Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-20
The Senator Says Too Many Of Them
Are Sent TO Washington.
srAr IN THE FEDERAL ASSEMBLY.
Grave and Reverend seigniors Call
Each other "Plutocrats," to the
Creat Entertainment Of the Gai-
Ieries-House "strictly Business"

grants; and on Bedloe's Island as IN
furious to the soldiers stationed there.
He said that he could not very well see
that the sale of beer TO immigrants Oh
Ellis Island could be OF great injury 10
the temperance cause, or could
have any serious effect on the
health and lives Of the immigrants.
On the contrary, he was disposed to think
that a glass of beer was a very welcome
thing to those immigrants. The vast
effort which well-meaning but misguided
people put forth In flooding Congress with
thesa petitions showed the crusadlng
spirit. the extreme paternalism, or the
extreme Rooseveltism of these people.
He had also received lot Of petitions
from various places in New York for
sunday-rest law for the District Of Co
lumbia. 1t was difficult for him to see
exactly how the people OF his State were
interested In a Sunday-law in the Dis
trict of Columbia, unless they desired 10
affect or regulate the conduct or their
senator's and members of Congress. lie
suggested that the rule should be changed
sented in the morning hour, should be
placed in a box kept for the purpose,
or be handed to the secretary. There
was mania for the presentation OF such
petitions, and especially on temperance
subjects. He even found some against the
sale of cider. They were evidently IN
tended for the New York Legislature,
and that showed the carelessness with
which this petition business was con-
Quoted. He gave notice of motion to
change the rule on the subject.
Mr.. Wolcott Republican,. of Colorado,
chairman OF the Post-Ofice Committee,
reported a bill to prevent the sending
through the mails by any department
of the government of matter weighing
more than four pounds, except written
or printed matter. He spoke OF the great
abuse Of sending through the mails type
writing and other machines.
Mr.. Carter (Repubican), of Montana,
offered a resolution to recommit TO the
Finance Committee the House tariff bill
and the committee amendment, and gave
notice that he would address the Senate
upon 1t next Monday.
BOND-ISSUE INQUIRY.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Lodge,
.nstructing the Finance Committee to in
vestigate and report, generally. on all
the important facts and circumstances
connected with the issue Of United States
bonds in 1894, 1895. and 1896, and as to
how the proceeds of such bonds have been
disposed Of.
Mr.. Hill said that he would like to ex-
anime the resolution more carefully than
he had time 10 do now.
The resolution went over until to-mor-
row.
A joint resolution TO revive the grade of
lieutenant-general of the United States
army was introduced by Mr. Elkins (Re-
publican). OF West Virginia.
The diplomatic and consular appropria-
ton bill was then taken up and passed
without any material amendment.
The conference report on the urgent
deficiency appropriation bill was pre-
sented and explained by Mr. Hale, and
agreed to.
Mr.. Call asked how many pension bills
were on the calendar.
Mr.. Gallinger said that there were be-
tween fifty and sixty. He added that it
was the feeling of the friends OF the
Cuban resolutions that they should go
over until tomorrow. He had no disposi-
ton to do anything hostile to those res0-
lutions.
Mr.. Call said he was very anxious that
they be considered, and acted on at the
earliest possible date.
Mr.. Morgan gave notice that he would
ask the Senate to proceed with their
consideration at o'clock Tomorrow.
PENSION BILLS.
Numerous private pension bills were
then considered and passed. Among them
were bills increasing the pension of the
widow of Brevet-Brigadier-G er-General Hor-
ace Bouglton to S75 a month;
giving pensions Of 500 month
to the widows OF Generals o.
NJ. Poe General Blunt, General Gibbon,
and General Thomas Ewing. and to Gene
rails Nathan Kimball and Joseph r. West;
SIS to the widow OF Surgeon
General Sutherland; S25 to Eliza Sanford.
daughter of a revolutionary soldier, and
OF $75 to the widow Of General Morrow.
A bill giving a pension OF $40 month
to the widow of ex-senator Spencer, OF
Alabama, as colonel of an Alabama
regiment, provoked a long discussion,
Senators Allen PopulisD, Of Nebraska,
and Berry DemocraD, Of Arkansas, ar
guing that distinctions should not be
made in the pensions to officers widows
(the regular pension law In this case
only allowing $50 a month";, nor between
the widows OF officers and the widows
of soldiers.
The discussion led to an angry alterca-
ton between Senators Allen and Call,
who, TO the great amusement or the
galleries, denounced each other as ''plu-
tOcrats"
Finally the bill was recommitted to the
Committee on Pensions.
A bill granting a pension OF 500 a
month to the widow OF the late Secretary
of-state Walter Q. Gresham as brigadier-
general. with an amendment making It
SiO0 went over without action, as Mr.
Voorhees. who had originally introduced
the bill, but who was absent to-day. de-
sired to oppose the amendment.
AT $40 r. NJ, after a short executive
session. the Senate adjourned until to-
morrow.
House of Representatives.
The House was strictly business" to-
day. and in a fve-hour session disposed
OF two important measures. The nrst was
the bill under consideration yesterday TO
extend for ten years the time Within
which the government may institute SUITS
TO annul land-patents Illegally or errone-
ously issued. Mr.. Hepburn's amendment
to restrict the law officers 10 cases OF
fraId was rejected, as was also an amend
ment proposed by the Committee on Pub
lie Lands to reopen Mexican and span
ish grants. An amendment, proposed by
Mr. Loud Republican), Of California. was
agreed TO. restricting the operation OF
the law to patents issued under railroad
and wagon-road grants. A substitute, OF
fered by Mr.. McRae Democrao. OF Ar
kansas. TO repeal all legislation on the
subject, was voted down-li3 to 72-which
was test vote ON the bill.
The Amy appropriation bill was also
passed without much discussion, but most
OF the new legislation proposed by the
Cornrnitfea ON Military Affaifs went out