davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
Mr.. Martins RIII.

The House Committee on Invalid Pensions
has ordered favorable report on the bill OF
Mr. Martin, of Indiana, TO supplement the act OF
1890 as to pensions.
This act and prior laws provide that widows
shall receive a pension If the husband served
80 days in the army or navy and received an
honorable discharge.
Many cases have arisen under these laws
where the soldier died in the service Under
these laws the widow is not pensionable The
soldier was technically not in line OF duty al
the time of his death. and yet his death was
not caused by negligence on bis part.
In these cases. of course, no honorable dis
charge was given, and application for pension
had to be refused on account of this techni-
calty.
The bill just reported is to correct this error
and provides that in any application for pension
under the act of 1890 where it is shown THAI
the soldier or sailor on account of whose servics
the pension is asked dies, or has died, without
having received an honorable discharge from
the service, and without having by his own mis-
conduct forfeited his right to receive an honor
able discharge, the want of an honorable dis
charge shall not bar the applicant from receiving
the benefits of the law upon complying with kb
other requirements.
This error has given the Pension Office much
trouble, and has caused the presentation Of q
great number of private claims in Congress.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
FRIDAY, MARCH I6.

In the House. consideration of the civil APP
preparation bill was resumed, and debate con-
tinued on the Enloc amendment. The amend
ment was then defeated.
At the night session about go members
were present. The only incident of note was a
verbal passage of arms between Mr. McKeighan,
of Nebraska and Mr. Talbert, of South Caro-
lima. bill was under consideration to relieve
w. II. Cohorn from the charge of desertion,
which the Committee on Military Affairs re-
ported had been unjustly placed on the record
against him. Mr.. Talbert IS. c., d. moved to
lay it aside with an uniavorablo report. Mr..
McKeighan protested against the manifestation
OF spirit that would refuse to do justice to a
gallant but unfortunate soldier.
Mr. Mckeighan (Neb. lnd.). Mr.. Chairman,
being somewhat familiar with the circum-
stances, often beyond the control of the soldier
which places him on the records of the War
Department with a stain on his name | feel
that III justice TO my comrades, living and
dead, and their families ought to rise here
and now and protest against this motion
Everyone at all familiar with a soldiers life
knows that from time to time when the military
organization to which he belongs is ordered to
move lie may be sick i'll the hospital, or he
may have been examined by physician and
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
MONDAY, MARCH 10.

In the Senate, Coxey's army of unemployed
which has frequently been reported as on it's
march oWashington had its foremost outpost in
Congress to-day. when Mr.. PETER introduced two
bills one 3" to provide for public improvements
and the employment of citizens of the United
States" and the other for the Improvement of
public roads and for other purposes" In doing
so he stated that while he was not entirely in
sympathy with the movement, he presented
the bills because he had been requested to do
SO, and because he believed it was the duty of
every Senator to report all bills and petitions
sent him. The bills were referred to the Com
mittee on Education and Labor.
The Vice-President announced his signature
to the Bland seigniorage bill.
Mr.. Galinger, from the Committee on Dis
trict of Columbia, called up the bill for the
promotion of anatomical science and to prevent
the dissertation of graves in the District of
Columbia" The bill is for the purpose of pre-
venting the work of resurrectionists " in
Washington and to provide bodies for dissection
in the medical colleges. Several amendments
were made and the bill was passed.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22

Without transacting any routine business
the House went into Committee of the Whole
and the consideration of the sundry civil bill
was resumed.
The last paragraph in the bill was that relat-
ing to Soldiers Homes against two clauses of
which (placing the disbursing officers of the
Homes under bond and requiring an annual
report of the condition of the Homes to the
Secretary of War Mr.. Black had raised point
of order.
Mr.. Cogswell Mass, R. explained that these
clauses had been inserted in the bill with a
view to obtaining better and safer method of
accounting and auditing the great sums of
money expended under the direction of the
Board of Managers of the Homes. He denied
that this was part of any attempt to place the
Soldiers Homes and the Managers in the un-
friendly hands of the War Department.
Mr.. Black Ill., d.. one of the members of
the Board of Managers of the National Home,
opposed the two clauses referred to.
Mr.. Cannon advocated the contemplated
change.
An agreement was reached that further de-
bate on the pending paragraph be terminated
in 80 minutes, after which the Committee
rose. Mr.. Cultivate. Chairman of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, presented the army
appropriation bill, and then, at 5:35, the House
adjourned.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
CONGRESS.
Abstract Of the More Important
Proceedings of Both Houses.
TUESDAY, MARCH 10.

