Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-20

with favorable recommendation amid heart,
applause from the democrats
Further consideration of the bill was post
poned until IL 80 Saturday morning and tn,
House took a recess till eight O'Clock.
Evening Work in the House.
The House this evening passed bill pro
viding that the army be paid monthly when
ever the Secretary of War shall SO direct
The previous question was ordered on the
bills retiring Gen. VIM. +. (Baldy) Smith
with the rank af colonel, Gen. A. ]. Smith
with the rank of Colonel, Gen. w. W. Aver.
i'll with the rank of captain, and providing
aid to the State homes for the support of dis
abled soldiers and sailors. No final action
was taken and the House at 1880 adjourned.
General Congressional News.
Rodney B. Caper was on Thursday appoint.
ed postmaster at Ocean Point, Lincoln Co.,
vice Lizzie Montgomery, resigned.
The general deficiency bill is of great
deal of interest to New England, as in addi-
ton TO containing various local items it pro-
vides for the payment of the French spoila-
ton claims in which judgments have been
found for the claimants. The bill will prob
ably pass substantially in its present shape,
but there will be good deal of fight made
to strike out the spoilation claims. The re-
publican side of the House is nearly unit in
regard to their being paid, and many demo-
crats also favor their payment, but there are
several, of whom Mr.. Mills is one, who are
opposed to it.
When these claims were sent TO Congress
from the court of claims last December,
there was an animated discussion as to
whether they should be referred to the COM
mittee ON claims or the appropriation COM
mittee. The opponents of their payment
wanted them referred to the former, and as
that committee is overcrowded with work,
that probably would have been the last of
the matter for this season. The friends of
the measure, however, succeeded in having
it sent to the appropriation committee by a
vote of l63 to "a, and they believe that they
will be able to command sufficient strength
70 ensure its passage.
The French Spoilation claims have lon
ger history even than the famous Choctaw
claim. They have been passed upon by COM
mittees of both houses ever since the year
1902, and since 1926 there has never been
made in either branch an unfavorable report
as to their justice. There are over forty IA
vorable reports on file.
Various propositions were made to have
the Supreme Court of the United States ad-
judicate them, and finally it was determined
to send them to the court of claims for that
tribunal to report the fact to Congress, which
was done in regard to 35 of them at the COM
mencement of the present session, 80 being
reported favorably and five adversely.
1t is urged by the men adverse to their
that it will require some SS00O00
to pay those already reported, and in all be-
tween thirty and forty millio
The other side asserts that 100000 will
be sufficient now, and a sum not to exceed
81 200, 900 in all, will totally liquidate them
and that the money question should not be
considered as against the justice of the
claims.
1t is worthy of note that the French gov
ernment paid very large sum to settle these
claims and that money has remained in the
treasury.
The Senate tariff subcommittee has fin
shed its hearings and will have substitute
for the House tariff bill finished and ready to
submit to the full finance committee Satur
day.