Daily Kennebec journal., 1888-03-09
THE NATIONS SCAPITAL.
ManderSon Replies to
Vests Speech Against
Pensioners.
Blair Introduces His Pension Bill
Of Last Session.
A Monster Petition Against the Admission
Of Utah as a State.
The President Issues Message Relat-
ing to Chinese Immigration-Trusts,
Postal Telegraph and Gen.
Shields Sword
WAsHINGTOS, March \.
Senate.

Among the petitons and memorials pre-
sented and referred, was one said to have
over IL 900 signatures from 80 states and
/ territories, against the admission of Utah a.
a state, so long as the people are under the
control of Mormons.
/ bill was reported to provide for Join,
celebration at the national capital by IL
American republics in honor of the centen.
NAL of the United States.
/ The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill granting pensions to ex-soldiers and sail
ors who are incapacitated for the perform
ance of manual labor, and for pensions to
dependent relatives of deceased soldiers, the
question being on the amendment offered by
( Mr.. Wilson OF Iowa TO add the words the in
! hrmities of age"
Mr.. Henderson replied to some of the re.
marks made by Senator Vest last week, par
/ tcularly AS to there being no federal ex-sol-
diers or confederates in the almshouses in
Missouri In contradiction of Mr.. Vests
statement, who said that fifty per cent of the
number enrolled during the war were either
pensioners or applicants for pensions, he
showed that there were 3G7 ,424 invalid pen
sions granted and 240, 1862 for widows, chill
dren or dependent relatives; in other words,
that there were of pensioners and claimants,
not over twenty-four per cent. of the whole
number enlisted.
Messrs Hoar and Hawley spoke in favor
of the bill,
Mr.. Dawes stated that he would support
Mr.. Wilson's amendment.
The question was taken up and Mr.. Will
sons amendment was rejected by vote of
l3 to 43
The next vote was on Mr.. Plumbs amend
ment, striking out the word totally" before
the word "incapacitated." Mr.. Davis OPP
posed the amendment and favored the re-
storing of the word ''totally."
Mr.. Plat said he would accept the advice
of the committee, but it was against his judg-
ment and he compared it to running the
gauntlet" as captiyes were compelled to do
in the days of Indian atrocities. Mr.. Platt
said that if all which the Senate had heard
was true, the prediction of Roger Sherman,
that the legislation would have to be shaped
to meet the wishes of one man had come
true. An alluson which had been to Roman
history reminded him of the question when
could it be even said until now that the wide
walls of Rome contained but one man." And
so when the Senate was told that any other
legislation than that reported, would fail, he
said that he. at least, was not to be influenced
by any such consideration.
Mr.. Beck expressed regret that the chair
man of the committee on pensions should
have stated that the bill had been framed,
not by the committee but by the Grand
Army of the Republic. Congress should
/ consider the respectful petitions but should
use its own judgment between the petitioners
and country at large Mr.. Davis said that
the pensions committee had considered the
bill carefully and had struck out several
clauses.
| Mr. Beck replied that the Senator's Ian
guage has been SO broad that he had under
stood it as meaning that the Committee had
adopted without change the bill of the Grand
/ Army of the Republic. The Senator should
also remember that the petitions did not
always originate with those from whom they
professed to come. Mr. Beck stated his
/ objections to some of the details of the bill
and characterized it as bad legislation
I Mr. Teller protested against the Senators
/ being coerced and terrorized in their votes,
/ first, by some influence which nobody dared
to mention. and second by the pension com
mttee. He proposed to vote according to
his own judgment, irrespective of such in
fuence.
After further discussion a vote was taken
on Mr. Plumbs amendment, Striking out
the word totally ~ and it was rejected by a
! vote OF yeas. IT. iidN ., ht oih was
then passed, yeas, ~, nays, lG.
/ Mr.. Blair introduced his bill of former
sessions. to grant pensions to all soldiers who
served three months in the army during the
war of the rebellion. 1t was referred to the
Committee on Pensions.
/ Mr. Cockrell from the select committee
appointed last session to inquire into the
methods and business of the executive de-
partments, presented the report and it was
1 ordered printed and two bills of the same were
placed on the calendar, one to continue the
! work of making classified abridgement of
letters patent and others to provide for the
disposition of useless papers in the executive
! departments. On his motion the committee
was then continued.
Mr.. Blair from the Committee on Educa-
/ ton and Labor reported bill applying the
eight hour law to theletter carriers. 1t was
placed on the calendar.
On motion of Mr.. Allison, the undervaiua-
ton bill was taken up as unfinished business
/ Mr.. Sawyer gave notice that he would
next week ask the Senate TO consider the
private pension bills.
The Senate at $50 adjourned until Mon
day.