In the Senate, the principal business OF tbs
morning was the approval of the assignments
of Senators to committees to ELL vacancies al
agreed to by the Democratic caucus.
Senator Stewart took the floor at 1890 In
support of the Bland seigniorage bill. He was
unwilling to have the bill amended, for he be-
lieved that to return it to the House would be
fatal to it. Mr.. Stewart delivered a silver
speech along the line of his well known theo-
ries.
Senator Lindsay said that If he believed that
the enactment of this bill into law would
stand in the way of an international agree
ment, he would hesitate to give it his vote.
According to his understanding, however, 1t
simply provided for the carrying out of the I'M
redeemed sections of the law of 1890
The passage of the bill would relieve the
Treasury of the pressure OH the gold reserved
for the redemption of the greenbacks, for as
every one who presented a coin note demanded
gold for it, the gold reserve fund was reduced
about $40,0000G0.
Mr.. DoIph thought that those who were urg-
ing the passage of the bill were doing so
under false Interpretation. They were princi-
pally those members of the Senate who favored
the free coinage of silver The bill was in
direct conflict with the declaration of Congress
made few months ago, when the purchasing
clause of the Sherman law was repealed that
it was the policy of the Government to main
TAIN Inc parity Vi &olu anu SilNeT
In the House, bill to pension John Phipps
and other minor heirs of Charles Phipps, Co.
A. 10Th Nd, was passed on motion OF Mr.. Tai
bolt Md, d.
The House, Oh motion of Chairman Sayers
Tex, d., went into Committee of the Whole,
for the consideration of the sundry civil appro-
priation bill. The bill carries $50, 306, 1862,
$6074,6 $40 less than the estimates and So 409,-
928 less than the last sundry civil bill.
Mr.. Cogswel the leader of the minority on
the committee, took the first opportunity to
give the bill his Endorsement. 1t was he de-
cared, liberal bill under the circumstances.
The committee had been fairly liberal toward
every interest of vital Importance.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio, r. took occasion to
call attention to the difference between the sit
uation of the country to-day and the situation
a year ago. when the last sundry civil bill was
passed. His colleague, Mr.. Corswell, had been
right when he said it was liberal bill under
the circumstances.
Several amendments were debated and acted
upon. The committee rose and at $40 the
House adjourned.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22


ancient Babylon and Assyrla
The very fact that extensive libraries existed
more than 1000 years ago is sufficient to show
the splendor of these almost-forgOtten civiliza-
tions.
In the safe keeping of the British Museum
are some so 900 tablets of clay. Each of these
tablets are covered with cuneifOrm characters
SO small as to require the aid of a powerful
magnifying glass. These tablets are the books
of the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians.
They were collected, arranged. classified and
numbered, and their method of issuing the
tablets to the public for their libraries were
public was similar to the system used at the
Congressional Library of to-day.
A book or tablet maker would select some
clay, grind the same very fine, then mold 1t
into the shape of the tablet required, one side
of which was fat and the other side oval. The
writing was then inscribed on both sides while
the clay was soft Finally the tablets were
placed ia heated kiln to be baked.
After the process of baking the tablets were
taken out, and 1T is said were as fine as some
OF our best modern pottery. The tablets varied
in size from one inch to a foot square, and were
made in variety of coOrs.
Fragments of library cataog are also de-
posted in the British Museum. This shows
that the tablets were arranged methodically
and Numbered, and that the library contained
historical and NEUROLOGICAL documents, reli-
EiOuS 8NCOIAS, ltSdis SGoRIdpulCdi, dstIOuOILlCal
and astrological treatises. poetical compositions
zoology, natural history, commercial treatises,
royal proclamatiOns and petitions to the King.
Geography was represented by lists OF coun-
tries aud lands, while geology was represented
by lists of stones. earth, ETC.; natural history
by lists of beasts. birds, insects, etc The Baby
lonian reader would consult the clay catalog,
select the work desired, then taking a soft piece
of clay would inscribe the title and number of
the tablet and hand same to the librarian.
SomeOf the works extended over several tab
let's
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
" SUSPENDED"
Some Who Have Lost Their Dues by Actor
of the Pension Bureau.

