Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-03

10 reassenble at 7:30 o'clock, the eve-
ming sessions TO be adjourned not later
than 1890 o'clock. The resolution was
adopted.
The House at 100 went into Commit
tee of the Whole on the private cslen-
dar--Mr. Hatch, OF Missouri, in the
chair.
The committee resumed the conside-
ration of the omnibus bill, which pro-
yides for the payment Of thirty-odd
claims for supplies used for the army
during the war, reported by the Court OF
Claims under the provisions OF the Bow
man act. Mr.. Lee, OF Virginia, offering
an amendment appropriating $50, 900 Tor
the relief of the Protestant Episcopal
Theological Seminary and High School
of Virginia.
Mr.. Brewer, Of Michigan, thought
that an amendment which provided for
the payment Of rent would prove very
dangerous precedent if it were enacted
into law. 1t will be followed by thou
sands OF claims asking for compensation
for occupation OF schools and churches III
the South.
Mr.. Lee advocated the amendment as
an act of Justice, and thought that the
time had come when the animosity OF
war should have passed away. The In
stitution was an old one, and had alumni
in every part OF the Union, and through
out the whole war il had been within the
Federal lines. No Confederate soldier
had ever passed over its grounds, and
the majority of its faculty had remained
under the jurisdiction Of the United
States.
Mr.. Burrows, Of Michigan, inquired
what side they prayed for, TO which MIR.
Lee replied that they prayed for all sin
ners.
Mr.. Grosvenor, OF Ohio, placed his
opposition to the amendment upon the
broad ground that the Government had
never touched such claim as this and
never ought 10. Tho property was within
a seeded State. II it was an organlza-
ton for public purposes it could not he
exempted from tho action OF Virginia
when she went out of the Union. II 1t
was a private corporation it was affected
10y the political sentiments OF the own
ers. 1t was strong suggestion against
the Justice of the claim that instead OF be-
ing pressed upon its merits twas sought
to be incorporated in a bill to which
there was no objection.
Mr.. Cutheon, OF Michigan, regarded
the amendment as a iar-reaching nea-
sure and one which if enacted into law
would be followed by flood Of similar
claims involving hundreds OF millions OF
dollars. If this claim was paid claims
would come in asking for compensation
for the occupation of every camp-ground
which the Union soldiers used after
crossing the Potomac river. There
would he nothing TO prevent tie owner
of the battlefield at Manassas bringing
in claim for the occupation of the field
by the United States army during the
battle.
Mr. Spooner, of Rhode Island, sup
ported the amendment. There was TO
his mind a vast distinction between this
claim and claims for payment for the oc-
cupation Of property within the Conied-
crate lines. This seminary Was situated
in that part Of Virginia which was with
in the Union lines from the beginning to
the end OF the war. The territory with
in which it was situated had during the
entire wara representatives in this House.
Mr.. Allen. of Michigan, thought that
common fairness required that the Gov
eminent should pay for the use and oc-
cupation of this property from the close
of the war up to the time 1t was vacated
bv the army but he was opposed to
paving for its use prior to that time. 1t
was within the Union lines. it was true,
but it was only kept there by Federal
bayOnets,
Mr. Long, of Massachusetts,, inquired
whether the same was not true OF pro-
perry in Washington?
Mr.. Allen replied that it was not. If
the Federal troops had laid down their
guns for twenty minutes this property
would have been occupied by Confede-
rate soldiers. The seminary was upon
the picket line, and was III the same po-
sitiOn as the seminary in Georgia.
Alr. Holman, OF Indiana, offered IN
amendment providing that nothing III
this appropriation should be construed
as recognizing the liability of the United
States to pay for the use and occupation
of property by the United States army at
the seat of war during the late war.
Mr.. Grosvenor regarded the amend
ment rs chiId's play. 1t would have no
effect except to quiet the conscience OF
some gentlemen who desired to vote for
the claim. In one breath the House
paid for the rent of property, and In the
next said that it would not admit having
done the very thing it had done.
Mr.. Holman's amendment was re-
/ iected and Mr.. Lees amendment was
adopted-1O2 to Ga. The bill was then
agreed to and reported TO the House.
The House at > o'clock took o recess
until 1870, the evening session being for
the consideration Of pension bills.
The House tonight began its evening
session for the consideration of pension
hills. Twenty-Five of those measures
were passed, together with bills re-
moving the political disabilities of Sam
uel Noble, Horace A. Browne, Paul
Faison, and Andrew j. Lindsay. Then
at ~ o'clock the House adjourned until
/ tomorrow.
DISTREsSING SUICIDE.
Of Rrfa