Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-21
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
The House.

LaE4s0hAlSSlONAL RhttCEBDsNGS.
The House.
WASHINGTON, April 20th.-The House re-
sumed consideration of the Indian appro-
priation bill to-day, the pending question
being on the motion of Randall of Pennsyl-
vania to strike out the Choctaw Judgment
section. The motion was lost and the bill
was passed.
Townshend of Illinois, from the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, reported the bill
placing General W, +. ("Baldy") Smith on
the retired list, with the rank of Major
General. Private calendar.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole on the pension appropriation bill.
Henderson of Iowa alluded to the recent
action of the House regarding the purchase
of bonds with the surplus, in order to dis
pei doubts in the mind of the President as
to his authority to purchase bonds. In
examining the Arrears of Pension Act
it would be found that there was no limita-
ton as to the time when claims should be
filed. The only limitation ever placed
upon that Act was found in an appropria-
ton bill. He called the attention of the
administration 10 this fact, for if the Presi-
dent had trouble in buying bonds with the
surplus he should have equal difficulty in
not allowing arrears of pensions. He ap-
pealed to the President to be consistent and
allow arrears of pensions to those who
filed their claims within the provisions OF
the Act.
Henderson then referred to the Admins
tration Mexican pension law. So rapid
was the Pension Bureau, he said, in
recognizing claims under this law. that
pensions were allowed before the claimant
ever put in his ciaim, and certificates were
issuei when the beneficiary did not know
he was claimant. In proof OF this assertion
he sent to the Clerk desk and had read an
article in a Chicago paper to the effect that
Commissioner Black had issued a pension
certificate to ex.Congressmen Morrison
notwithstanding he was informed that
Morrison name did not appear on the list
of applicanls-and that Morrison had re-
turned it, stating that he had never applied
for pension.
Cultivate asked Henderson to prove an
other similar case, saying that he was
anxious Henderson should keep 10 the
truth.
Henderson," want the truth from
your pious Commissioner, who started out
in the administration of his office by
charging against a faithful of1icer-a
brother officer who left part of his body
on the battlefield Colonel Dudley)-that
during his administration the Pension
Office, from turret TO foundation, was used
for political purposes"
Outhwaite-" Did he not prove it?"
Henderson-"N No, never Now that same
gentleman stands convicted, on Democratic
authority, of violating the terms of the
law and swiftly issuing to a Democratic
Chief who was too high and too clean to
become a party to the transaction. This
man, who entered upon the discharge OF
wit faI 10 a
saint, is caught in a Democratic trap. He
has got lower down in struggling for
political influence than any officer l have
ever known"
When the general debate closed, amend
ments were adopted providing that in all
cases of pensions to widows payments shall
be made from the date of the death of their
husbands, and that all officers of the United
States authorized to administer oaths shall
do so free of charge.
Tne committee then rose, and the bill.
which appropriates $50, ,2S0, GOO, was passed.
The river and harbor bill was briefly dis
cussed, and the House took recess until
7:30 P NJ
The House, at its evening session. passed
twenty-five pension bills and adjourned
till tomorrow.
Land Office Decisions,
WASHINGTON, April 2oth.-on the 24th
OF last month there were S.264 contested
land cases awaiting decision in the Office of
the Commissioner Of the Land Office. OF
this number 2 800 were appealed cases.
There has been gain of 4035 cases dis
posed of during the present fiscal year oyer
those settled the year previous.
The Csrean Legation.
icopyigat, 1855, byte California associated Tress
WASHINGTON, April 2oth.-Ye Che Gan.
the interpreter for the Corean Legation,
and Ye Wan Gong, First Secretary OF the
Legation, having settled their colleagues in
office, will return to Corea. They leave
for San Francisco tomorrow or Monday.
The Secretary's health is not good. ana lhat
Is one Of the reasons for his return at this
ime.
California Pensions.
lCopwiglt, lsss, By the Cdifo7aa associated IressI
WASHINGTON, April 20th.-C California pen.
sions have been granted IS follows w. T.
Smith, Pennington; A. l.. Butts, Alameda :;
Owen Hughes, Pennington; r. H. Wood.
Cahto; Mary Henry, widow of John
Mathews, Santa Rosa Emily, widow OF
j. S. Woods, Sacramento.
Emancipation in Brazil.
Copyright 1888, by tie cctf fornia associated Pres.
WASHINGTON, April 20th-According to
advices from Brazil the abolition of slavery
in that country is progressing with great
rapidity. Hundreds of thousands who
were slaves have been freed in the past few
years, and 1t is proposed to set az early day
when slavery shall cease.