The National tribune., 1888-08-09
CONGRESS.
An Abstract Of the More Important
Proceedings in Both Houses.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. /.


vestigated this subject several years ago, and
he thought the appropriation would be waste
of money, and that the wisest thing to do with
the assets of the late COnfederaey, as well as
with the late unpleasantuess itself, was to for
get all about them and let them go. The
amendment, after considerable discussion, was
laid on the table.
After various amendments had been made
the bill was finally passed, and the Senate adj
iourned st Sis o'clock.
After the House had disposed of some unim-
portant routine business they went into Com
mittee of the Whole on the Senate amend
ments TO the army appropriation bill, upon
which an acrimonious debate ensued, which
had partisan appearance, the Republicans
advocating liberal appropriations for coast de-
fenses and heavy cannon to defend the largo
seaboard cities, while the Democrats opposed
what they considered had been the extrava-
gauce of the Senate in their amendments to
the bill Without coming to any conclusion
on the amendments the committee rose, and
the House adjourned at o'clock.
THURSDAY, AUG 2.
In the Senate the Fisheries Treaty was taken
up by a strict party vote, and Mr. Riddleberger
(Va.) addressed the Senate at some length. He
stated that when some months ago he had
offered a resolution to discuss this treaty in
open Senate, he had in his possession docu-
ments which gave him the right to judge that
our Government as now administered, was q
representative English or pro- English Govern
ment. He arraigned the Administration, and
the Democratic party which backed it, as pro-
English organization, and then read extracts
from English journals to show that the Presi-
dents message and the Mills bill were in the
direction of Tree trade; and said that the pres
ent electoral contest was q conflict between
free trade and protection. He also said that
we would never be a National Government
until we have whipped England for the third
time. The party which stands out boldly
against all concessions by this country, was the
only party fit to govern 60,000000 of people.
He would as soon make treaty of commerce
with the Fiji Islanders as with Great Britain.
Mr.. Morgan ALA argued in favor of the
treaty, but without coming to a conclusion the
Senate at 5 o'clock adjourned.
In the House the Senate amendments to the
Army Appropriation bill were taken up, and
Mr., Hovey (IndJ said that he had intended to
remain silent during the remainder Of this ses-
sion, if possible; but that in last Sundays
Record he had found speech by Mr.. Matson
lind. J, which purported to have been delivered
in the House July Is, in which allusion was
made to remarks made by him in April last,
which compelled him to answer He need not
say to Members that this speech was never de-
liyered, and that no allusion was made to it
in the Record of that day. In this speech Mr..
Matson labored to show that the Democratic
party is and has been the true friend of the ex-
soldiers Of the United States. In this Hercu-
lean task it was no wonder that he preferred
to print his speech rather than to meet the
prompt replies his bold and unfounded asser-
tons would subject him to- Every man on
the floor of the House knew that the Republi-
cans during this session had labored earnestly,
from the first day to the present hour TO pro-
cure consideration Of pension legislation, and
that the Democratic majority had laborcd az
persistently to prevent it, and they being in a
majority had succeeded There would not be
found an intelligent man who had watched the
proceedings of this House who did not fully
understand the motives and attitude of the re-
spective parties on this subject, and that the
Democratic party, from the President down to
his lowest follower, was strongly opposed to all
! pension legislation.
| Gen. Hoycy then quoted from speech made
| by him in April last upon this subject, aud
! gave the substance of a service-pensi0n bill
i offered by him at that tine, besides bill
! granting 100 acres of land to every officer aud
| soldier or sailor who served during the war Of
/ the rebellion; and also quoted from his bill
/ offered in January last to equaize the payment
and do Justice to the officers soldiers and sail
/ ors of the United States in the late rebellion
who were paid in greenbacks. All these bills
were properly Teferred-0ne 10 the Committee
! on Pensions Col. Matson, Chairman one to
/ Chairman, and the other to the Committee on
| Military Affairs, Dir. Townshend, Chairman,
al Democrats; and if he (Hoyey} was correctly
/ informed, not q report had been made OIL any
one of these bills, although it was now August.
! That with over 1870 bills in favor of the rights
OF ex soldiers which have been referred to the
Pension Committee, not a single day had been
set aside for their consideration. Hundreds oil
thousands Of petitions from these soldiers have
! been presented in vain. Their petitions are
now never read in the House, but we're buried
in a box at the Speakers feet, and then
silently sent TO the archives of the Nation. II
| would seem that the grand right of petition
has lost its ancient force and grandeur. IT.
denial by George III was one Of the principal
causes of the Revolution which made this
free country.
Mr.. Hoycy also said that in May last he Of
fercd a resolution taking from the Committed
on Pensions his bill and bringing il before tht
House for consideration without report, TO b.
acted upon May %; and also to set apart Junt
- for the purpose Of considering the bill Il
grant arrears Of pensions. This resolution wa
voted down by the Democratic majority Of th
House.
In May the Republican Members Of tn
House presented the following petition to tia
Committee on Rules, of which Speaker Carlisl
| is Chairman:
To The Committee Rules Of the House ef Represent
GENTLEMEN The undersigned Members of TIA
House Of Representatives feeling the great need c
prompt legislation for the relief Of Union veteran
and their dependent ones respectfully urge you
committee 10 sci apart, at carly "A day as poss
BILE, three four days for the consideration Of gen
eraI pension legislation.
This WAS signed by nearly every Republica
Member, and has been entirely disregarded. Ii
did not think il necessary TO state that the Dc
: mocracy were afraid to report hcse bills an
then vote against them, for they knew it wouI
, / sound the death knell Of every Northern Den
] ocrat who would dare to so vote, and now tina
the Presidential election is so near at haut
these men are afraid to report these measure
fearing a veto from either the President {
? their constituents.
Referring TO the war taxes, Mr.. Hovey sal
that every Democrat on the floor had referre
. to war tax as being responsible for the SUI
4 plus, and he thought this same war-tax surplu
d should 20 TO paying the honest war debt, an
n what debt SO honorable as that which is du
e the men who subdued the greatest rebello
: the world ever saw? He was sorry to see h
e friend, Col. Matson, supporting the Mills bill
= which would cut off our supplies should it b
r come a law before the passage Of pension Iegi
y lation and payment of pensions, for il he Ma
:, SOM had been so disposed, with his ability al
y prestige, could have done more to have secure
p consideration of these pension bills than an
u other man in the House, owing to his positic
> as Chairman of the Pension Committee. &c
l. Hoyey then paid his respects to the pensit
a vetoes citing numerous cases saving that