Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-01
FlFTY-FlRsT CONGRESS.
Debate in the Senate on the Depend'h'
Pension Bill.
WAsHtNaToN. D. O.. March 81. IsyJ,

tucu tNt JOuIAe VI 'otul Nes VS.
approved.
Mr.. Reagan addressed the Senate on me |
bill for the issue Of treasury notes on lho
deposit Of silver bullion. -
At the conclusion of Mr.. Reagan's speech |
the dependent pension bill was taken ~. |
fine first question being on Mr.. PlumDs
amendment removing the limitation as 10
arrears of pensions, making pensions on ac- |
counts of wounds, or injuries. or disease
commence from the death or discharge oil
the soldier. ..,,,x
Mr.. Berry inquired of Mr. Plumb whether
onv estimates had been made of the cost Oh
removing the limitation on arrears OF pen-
siOners. -
Nr. Plumb replied that the Commissioncr
Of Pensions had stated some weeks ago thaI
the cost would be about ri75,OOO,O OO' anu
that the chairman of the House committee
had estimated il at $500 ,OOO,OO IL "ouiA
be somewhere about these figures. -,
In the debate which followed, CONSIDER
able opposition was shown on both sIues
TO distressing of the question involved III
Mr.. Plumb's amendment as an attachncnI
10 an appropriation bill. Mr.. Blair held
that il should be embodied in an lndepehII
dent measure TIE other senators areutI
that there was no reliable data upon WHICH
a fai- estimate of its cost could be made
Messrs. CockrelI and Blair placed thehguTo
at SGOO,0OOOOO.
Mr.. FRYE's REGRETS.
Mr.. FRYE regretted that the amendment
was before the Senate. not that 1t piacen
him in n position where he had TO vote Tor
il or against II, but because he should T.
card ITS adoption az terrible menace 20
the soldiers Of the country. He had held
for long while (and he had undertaken to
show il In addresses to bodies OF soldiers III
his own State) that there was pace TOO
rapid altogether for their welfare anu
Mr.. FRYE said there was danger Of over
leaning in the matter of pensions. Nneh
Nh Cleveland commenced 10 veto pension
bills the Democratic party ratified what ne
did. and not only the DemOcratic party,
but many Of the businessmen Of the he
publican party, TOO. He dared not vote for
n proposition that he believed would be
absolutely destructive to the best interests
of the soldiers. and he should be cOmpell-
ed to vote No" on the amendment.
Mr.. HAwLEY.
Mr.. Hawley expressed his personal oblI-
cation TO Mr.. Frye Tor telling the serious
truth in the matter. He did not believe
that the American soldiers asked for tho
amendment. He would stake his political
standing on the assertion that out OF all
the old soldiers there would be found
majority against It. He told an anec-
dote of General Grant on the occasion
of his last visit 10 the Capitol. with his
characteristic modesty he kept ont OF the
chamber and sat in one OF the cloak-rooms,
where almost every senator visited HIM;
He sat, with the accustomed cigar. and
talked freely on ycryquestiOnlnt introduced.
He said that on his way TO the Capitol
clergyman came TO him asking him 20 sign
a memorial asking that every man who had
ever been a prisoner OF war should be pcn-
stoned. He had told the clergyman that he
oucht TO be i'm better business;
that there were all kinds OF prisoners
some who let themselves be caughteasily;
some who had the stOmach-ache or q soro
toe when battle was III tho ar, and VINO
were caught by a squad OF rehel cavalry,
and some who were caught ahead OF tho
skirmish line. Some of them had .good
rest and were all the better for beng
prisoners. Il will tell You" said General
Grant what would DO # ! were Presi-
dent. ] would sign any reasonable bill 10
relieve the distress of an honest old sol
der. or of his widow or children, but
would not vote one dollar 70 able-bodled
men,"
BIS PLATFORM.
That last expression, said Mr Hawley,
sank into my memory. / live up 10 tnat.
i hat is ms platform. do not believe tnht
nv state asks NE to add 5000, 1000 10 the
debt Of the republic. The theory OF a
ppnsion is that il takes care of a man VINO
Is sufferer by reason Of his services IN the
army. but 1t shall not 90 back ten or hi
teen or twenty-five years (wnen man an
not applv for pension) and pay him
S5 900 or Sc. 900 or $4,000. II we are gong
10 spend $500 900, 900 it would be better TO
divide it pro rdtd and not throw 1t at ran
dom. Aim a sharply rs you can NJ the &C,
tual necessities and take care OF the Oh
soldiers. but do not be stampeded by the
claim agents. DO exactly what you think
Is generous and right and the country VIII
sustain you IN II.
VOTE.
After further discussion Mr. Plumhs
amendment was reiected-yeas 8, nays 4G.
Mr.. Call offered an amendment to H.
clude those who served III the Indian wars
prior to 1870. keiected-yeas, 20; nays,
IS.
Mr.. Vest offered an amendment providing
that the money necessary to meet the APP
preparation under this Jill shall be raised
b. an incOme-tax of per cent. on incomes.
between - 900 and $4,000; u per cent.
between 5000 aud $4,000; and ~ per
cent. over 100000.
Mr.. Davis moved to lay the amendment
on the table. Agreed tO-yeas, %; nays,
II. a strict party vote.)
Mr.. Plumb offered an amendment to pay
q pension of - month TO all who served
ninety DAYS IL the late war who are sixty
two years of age, or as they attain that
age. Reiected-yeas, 10; nays, 80.
The bill was then passed-yeas, AZ;
nays, ~.
The Montana election was taken up so az
to make it unfinished business. and after a
session for executive business the Senate at
$3.50 o'clock adj ourned.
The Senate in executive session again
discussed the Florida judicial nominations
for two hours, but failed to get a vote on
them because of the lack of quorum.
House of Representatives.
The conference report on the urgent de-
! fciency bill was presented and agreed 10.
| and a new conference ordered upon the
single item remaining in dispute-SZ0,0 UJ
| for the locating of Artesian wells il the
arid regions of the West.
The Senate bill was passed with amend
ments) providing that oaths may be adj
ministered by justices judges, clerks, OF
| commissioners OF the United States courts,
On motion Of Mr.. Henderson. of North
Carolina, the bill was passed deprIvlnS
United States judges of the authority 10
give an opinion on a question of fact.
The bill was passed providing that the
the regular terms of tue circuit and dis.
trict courts for the Southern district OF
Alabama shall be held at Mobile, and shall
begin on the fourth Monday in November
and the first Monday in May.
The bill was passed requiring circuit and
district judges to instructa jury in writing
when requested by either party to tie
cause. The House then went into Com
mittee Of the Whole on the army sppro-
priation bill.
STEEL GUNS.
Mr.. Drew. of Michigan, raised the poin:
of order against the provision of the bI!
appropriatlng $4,000 for steel guns and
carriages therefor for the use of light bat:
terles. The Chair overruled the point OF
order. The provision, however. was
stricken out on motion of Mr.. Cannon.
who stated that similar provision was IN
corporated in the fertilization bill. The
committee then rose and reported the BIZ
| 20 the House. The action of the commit
tee in adopting an amendment providing
that no intoxicating liquors shall be sold
to enlisted men at any canteen was raised
/ 10y the House, and the amendment was &C.
d fapfad--VQoo o.