The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-02-12
CONGRESS.
An Abstract Of The More Important
Proceedings of Both Houses.
WEDNESDAY. FER. 4.


mittee on Naval Affairs TO sit during the COM
| ing recess for the purpose OF considering the
| various bills relative 10 the personnel Of the
| Navy, and OF investigating the condition of
naval vessels, with power 10 take testimony.
Mr. Blair IN. H. presented the credentials
| OF his successor, Jacob III. Gallinger as Senator
from New Hampshire, and they were placed ON
file.
The fortifcation appropriation bill was then
taken up aud proceeded with. The amendment
reported by the Appropriations Committee APP
propriating 100000 for rifled seacoast mOrtars
Of cast-iron, hOopcd with steel with Mr.. Chan
! dlcrs IN. H. amendment TO it requiring them
TO be wholly Of steel, gave rise TO a long is
1 cusaion, at the close of which Mr.. ChRndlCr's
amendment was agreed TO- and then, at the sug-
gesiion Of Mr.. Dawes (Mass.) the committee
amendment as amended was rejected.
The next committee amendment was TO
strike out tho item Of $4,000 with previous
! appropriation of $l35OO for two carriages
OF the disappearing type, aud il was agreed
/ 10 without discussion. The next committee
amendment was to reduce the item for COM
] pleting an army gun-factory at Watcrgliet, n.
/ T., from S2467 to $lI5,7i3.
Mr.. Teller lColo.) moved a still further ro-
! ductiOn 10 S507f3
After long discussion Mr.. Teller's amend
ment was disagreed to-yeas %, nays % Tho
committee amendment was then agreed 10
/ without a division.
The next committee amendment was 10 re-
] duce the appropriation for machinery at Water
vliet Arsenal from $4,000 20 S2G5.0O0. IL was
agreed 10 without discussion. The next com
mittoe amendment was % increase the appro-
| priation for the Board Of Ordnance and Fortif-
| cation Ito make purchases, experiments and
I tests Of the most effective guns, small-arms,
etc. from 100000 10 100000.
The amendment was agreed TO. and tho bill
! as amended was then passed. The Military
Academy bill was then taken up debated at
length, and passed.
Senator Stewart New introduced an amend
ment 20 the pension appropriation bill. which
is identical TO the silver bill as il passed the
Senate.
The Senate adjourned at $40 p. m.
In the House, on motion Of Mr.. spinola
On. ~. Senate bill was passed for the retire
ment Of Lieut. John III. McBlair.
Mr.. Dingey Me- reported from the "Siver
Pool Committee a resolution discharging J. A.
Owenby from the custody Of the SeTgcantat-
Arms.
Mr. EnIoe rTenn.) suggested that the resolu-
tiOn should be preceded by preamble, declar-
ing that Owenby had testified to nothing and
implicated nobody.
The resolution was adopted
The House then went into Committee OF the
Whole On the Diplomatic and Consular appro-
priation bill. After considerable discussion the
bill was laid aside with a favorable rccommen-
datiOn, and the committee proceeded 10 the
consideration Of the sundry civil appropriation
bill
After considerable discussion, and without
reaching conclusion, the committee rose and
the Diplomatic appropriation bill was passed.
The House adjourned at 5:l0 p. II.
THURSDAY, FEB. s.
In the Senate among the bills reported and
placed on the calendar WAS one increasing the
pension Of the widow Of Gen. Custer from $50
10 800 per month.
Mr.. Ingalls, lKan.l, rising TO point Of per-
sonal privilege, defended his course on the cO-
sure resolution and the election bill. He stated
that he was as good a Republican now as he
ever had been, but he did not think the pres.
ent was the time 10 pass the election bill, and
he had always been in favor Of 4 free discussion
Of every measure brought before the Senate.
The election bill was very defective, and he
could not vote for any such measure as it did
not, la It's many details receive the sanction OF
his judgment. lie said that IL was related that
the streets Of jerusalem had been kept clean
by every man sweeping before his own door,
and be commended 10 the selfconstituted
guard Ians Of the cOnscieuccs Of their associates
toutside Of the Senate Chanberl that they
should observe more frugal, prudent and
guarded husbandry Of their disapprobation.
Those leaders who had conducted the most
powerful political organization known in
American history 10 the most stupendous aud
overwhelming disaster received i'm its annals
might well pardon those who were disposed TO
doubt the infallibility Of their judgment II
they were wise, they would be less proscriptive
aud more tolerant of differences OF opinion
among their associates, on questions OF opinion
on which differences might be allowed, espc-
cially among those whose devotion 20 human
liberty had never been questioned aud whose
constaucy aud fortitude had been exposed 10
tests as severe, al least as any which they had
ever known.
The pension appropriation bill was taken up.
u appr0prlates for pensions for the year $l33,-
l73,0S5i for fees aud expenses Of Examining
Surgeons 81 $4,000; for salaries OF Is Pension
Agents, $1,000 and for clerk hire, 100000.
The latter item is increased by an amend
ment OF the Committee on Appropriations to
100000. Another amendment reported from
the committee strikes out the proyisO limiting
to - the compensation Of a pension attorney
aud inserts, IN lieu Of il, a pToviso limiting
such compensation TO s.. The latter amend
ment gave rise TO a very long discussion.
Ia the course of the discussion Mr. McPher-
son ~. j. inquired Of Mr.. Allison whether
the amount appropriated in the bill would be
sufficient FOR the year.
Mr.. Allison IoWa) believed that 10 would be,
but admitted that there might be a deficiency
OF five, six, eight or ten millions On the other
hand. there might be a surplus. but he thought
il more likely that there would be deficiency.
Mr.. Mcpherson asked how many applications
had been made under the act Of last year.
Mr.. Allison gave the number up 90 Jan. 10 as
$4,000 Of which only 5000 or 5000 had been
yet allowed.
Mr. Quay (Pa) moved 10 add b. the provis-
ion 10 fees pTovisO that il shall not apply
10 any case now pending where there is an ex-
isting lawful contract, aud Mr.. Cockrcll moved
10 add 10 Mr.. Quay's amendment the words
in writing on file in the Department"
Agreed o..
The provision to the pension attorneys
fees, rs itnow stands forbids the receipt OF any
compensation under existing law exceeding 81
in any claim for increase OF pension on account
Of increase Of disability or exceeding s. i'm any
claim under the act Of June q. lS90 aud also
forbids the allowance OF compensation for scry-
ices Ia securing the passage Of any special pen
sion act on any case that has been presented Mt
the Pension Office, or where n pension is al
lowable under general laws. But this provis-
ion Is not 10 apply TO any ease now pending
where there is an existing lawful contract.
After n short Executive session the Senate
adjourned at 5:l5 .. m
Ia the House, on motion Of Mr.. Mckinley
tO.), by unanimous consent, it was ordered
that during the remainder Of the session the
House shall meet at IL o'clock A. IN.
The House went into Committee Of the
Whole on the sundry civil appropriation bill,
but without reaching a conclusion on the
measure the committee rose and the House adj
journed at p. m.
FRIDAY, Fen. G.
in tic Senate, Mr. Paddock (Neb nresentad