The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-07-07
CONGRESS-
An Abstract of the More Important
Proceedings in Both Houses.
TrrsDAy. JUNE 2S,


Democratic party, tariff for revenue only, as
enunciated in party platforms, and spoke at
length on the subject
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hale's remarks MIR.
Vest replied, and argued in favor OF the Demo
cratic policy The resolution went over With
out action.
The Conference report on the Indian appro-
priation bill was presented and agreed to. The
Conference report on the Army appropriation
bill was also agreed TO.
The Agricultural appropriation bill was then
taken up and passed.
The Legislative appropriation bill was then
taken up, but no conclusion was reached and
the Senate adjourned.
In the House, Mr.. McMillin Tenn, d., from
the Committee on Rules, reported a resolution
setting apart to-day latter the morning hour
for the consideration of bills reported by the
Committee on Invalid Pensions, "Wednesday
and Thursday for bills reported by the Com
mittee on Presidential elections, and Friday
and Saturday for bills reported by the Com
mittee on Labor. This order is not to inter-
fere with appropriation or revenue bills or con-
ference reports.
The resolution was agreed to.
The floor was then accorded the Committee
on Invalid Pensions, and Mr.. Martin tlnd., ID }
called up Senate bill amendatory of the de-
pendent pension bill, with an amendment In
the nature of substitute. The substitute
amends the act so as TO grant pension oil - a
month to the dependent widow of any officer or
enlisted man who served 80 days in the army
or navy of the United States during the war
of the rebellion, and was honorably discharged,
and who has died or shall hereafter die, or who
died without such discharge while in said serv-
ice while in line of duty or absent on furlough,
or in the hospital, or under any other circum-
stances than while absent or under arrest or
IMPRISONMENT as deserter.
Mr. Enloe Tenn, d. moved to amend the
bill BY adding to the original act provIso that
no pension shall be paid under the act to per-
sons who are able to make living for them
selves. Rejected.
On the question of reporting the bill favor
ably to the House no quorum voted, and Mr..
Jones (Na.) having made the point the Com
mittee rose, and call Of the House was Or
dered.
quorum appeared but when the Commit
tee again resumed its session the quorum van
ished, and Mr. Martin, seeing the inutility OF
further pressure, withdrew the bill.
Mr. Martin then called up-and Mr.. Butler
iowa, d. who originally introduced the meas
ure, favored-a bill granting pension of sl2
month TO Army Nurses who served not less
than six months in the civil war.
Mr. Oates ALA, D. said that at first read
ing of the bill he had been inclined to oppose
it. But he had thought of the noble women
of the South who had cared for the wounded
in the struggle, these women would have been
gratefully remembered and pensioned. He
could not find it in his heart to vote against
the measure. Applause. The Union ought
20 have the same kind of regard for its Army
Nurses as the Confederacy would have had for
its, and he was heartily prepared to vote for
the bill. Applause.
Mr.. Meredith VA, d. offered an amendment
providing that the bill shall not apply to Nurses
who received pay while in the service of the
army. He honored (he said) the noble women
who voluntarily served in the army, but he
did not believe that those who served for the
almighty dollar were entitled to come here and
ask the American people to put them on the
pension rolls.
Mr. Taylor I'LL, R. inquired why the same
rule should not be applied to men.
Mr. Meredith replied that the men were en-
listed and risked their lives on the field of
battle. Under the general law they were en-
titled to pension, but there was NO law which
entitled woman to it.
Mr.. Taylor suggested that il was the purpose
of the bill to make general law.
Mr. Meredith responded that that was where
the bill was wrong. The pension laws had
already been so far enlarged that if they were
further extended the Government would not
be able to meet the expense. He wanted to
know if any one could tell him how many
names would be added to the pension roll by
this bill.
Mr.. Martin replied, about $50 names.
Mr. Meredith thanked God that no woman
south of Mason & Dixon's line who had served
as Nurse came here asking for pension. To
which Mr.. Caruth Ky, D. said his friend was
mistaken, IS he had two bills Of the kind on
bis hands.
Mr. Meredith said that in the South there
were thousands of women as noble, gener-
Gus, aud as pure as had ever walked upon this
earth who had given up ali they possessed
in order that they might minister to the SOL
diers who were wounded or SICK and who did
not now come asking for pensions.
Mr. Caruth inquired whether the people with
whom the gentleman from Virginia lived and
whom those women nursed would allow them
20 die of starvation or 60 to poorhouse. APP
plause
Mr.. Meredith replied with positive mega
tive. The people among whom he lived would
20 into their pocket books and give the Nurses
enough for life. he was opposed to pensoning
Nurses who received pay while in the service.
His people had contributed as much as any
people in the country toward paying PEN
sions
Mr.. Meredith's amendment was rejected, and
the bill was laid aside with favorable recon-
mendation.
The next bill called up was the Senate bill
amending the act which amends the pension
laws so SIS to remove the disability OF those who
in the Army of the United States and became
disabled.
(The bill extends the same privilege to per-
sons who have enlisted in the Navy.)
On motion of Mr. Oates ala, ID. }, an amend
meut was adopted providing that nothing in
any act of Congress shall hereafter prevent any
person from being commissioned in the Army
or Navy by reason of having served in the
army or navy OF the Confederate States
The bill being laid aside with favorable
recommendation, the committee rose and both
bills were passed, the Army Nurse bill by q
vote of 1s4 to 20 and the amendatory act with.
out division.
bill was passed granting pension Of $50
month 10 soldiers who are totally incapacitated
from performing manual labor by reason of in
jurIes received or disease contracted in the
service Of the United States and in line of duty
and who thereby disabled to such degree
as to require frequent and periodical, though
not regular and constant, personal aid aud at
te4hpnce Of another person.
Tie House then adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE g.
The Conference report on the Consular ant
Diplomatic appropriation bill was presented t
the Senate and agreed TO.
The Legislative appropriation bill was Their
taken up, the question being on the amend
ment restoring the Utah Commission, which
was agreed 10. The House had struck out tn,
provision for the Commission and the S35. 00'
appropriation for five Commissioners at 50, 00