The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-12-18
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
Senator Mitchell Withdraw His Structures on
the Pension Bureau-Bilis introduced.

"a euFeau-DAho
WASHINGTON. Dec. 1I.-Mr. Hampton APP
peared and took his seat to-day, leaving
Mr.. Brown the only Senator who has not
taken his seat at the present session.
Among the bills reported from commit
tees and placed on the calendar were the
following:
To relieve the Treasurer of the United
States from the amount which Is charged
and deposited with the several States.
To credit and to pay to the several States
and Territories and the District of Column
bia the amount of the direct tax paid by or
charged to them.
Mr.. Turpie, from the committee on pen
sions. made a favorable report on Senator
Quay's bill. fixing at s72 per month the
pension to be granted to all persons who
are OF may become totally helpless from
injuries received. or disease contracted
while in the military or naval service of the
United States.
Mr.. Hale. from the committee on appro-
priations. reported back the small defici-
ency bill-sl5o.OO0 for public printing and
binding. and S250.0O0 for preliminary print
ing ., the eleventh census. Th1tpill was
Among the bills introduced were the fol-
lowing:
BY Mr.. Pierce: Directing the Secretary
of the Interior to cause the necessary sur
veys to be made 10 ascertain the feasibility
of diyerting the waters of the Missouri.
the James. the Monse and the Red rivers to
the purposes of irrigation in North Dakota,
and TO cause the sinking of artesian wells
to develop the extent of the artesian basin
underlying the State. 1t a%ppropriates
$50. 600.
BY Mr.. Hale: Providing that the COM
pensation of census supervisors shall not
be less than 81 100.
By Mr. Platt: Directing the Secretary of
State to distribute the Virginius indemnity
fund, together with all accretions to the
fund. among those persons who have al
ready substantiated their right to a part of
the fund.
BY Mr.. Mitchell: The Chandler bill of the
last Congress for the creation of a division
of silk culture in the Department of Agri-
culture.
BY Mr.. Teller: Providing that the half
dollar shall contain one-half, the quarter
dollar one-fourth, and the dime one-tenth
of the amount of silver contained in the
standard dollar.
A communication from the President of
the United States TO Congress in regard to
the International maritime conference, now
In session at Washington. and recommend
ing earnestly that q further extension of
from the first of January, 1890. be. author
lied. was presented. and was. with accom-
panying papers, referred to the committee
on foreign relations.
Mr.. Chandler offered q resolution calling
on the Secretary of the Navy for infOrma-
ton as to whether organizations not ex-
pressly authorized by the Secretary of the
Navy exist among naval officers for pur-
poses not merely literary or scientific: and,
If SO, what are the objects of such Organizq-
tIons, and what officers are members of
them, whether such organizations embrace
only one branch of the naval service,
and are designed to protect and advance
the special interests of that branch;
whether any of them has been organized
for the purpose of influencing congressional
legislation; whether sums OF money have
been paid or contracted for the influence of
legislation. and whether such organizations
are compatible with proper discipline. The
resolution was laid over.
Mr.. Henderson offered a resolution. which
was agreed to, calling on the Secretary of
the Interior for information as to the dis
position of lands comprised within mill
tary. reservations that have been relin-
quished by the War Department.
The House Joint resolution to pay the Of
fcers and members of both houses their
December salary on the Goth inst. was re-
ported back from the committee on appro-
priatlOns and passed.
Mr.. Mitchell called up a resolution of
fered by him last week. in reference to the
failure of the Pension Bureau to furnish
him with copies of certain papers in a PEN
sion claim. He sent TO the Clerks desk and
had read the correspondence on the sub
Ject. ending with n letter of yesterday from
Commissioner Raum. stating that the dec
linafion to furnish the copies was based
on an old regulation of the Office. which
seemed to be a judicious one, in order to
prevent the waste Of the effective
Mr.. Raam. however. semitic Mr. Mitchell.
with his letter, copies OF the papers asked
for. Mr.. Mitchell, therefore. asked to with
draw the resolution. but expressed his own
mimic fhnr amp Sonnfcr on ponrooox.
tive. or duly authorized attorney of an APP
plicant. or the applicant himself. should
have the right tocopies OF papers connected
with the case.
claimed by Mr.. Mitchell, but gave it as his
opinion that il would be absolutely i'm
possible TO grant such requests, except in
cases where there was an unusual or ex-
traOrdinary reason for it,.
Mr.. Mitchell-Of which this is one.
Mr.. Platt-l ain not intimating that the
case is not an unusual or extraordinary
one. but. If 1t were understood that copies
of papers on file in the Pension Office would
be furnished on application, such work
alone could not be performed by the whole
clerical force of the Office.
Further remarks on the same subject
were made by Mr.. Cockrell. who claimed
that with proper business methods there
should be no delay in the Pension Bureau,
aud gave It as his opinion that there were
too many instead Of too few clerks. The
resolution WAS withdrawn.
Mr.. Mitchell offered another resolution,
which was referred TO the postoffice com
mittee. calling on the Postmaster general
for estimates of the increased cost required
for the extension of the free-delivery serv-
ice TO all towns and cities having not less
than 5000 inhabitants. and where the gross
postotfice revenue Is at least 5000; also. to
cities and towns of 5000 inhabitants. and
with a gross postoffice revenue of $1,000.
After an executive session, the Senate ad
journed.
Refused to Call the Roll for Bills.