The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-10-05
SATURDAY, SEPT. 80.

In the Senate, Mr. Chandler called up his
resolution relative to the Fairchild Custom
house Commission. The resolution directs the
Secretary of the Treasury to inform the Senate
whether National Commission, composed of
private citizens. is investigating the New York
CustomhOuse and making reports and recon-
mendations concerning the same; and. If 80,
TO further inform the Senate who are the MEM
bers of said commission, by what authority of
law they have been appointed and paid, what is
their compensation. and other matters bearing
upon said commission.
The existence of the commission, said Mr..
Chandler, raised an important question of con.
stitutional law and all important question of
the administration of statutes, and the privi-
1eges and the prerogatives of the Senate were
involved. The President he declared, was be-
coming too ready to ignore the laws and act on
his own ideas, as witness the appointment of
Minister Blount, the Farchild Commission,
and the letters to the Hawaiian Provisional
Government. His actions were more ike those
of an Emperor than President whose author
ity is limited by Constitution.
After some changes the resolution was
adopted.
Mr.. Dolph called up his resolution presented
yesterday to the effect that :" the Secretary of
the Interior be directed to inform the Senate
what regulations have been made, and what ac-
tion has been taken, if any, since March 3
1888 by the Department of the Interior con-
corning the payment of pensions to pensioners
whose postotjce addresses are now or have
lately been temporarily in foreign countries"
Mr. Doph cited the case of the widow Of
Commodore Watson, U. 5. n. This lady had
been visiting abroad during the last six months.
When she found her pension stopped, and re-
turned to the United States to inquire about it,
she was required to prove her citizenship and
10 show when and where tie late Commodore
Watson had been born.
Mr. Dolph said he had heard much of the
regulations and rulings of the Pension Office
concerning the payment of pensions, with the
evident intention of limiting the number of
pensioners and reducing the gross amount paid
each year. He had not discussed the subject
because he had no direct information. but if
the case just presented was fair sample of the
way the Pension Office was doing. - l think it
vestigation should be made by Congress; and
do not wonder that there is great dissatisfac-
ton among the boys in blue. the men who
fought TO sustain the Union. and in their Posts
aud other organizations they have passed reso-
buttons condemuing he conduct of the Com
missioner of Pensions in regard to pensions"
Mr. Dolph then further discussed the case of
Mrs. Watson, and ended by declaring that the
treatment of this case showed either dense ig
nOrance. great irattention, deliberate design
to thwart the Will of Congress and to deprive
this old lady, for whom Congress had provided
in her old age, of the pittance allowed her.
The resolution went to the calendar.
The silver-purchase bill was taken up, and
Mr. Camden wv. Val spoke in favor of it.
Mr. PETER concluded his speech against the
repeal bill.
Tho Senate adjourned at $50.