The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-13
CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.
Report on the Dependent Pension Bil-Ths
Silver Debate.

Report on the Dependent Pension Bill-The
Silver Debate.
WASHINGTON, June 12.-In the Senate
to-day Platt gave notice that Immediately
after consideration of the Silver Bill he
would ask the Senate 10 consider the bill
for the admission of Wyoming.
Among the bills reported from the COM
mittees and placed on the calendar were
two Senate bills to amend the polygamy
laws. and the House Legislative, Executive
and Judicial Appropriation Bill
Dolph introduced a bill for branch
home in Oregon for disabled volunteer SOL
diers, and an appropriation of 100000 is
made for the purpose
The House Legislative, Executive and
Judicial Appropriation Bill was amended
by the Senate Committee making the ap-
preparation for clerk hire in the Surveyor
Generals office, State of Washington,
$4,000 instead OF $500.
Davis presented the conference report on
the Dependent Pension Bill and proposed
to explain it. AS to the question of de-
pendent parents, he said all the change
made by the bill from the existing law was,
whereas, the existing law required de-
tendency to exist at the time of the SOL
dier's death, the pending measure merely
required dependency at the time OF applica-
tlon. The pension OF dependent parents
was the same as under the existing law.
He went on to say the House substitute
contained provision for service pensions
for the benefit of all who reached the age
OF GO years. That had been the substantial
point of difference between the cOnferrees;
as the result of much discussion and con-
siderable alteration that feature had been
eliminated and the cOnferrees agreed to
strike out the words "and who are depend
ent on their daily labor or on the contribu-
tions of others not legally bound to their
support"
The Senate bill had fixed the rate of pen
sions unqualifiedly at So per month; the
conferrees agreed to a pension not exceed
ing S12 and not less than Sc, as 10 widows
and minor children. The provision of the
Senate bill had been, substantially. pen
sion to widows OF not less than SI2 per
month, irrespective of the cause of soldiers
death, whether attributable to service or
not. That provision had been the subject
of considerable discussion in conference,
and the result had been d combination of
both Senate and House provisions. The
bill would add about 81, 600 per year to
the cost Of pensions.
The report went over and was ordered
printed.
The Senate Silver Bill was then taken up.
ana Evarts addressed the Senate. He
characterized the act of 1873 as "a murder
GUS thrust" at silver. After review of
the international conferences on the ques-
ton OF silver (out of which nothing had
Gomez he said that now, feF the first time i'll
the progress OF the matter OF redress, the
question confronted the Republican party,
which had majority in each house and
control of the executive power 1t was for
that party to determine that the interval of
lassitude and delay should be no longer ex-
tended. The people Of the United States,
through their Representatives in the two
Houses OF Congress, and III their election of
the executive head, in his opinion, deter
mined they would not allow tile disgrace
and disorder to continue, either in regard
to their domestic money or their money in
relation to commerce. Congress was now
prepared for the adoption, in one form or
another, OF a measure which, as compared
with anything that had been done in the
interval between 1873 and $780, was like the
step OF giant as compared with that of
sick man.
In speaking of the proposed opening of
American mints to the silver of the world,
Evarts said with the difference in ratios
Q5h in Europe and 16 in this country that
the measure would be utterly Impractical
bic, especially If it was desired alone to
cause the opening of the mints abroad to
silver The proposition to receive silver
bullion over the counter of the Treasury
and pay for it in certificates, leaving the
transaction at the will of the owner of the
bullion, never approved itself to his judg-
ment. Money can never safely be treated
as commodity. 1t was not to be treated
as commodity; it was not to be treated as
anything but the force and propulsion of
circulation.
Vance spoke in favor of the unlimited
coinage of silver.
Morgan began free-coinage speech, but
without concluding, yielded to a motion to
adjourn.