The Portland daily press., 1888-02-23

are still on the State of Maine, in a degree at
least What comes from Maine is given a
special Importance, as is everything which a
Maine man says here. The story that Mr..
Blaine desires a Senatorship has caused the
most speculation and interest Of any which
has come ont lately. The question seems to
be whether Mr.. Blaine really desires to go
back into the Senate, and whether Mr.. Frye
or Mr.. Hale would be the man likely to give
way 10 him. There is always a fund Of con-
lecture about Maine politics afloat in Wash
ington and the way in which it is worked
now is more than interesting.
The underyaIuation Bill.
The underyaluation bill will undoubtedly
come up in the Senate this week and for an
extended debate. The bill is largely legal
in its provisions but will correct an evil
that has long existed il New York. New
York importers hare been fighting IT hard.
They found they could do very little IN com
mittee but will undoubtedly now try their
Vaccinations on the Senator's The loose
ness of the New York method Of importa-
tion is an evil which ought to have been
checked long ago, and will probably be put
uuder control now
Senator Frye's Committee
Senator Fryes special Pacific railroad
committees doings will be watched with un-
usual interest. The subject has been gone
over and over so much, the stock jobbers
have been at it so long and so often, that it
is a pleasure to have it put into a committee
where the figures are to be fully oyerhauled
and vigorous attempt made to settle things
as they should be.
Compulsory Piotage.
The defeat of the compulsory pilotage bill
in committee is a serious setback; but only
shows the merchant vessel owners that if
they expect to protect themselves they must
make some showing against the big lobby
the pilots always send here. FELTON,, Cali
fOrnia member, swung square around from
his vote of last year. The free snip blll, too,
will probably come in favorably Polndex-
ter Dame of Arkansas, voted with the NIL
| nority this time, in the hope, perhaps, TO
win an extra vote for bis bill, which comes
up later He will hardly be likely to make
his point.
Getting Their Pension Money.
Gen. Blacks mammoth pension building is
one most rarely visited by sightseers here,
probably, yet one of the most interesting.
But there are folks who come TO it in great
armies, for their daily bread. A person
1
| day might imagine that a sale OF seats for
| an opera or some public performance was in
progress. There is the familiar line OF peo-
pie extending from the door and stretching
| along the sidewalks. There are about 5000
pensioners residing in this city, who are
paid each quarter at this agency. Some
times as many as 1900 pensions are paid IN
one day. There is clerk who. has the
pensioner appears. A little further along
sits another clerk who is empowered TO adj
minister OathS. Each pensl0ner is obliged
to swear that he is entitled to the pen
sion and has not been paid before There
are a great many widows on the list. Per-
haps some Of these might be induced to en-
ter again the matrimonial state. They are
expected to give up their pensions In such
an event. Hence they are required TO go
through the little formality- OF subserib-
ing to an oath as to their marital condition.
HOW THE PENSIONS ARE PAID.
When the pensioner receives his voucher
and has made oath, he passes to another
clerk who writes out check. Passing then
into the office of the pension agent, Sidney
l.. Wilson, the pensioner signs the check in
his presence. and Mr.. Wilson then certifies to
the correctness Of the signature by putting
his initials on the check There Is nothing
remaining to be done now except to go some
where and get the check cashed, which, as
they are drawn upon the United States Treas
.
DIsrINGU UIsHED PENSIONERS.
Some people might think that the line of
pensioners as they see it in front of the
agency was composed Of poor but worthy
persons, dependent upon the bounty Of a
generous government There are no doubt
many Of that class, and perhaps the large
percentage. But the spectator can see num-
Der of distinguished and well known citizens
who are proud that they are entitled by their
services to pension. Gen. Edward L. Beale
draws pension as a volunteer OF the Mexl-
can war. So does Gen. John Z. Fremont,
the pathfinder, and the presidential can
didate. There are three members OF Con-
gress who receive their pensions IN this
city. Mr.. Houk Of Tennessee; Mr. Grosve-
nor, of Ohio, and Mr.. Laird, OF Nebraska.
Gen. Crocker, the warden Of the Jail, is a
pensioner, so is Mr.. Enoch Totten, we'll
known member of the Washington bar. Mr..
Worthington, recently the district attorney,
falls in line four times year, and so does
Gen. Robert O. Scenck Mr.. St0ckslagerthe
acting commissioner of the General Land
Office; Major Powell, the chief of the Geo
logical Survey, like Gen. Black, the Commits
si0ner of Pensions, and others holding Gov
ernment positions, are among the prominent
names on the pension rolls.
WIDOWS OF PROMINENT MEN.
When it comes to widows the roll Of dis
tinguished names or rather relicts of distin-
guished husbands isyery noticeable. The
widows of well-known Army and Navy Off
GERS are the recipients of pensions, and there
are large number who, by special act Of
Congress. receive a pension of S50per month.
In this list there will be found the names of
the widows of Rear Admiral Dahlgren, Com
modore Boggs, Rear Admiral davis, Lieut..
| Commodore DeKrafft, Commander McCau-
| ley, Rear Admiral Rodgers, Commodore
| Semmes, Admiral Wilkes, Rear Admiral
Reynolds and Brgadier General Plummer.
The Democrats.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-The Democratic
national committee met at Wizards Hall to-
day, ex-senator Barnum presiding William
| Stenway was elected to fill the vacancy
| from New York caused by the death of HUI
| bert o. Thompson. Senator German opposed
several endeavors to adopt an early date for
holding the National Convention, and
secured the adoption of July 3, urging that
| by that time the Democratic House could fix
| up tariff bill and shift the responsibility of
its final disposition upon the Republican Sen
| ate.
| After recess, the committee gave a hear
ing to the various cities desiring the conven-
tion. W.T. Fuller spoke for Chicago, Mr9
| Cox for New York, Mayor Francis for st.
| Louis and Horatio King, OF Nevada. for San
Senator Vest of Missouri seconded the
| claims of st. Louis. He declared he belong
| ed to the school of Democrats who believed
| that all the offices of the country should be
| filled by competent and worthy Democrats.
| Mr.. Tanpey of California, subscribed to
every word uttered by Senator Vest. He
| believed if the convention went to San
| Francisco the response of California would
| be a glorious and overwhelming majority for
the Democratic nominee. The citizens of
| California promised to pay all the expenses
of the committees, using "all,' in its most
| amplified sense. There would be carriages
''ad lib" Laughter. Two additional tele-
graph wires would be put up between San
| Francisco and Chicago which would accom-
| modate all the business Altered.
| All persons, except members of
the committee, were then excluded and
balloting began In all ten ballots were tax
| en- with few differences in result. The tenth
| ballot stood: San Francisco, IL; Chicago,
| IL: st. Louis, IA; Cincinnati, L. The com
mittee adjourned until tomorrow without
reaching decision.
Refused Burial.
New YORK, Feb. 22.-John Mcclure, the
| old man who died of heart disease while at