Some Who Have Lost Their Dues by Action
of the Pension Bureau.
George Sherrick, of Selma, O., an ex-Union
soldier, who had spent 10 months in Anderson
vile and Libby Prisons, hung himself because
he had grown respondent over the suspension
of his pension Of $l2 month.
George Long, crippled soldier of two wars,
over 40 years of age, had his pension stop
ped. he was a member of the 4th u. s. Inf
during the whole of the Mexican war and
participated in the battles of Matamoras. Palo
Alto, Reseca de la Palma, Monterey, Contreras
Cheruhusco, Melino del Rey, Chapultepec and
the City of Mexico. After the war closed he
served IN several campaigns against the Indians
in California, where he was discharged. Dur
ing his enlistment, while on volunteer scouting
duty, he was dangerously wounded. He passed
through the war of the rebellion, the scars of
two bullets showing that he did not always
keep out of their way. Another small pension
was added to his pittance for Service in Mexico
For years he has been compelled to use two
canes. His character is the type, model type,
of the best class of our American soldiers. He
has no means of support.
Card w. Belt, of Pigua, O., who enlisted in
the brst company raised in that city. in April
1861, at the age OF 10 years, and who served
throughout the entire rebellion in the fam Gus
old nth Ohio, and who never missed a scout
skirmish, or battle the regiment was engaged
80 a." "A'"9C Si"'h was H!Rhiy lnuofSen Dy
the Darke County Board of Examiners at
Greenvllle. received the notification from Wash.
lugton that his application for a pension had
been rejected.
Comradc John F. White, S3i n Y, Soldiers
Home, Leavenworth, Kan, writes that he was
suspended last October without notice, aud
though he borrowed money and sent in the re-
port OF his reexamination in December, he has
heard nothing since, pro or con. Comrade
White was in II battles and II skirmshes and
prisoner at Libby and Belle Isle Va.
T. +. Mardis, Co. G, 18th Iowa. Winterset
Iowa. wants to know why it is that veterans
chosen for suspension were always those
entirely dependent on their pensions for
living. The following persons in Wintarset
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
CUEEIFoRM INSCRIPTIONS.

brought the literature of Babylon by King
Assnr bani Pal. who bad become their con-
eueror. Assyrian men Of learning were ap-
pointed 10 rearrange, number, aud catalog these
tablets, which carry us back into a fabulous
antiquity.
ne Assyrian librarians whose duty IL was to
copy and write these histories, did in one ex-
tensiye epic incorporate the story of the ark
and Hood. This epic covers ~ tablets, and is al
most identical with the Biblical account Of same.
An account of the creation in a legendary form
was also kept in this library. A number of
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22

THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE is the onlv
champion the soldiers haze among the great pa
pers Of the country. Tie best ,oay to Aelp all
ceterans is by getting it more subscribers.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
SATURDAY, MARCH II,

In the House. the Committee of the Whole
resumed consideration of the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill.
A resolution authorizing the enlisted men of
the Army and Navy to wear badge on public
occasions was, on motion of Mr.. Cultivate,
agreed to.
At 2:30, in accordance with the provisions of
special order, the remainder of the day was
devoted to eulog!es upon the life and character
of the late Representative w. II. Enochs, of
Ohio
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22

Columbian Spanish eA<a6els Nina Pinta and
Santa Maria. The ledbtCross Society desired
these caravels for shespurpose Of exhibition
along the American doAst with view to using
the proceeds for the Improvement of the prop
erty of that corporations Without objection,
the bill was passed.
After a few additional verbal amendments
the committee rose asifths House adjourned.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
change.
Napoleon Smiled,

