Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-03-28
THE NATIONS SCAPITAL.
Blair'S Confederate Preference
Bill Discussed.
Senate DeferS Action on the Bond
Purchase Bill.
The River and HarbOr Bill Appropriates
Nearly Twenty Millions.
The Texas vestigattons-Uncle Sans
Title in Coal and Mineral Deposits
The Military Bill-The Interna-
tional Council of Women.
WAsHIsGIos, March %.
Senate.

WAsHISGIoS, March "a.
Senate.
Mr.. Blair called up the question of the
second reading of his bill, to give preference
TO disabled confederate soldiers as between
men who had been disloyal, in appointments
to civil Office.
MIR. Riddleberger spoke favoriDg the bill.
Mr.. Blair defended the principles of the
bill, which he had introduced after prolonged
reflection, and on the same afternoon that he
had conyersed with crippled confederate
soldier He said the bill was not the enter
lug wedge for the pensioning of confederate
soldiers. 1t was simply a bill embodyng an
act of humanity blended with magnanimity
and which he thought great nation nigh,
well afford. He believed that the PROPOSE
ton was wise. He had received many let
ters of thanks and commendation from ex-
confederate soldiers since it was int reduced.
He calculated that there were at least quar-
ter of million of ex-confederate soldiers
still living of whom perhaps from fifty thons-
and to sixty thousand were without arms or
legs. These men couldn't be pensioned.
Nothing could be done for them by the fed
eral government, except in some indirect
manner Ever since the close of the war
contederates had been appointed to Office un-
der republican administrations. He sup
posed that 50 out of every 100 appointments
to civil service made in the South were of
men who had been dsloyal during the war.
1t was too late for the republicans to ay that
it protruded any novel doctrine upon the
Senate. He wondered whether, if Lincoln
occupied seat in the Senate or Grant or
Sherman or Sheridan, they would object to
the second reading of the bill.
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the second reading,
and said The bill proposed that certain
class of United States citizens, who distin-
guished themselves in fighting against their
country should be in like manner preferred
and for the same reason. He thought it was
safe to say that no such proposition had ever
before been made in any legislative body and
probably no such proposition would ever
again be made. 1t would destroy all dis
tinetion between patriotism and the reverse.
Nobody objected to the confederate soldiers
or confederate citizens sitting in either
house of Congress. They didn't occupy such
seats because they had been confederates but
because they stood just like every other cit
izen, no better and no worse. As to the APP
pointment Of Mosbey and other ex-confeder-
ates by Grant Grant appointed them not be-
cause they had been confederates but be-
cause they were .useful, patriotic citizens.
He hoped the Senate would take no further
steps with the bill.
Without disposing of the question the
Senate at 2 Z. NJ. took up the unfinished
business of yesterday, it being the considera-
ton of the House bond purchase bill, the
pending question being on the amendment
offered Yesterday by Mr.. Stewart, authOriz-
ing the deposit of gold and silver bullion and
the issuance of coin certificates therefor.
Mr.. Teller addressed the Senate applying
himself to the task of refuting the statement
of Yesterday made by Mr.. Plat that the de-
probation of silver was due to over pro-
duction He denied that silver had fallen.
He knew it would not now buy as much
gold as in 1873 but it would buy more wheat
corn land and manufactured goods than
then. If there had been an honest admins
tration of the finances of the country, there
would not have been anywhere in the world,
the suggestion that there was an over pro-
duction of silver and that alone; that until
the United States took back tracks, and
planted itself .quarely on the doctrine that
silver coin must be treated the same as
gold coin, the United States would have lit
or no effect on the financial conduct of other
nations that when the government had done
that there would be no further question
about the price of silver. In the $500 0oo,-
900 of silver, the government had purchased
for coinage it had made a profit of more
than S35 200 900.
Mr. Reagan presented amendment
which he desired TO have printed, to be of
fered hereafter, authorizing the Secretary of
the Treasury to cancel the interest bearing
bonds with the hundred millions of gold now
reserved in the tire ,sury for the redemption
of legal tender notes and repeating that por-
ton of the resumption act which requires the
redemption of legal lander notes in Connect
icut
Mr. Beck gave notice that he would also
offer as All amendment, the bill which he
had introduced on the same subject.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman, committee
of five Senators to attend the funeral of the
late Chief Justice at Toledo was ordered
Senators Sherman, Allison, Evarts, George
and Gray were appointed. Mr.. Sherman sug-
gested that in the absence of these Senators,
further action or discussion on the bond bill
be suspended. Mr.. Hoar asked, and obtain
ed the unanimous consent to have the Senate
proceed during the remainder of the week.
assuming that there would be no business to-
morrow and no session on good Friday. to
the consideration of the bills on the caien-
dar
Mr.. Calmer moved that the bond bill be
recommitted to the committee on finance.
The motion entered will be pending when
the bill is taken up again next week.
The Senate went into executive session,
and later adjourned.