Of the President vetoing
the pension bill of Mrs. Sarah Woodbridge,
on the ground that her second husband
is still living, and that such precedent
should not be established, was laid before
the Seante. The bill and message was re-
ferred TO the committee on pensions.
Mr.. IIoar called attention to the Union
Pacific funding bill and suggested that, in
view Of its great importance, it should be
set down for a hearing for the first Tues
day in December.
Mr.. Morgan agreed with Mr.. Hoar as
TO the necessity Of having action taken on
the BILL II was n very urgent matter, he
said; II was very fortunate that Congress
was so very near to proper consideration
Of the question as that the committees of
both Houses had unanimously agreed upon
the same bill, and that the principle, at
least, had been fixed upon by which the
Pacific railroad debts could be settled lie
therefore hoped that the first Tuesday in
December would be fixed for the consid-
Grafton Of the bill.
Mr. Allis0n-Subjcct TO the tariff bill?
Mr.. Morgan - Certainly; although
think We can dispos Of the tariff bill at
the present session.
Mr.. lioars suggestion was agreed TO,
and the iirst Tuesday IN December next
was fixed Tor the consideration oi the Pa
cic railroad funding bill.
Mr.. Blair, IN connection with the veto
me sage, proceeded 10 discuss the pension
veto generally, and the case 0i Mary Ann
Dohcuy in particular, AMI said that
although he noticed the senator from
Missouri MIR CockrclD TO snecr at his
remarks, the matter oil doing Justice To
that poor woman was Just rs serious ~
the passage OF tariff bill or thc election
OF u president. lie read various ailidayis
in support Of Mn. Dohcriy's claim that
she was one Of those who were injured in
the Washington arsenal explosion in
1854. lie also read various certificates,
among them two from Catholic priests, as
10 the good character NJ the woman aud
said that those who had been in.tfu-
mental In doing injury 10 her should
make rpam,ion. lie trusted that the
President would do 30 IN a public manner
by communication 20 bolli houses of Con-
gross rs an antidDle 10 the injury pCrpe-
trutcd by the veto.
Mr.. Cockrull characterized tho docu.
mcnts produced by Mr. Blair as mere
trash, the ycriust b0sh, secondary cyi.
dcncc and hcar-ly, aud he reminded the
Senate that he had challenged the chair
man Of the committee on pensions 10 re-
port back the bill with a recommendation
that il be passed Notwithstanding the
Presidents objections, and that challenge
still remained unanswered. The President,
Dc said, had not told half the truth about
the womHn's character.
Mr. BIair-llc did not tell any.
laughtor.l
Mr. Coclrcll-IIc told only a part Of It,
aud everything hc told was he truth. As
10 the G,oIgc Bancroft who had signed
one OF the plpcrs and who had 5cen rep.
resented ~ the historian, il now turned
out, Ice said, that lac WIS different pyron
ai,ugythcr-"a pension shark.
'As honest a man ~ either OF ~, said
Mr. Blair.
As 10 the claim that Mary'Ann Dohcrly
had been injured IN thc arsenal explosion,
Mr.. COchrcll read a communication from
Gen. BOuct stating that an examination u
the files Of the arsenal from October, 1868.
to December, 1854, did not show her name
among the employees, and that the list Of
10 iujurul persons % whom r. gift Ul
5000 had been distributed did not con.
tain her name. lie also read statements
showing that her claim that her sIn had
been killed by accident 10 the Washington
navy yard had no iuundltUn, no such ac.
Ciivni having occurred there.
Mr. blair treated The statement made by
MI luukrpll as un attempt lo DO thing
which could not be- done, prove q ncs1-
U,p, and be- spoke ~ tho President us an
Infamous libJlyr' Ia having u.d hts
great power $50 lriamp aud libel this
woman unnecessarily" he declared that
there bad been "Jn amount of conu.-
vance, inrkcry and fraud IvIoiWtcd by
government officials tD Nuimzc The
woman and put her IA the wrong thpt
would shame the very d,u.zgus Ol the
p., itself Mary Ann buhcUy, hc as
serted, was woman Of Improbable
character while tEclr WIS mo proof Of the
character ul her .ailluL'
At 'hr close VI Mr. B.lir's remarks, the
Presidents mDssl sr yptpIns The hill grant
ing "a pension 30 Mary n. Richards, was
lllil N.tNlN Nll' fNllNANF Wv HINNll'A ~ AAli
diappIuyal being iuJt thn beneficiary
would receive under thu aC.lun 81 ,hc pen.
sion bureau q much larger sum than she
would receive under the hill. Referred.
Another message from the President, r.
turning wiihou, his approval q BIN grant
INCA pension 20 ". =. Bradshaw, was laid
before the senate. Tho ground Of disap.
prUyal Is that the disability was not con-
jrclgd la thc military service. Laid on
tho table.
Sir. Hale introduced hin authorizing
the secretary u war 10 protect the WASH
inglun aqucduct tunnel. Passed.
The Joint resolution authorizing the cx-
ecntiyc dcputmpa, tu use articles M their
possession for cSAihiiiUn at the Paris eX-
position was passed..
Mr. Brown presented a petition Of the
Nomcns Christian Temperance union, Of
Gooril, Tor lhc repeal Of The internal ruyo.
nuc laws, and addressed the Senate. lie
referred TO the fact that there was no
quorum OF either house In the city OF
Washington, aad that no bu.ingB could
lawfully be- done la face oi single obicc.
lion Ihcu was, Therefore. be said, buI
one thing lclt 10 be done, and Mat vas Z,