When NJ. Seguer was put forward for First
Judge of the Court of Appeals, he was presented
to Napoleon who said:
but you are young for such an Office, sir.
What is your age?"
"The same as that of your Majesty when you
won the battle of Marengo," answered Seguier
He received the appointment
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
SENATOR PUGH.

the passage of this bill He ridicued the pro
testation of those who claimed to favor bimetal
lism, but who baked over a harmless bill like
this.
After further debate the yeas and nays were
demanded, and the bill was passed by vote o.
al to 81. The vote in detail is as follows:
Yeas-Messrs Allen, Bate, Berry, Blackburn
Blanchard, Butler, G all Cockrell, Coke, Colquitt
Daniel, Dubois, Faulkner George. Gordon, Hans
brougb. Harris, Hunton, Irbv, Jones of Arkansas
Kyle, Lindsay, McLaurin, Martin, Mills, Mitchell
OF Oregon, Morgan, Pasco, PETER, Perkins, Petit
grew, Power Pugh, Quay Ransom. Roach Shoup
Stewart Teller Turpie Vest, Voorhees,. White
Wolcott. Total, III.
Nays-Messrs. AIdrcb, Allison, Brice. Gallery
Carey, Chandler, Cnllom, Davis, Dolph, Frye, Gal.
linger, Gibson, German. Hale Hawley. Higgins
Lodge, McMillin, MCPHERSON, Henderson. Mitchell
of Wisconsin, Morrill,, Murphy, Palmer, Plat
Proctor, Smith, Stockbrdge, Villas, Washburn
Wilson. Total, 81.
The pairs were: Camden for. with Gray against
Hill for. with Dixon against; Jones of Nevada
for, with Hoar against; Vance for, with Sherman
against
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
THURSDAY. MARCH Is.

In the Senate the s0nsideration of the seign-
forage bill was reneSssas and Mr. Carey took
the floor in oppositioH trthe measure.
Mr.. Dubois idaho asserted that he would
like to vote for free coinage now and that he
took but little comfofti ia voting for the bill,
as it was not the kindOof silver legislation
which pleased him.
Mr.. Mitchell (Ore., R.) was the next speaker,
and he delivered strong and earnest plea for
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22

The House went into Committee ofthe Whole,
and the consideration of the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill was resumed.
Mr.. Black (lll. raised point of order On the
paragraph of the bill relating to the manner in
which the disbursing officers of Soldiers Homes
should render their accounts.
Mr.. Sickes argued i'll favor of sustaining the
point of order.
Mr.. Cannon maintained that the Homes
should i'll no wise be interfered with, but that
the disbursing officers of the Homes should be
placed under bond to the United States aud
their accounts should 90 regularly through The
Treasury Department, as all other accounts did.
Mr.. Cogswell also sustained the clauses in the
bill against which Mr.. Black made the point of
order These officers, he said, disbursed So, 000,-
600 of the peoples money annually and every
safeguard should be used to protect that dis
bursement. Without ruling on the point Of
order agreement was finally reached to pass
over these two paragraphs temporarily and re-
turn to them later.
The reading of the bill was completed at2:15
and the committee then returned to the para
graphs relating to the Coast and Geodetic Sur
vey.
Mr.. Enloe offered an amendment to strike
out all provisions for the maintenance of this
Bureau, and providing its transfer to the Navy
Department. Lengthy argument followed.
Mr.. Enloe detailed his efforts in past Congresses
against TINS bureau. lie spoke OF the manner
in which the Bureau had perpetuated itself
In 1871 the survey Of the coast was practically
completed, so that the Bureau devised plan
TO begin geodetic work as means TO sustain
its own existence. by 1881 the original pur-
pose of the Bureau had been lost sight of, and
instead of doing coast work it was doing geo.
detic work entirely, trangulation work across
the interior of the continent.
At the conclusion of Mr. Enloe's speech, with
out action the amendment, the committee
arose, and the House, at 400, adjourned.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
DAT EN- rs

Opinions rendered as to the novelty
and patentsbility of inventions and validity
OF patents. Rejected applications prose-
cuted. All business relating to patents
promptly attended to.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22

as untrue, "but." he added, 1--WE are on a gold
basis now, and does anyone think that the con-
dition of the United States is now hanpv
one? If we do get TO silver basis, we cannot
be worse off than we are now, and it is noto-
rious fact that the countries which are on a
silver basis are much better off than we are"
Mr.. George followed in a speech in favor OF
the bill.
The hour of 9 o'clock having arrived. Mr..
Harris demanded that in accordance with the
previous agreement the vote should be taken
on Mr. Allisons motion to reconsider the vote
by which the bill was ordered to a third read
ing. The result Of an agreement to this motion
would he TO open the bill to amendments The
yeas and nays were demanded and the motion
was voted down. there being % in the affirm
alive and ID in the negative
According to prior agreement Mr.. Henderson
was then permitted to move that the bill be
recommitied to The Finance Committee, where
it would DO examined and perfected This was
also defeated by relatively the same vote as the
preceding question, there being q yeas to a.
nays.
The fate of the bill being thus made known
and its passage through the Senate being as
sured, there was sudden exodus from the gall
leries and from the floor, and further proceed
ings excited but little interest.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22

In the House, bill for the relief of Gen.
John X. Brooke. United States Army, called up
by Mr.. bingham. encountered opposition from
Mr.. Pendleton wv. Va.), who thought Gen.
Brooke had not exercised due diligence in de.
Tending suit, from the judgment of which he
sought the relief of Congress; but the bill was
passed.
Mr.. Wilson (Ohio, r. asked unanimous con-
sent for the consideration of bill authorizing
the Secretary Of the Navy to loan the National
Red Cross Society, for the period of one year, the
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22

sent to the rear, and the comrades of his COM
pany having no knowledge of his whereabouts,
that night he is reported as absent without
leave and a few moro days of such reports and
he is marked on the roll OF his company as q
deserter.
the War Department no will find q charge of
desertion standing against a large number of
men who never hesitated to serve their coun-
try and who never Turned their backs on the
foes of this Governments. Familiar as / am
with the circumstances that surround many of
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22
By WILLIAM GEORGE Ik6Is1

MONG THE MARVELLOUS
discoveries of Profs. Lsyard
and Botts in the East the
most interesting and important
are those which have thrown
, light upon the literature of
The Washington times., 1894-12-20
ARBITRATION OF STRIKES.

Labor Commissioner Carroll ID. Wright's
though yet in embryonic form, will shortly be
introduced in the House. is in the line of the
suggestions and recommendations made in
the report Of the commission directed by the
President to investigate the Chicago strike Of
last summer
The measure takes cognizance only of COM
mon carriers engaged in transportation by
railroad and by water. 1t ignores whether
wisely or not need not be considered at this
time-labor disturbances in other fields
Presumably 1t proceeds upon the theory that
the public or the government is not directly
fnconyenieneed by a strike in any industrial
establishment, but only by those that inter-
lere with traffic on railways and steamboats,.
So far as it goes it represents a just and
fair principle-that OF equitable dealing be-
tween man and man. 1t also gives the weak
protection against the strong, for, while labor
may numerically overbalance capital, yet the
controlling power of the latter is so much
greater, that in conflict ,unaided, as hereto
fore. by the interposition of a third and de-
tening factor, labor has always been. and
would continue to be, the under dog in the
fight.
II Mr.. Wright's bill is enacted into law sub
stantially on the lines laid down in his draft,
the United States government may interpose
its authority, either upon the request of one
of the parties to a dispute, or upon its own
motion, and arbitrate the questions at issue.
An important feature is that PENDING arbitra-
tion no employer shall be allowed to dis
charge al employe, nor may an employe or
associations aid or abet strike or quit work
without giving thirty days notice.
1t is understood that the chiefs of the great
organizations of railway employees are in favor
of the fundamental features of the bill which,
it is thought will pass both Houses without
much difficulty