The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-23
ON THE PENSION BILL
PenSlohable Status Given to Soldiers Not
UlthStandlng Prior Confederate Service.
THE SCHOOL. QUESTION IN THE SENATE.
The Settled Policy of the Govern.
mentt to Make No Appropriations
Whatever for the Education of I'm.
dian Children I'm Any Sectnrian
School, Hampton Normal ALI Right

Washington, D. c., April 22.--In the
Senate to-day the discussion Of the Ques-
tion of sectarian schools for Indian
children was continued for q couple of
hours. 1t ended in the adoption of an
amendment offered by Mr.. Cockrell
The bill as it came from the House ap-
propriated 81, 1,135000-increased by the
Senate to 81, 335.000-for the support of
the day and Industrial schools for chill
dren. But this appropriation was ac-
companied by provision absolutely
prohibiting future payment for educa-
tion of Indian children in sectarian
schools. Mr.. Cockrell's amendment was
TO substitute for that provision a decla-
ration that 1t is the Settled policy of
the Government to make no appropria>
ton whatever for the education of In
dian children In any sectarian school,
Just as soon as 1t is possible for provi-
sion to be made for their education 9TH
erwise." 1t also provides that the Sec
retary of the Interior may make con-
tracts with present contract schools
during the fiscal year 1897 to half the
amount used for the fiscal year 1896
This amendment was agreed to-yeas
IS; nays, "a. The remainder of the day
was used up in discussion of various
matters In connection with the Choc-
taws. Cherokees, Creeks and "Squaw-
men,"
The amendments of the Committee on
Appropriations striking out the two
items for pupils at Hampton, Va, and
at Lincoln Institution, Philadelphia,
were disagreed to, and those items re-
main In the bill.
Without furnishing the bill, the SEN
ate at $40 adjourned
Petitions from Baptist churches in re-
lation to the arrest of Rev Diaz a nat
uralized American citizen. by the Span
ish authorities in Cuba, were presented
by half a dozen Senator's and referred :
and resolution requesting informa ton
on the same subject from the State De-
partment was offered by Mr Bacon, of
Georgia. and agreed to-
HouSe.-The first business was the
vote upon the resolution declaring Albert
t. Goodwin, Populist. entitled TO seat
as the representative from the Fifth
District of Alabama in place of James
T.. Cobb, Democrat. upon which no quo
rum appeared yesterday. 1t was agreed
to-yeas. l64; nays, 45 Mr. Goodwin
was escorted to the bar bv MIR. Daniels
of New York. where the oath as a mem
Der OF Congress was administered by
Speaker Reed. AT the conclusion of the
ceremony slight ripple of applause
swept over the Republican seats
Mr.. Scranton( Rep). of PENNSYLVANIA
unsuccessfully attempted to- get unani-
nous consent to- consider the bill pro-
NiuluS loI the SleCtlOn OIL n delegate In
Congress from Alaska. Mr.. Crisp OBJ
tec.ed
House bill was passed transferring
Greer county to the Territory of Okla
homa. in accordance with the recent de-
cision OF the Supreme Court declaring
II not part of the State of Texas An
amendment was adopted continuing the
present officers of the county bill
providing for the free entry of lands in
Greer county. giving preference TO bona
fide occupants and allowing them to take
up l6o acres additional on payment OF
II per acre, was also passed
The House then, in committee of the
whole. took up the bill reported by the
Committee on Invalid Pensions, making
genera, provisions relating to pensions
Mr.. Picker Rep). OF South Dakota,
chairman of the committee. reported the
bill. explained its provisions and the
necessity under the rulings or the pres
knt administration for its passage. Its
principal provisions are: Giving a
pensionable status to soldiers holding an
honorable discharge from the Union
army. Notwithstanding prior service in
the Confederate service; directing that
no pension shall be discontinued or re-
duced eXcepo for fraud. clerical error
mistake of fact or recovery from disa-
bility; allowing claimants charged with
fraud to confront their accusers; abol-
ishing the distinction between the oath
OF an O1llcer anu tnat or an enlisted men:
forbidding that claim shall he rejected
because of claimants inability TO fur
nish more than one craditable witness
to any material fact: permitting claim
ant or his attorney to see any paper on
file regarding his case.
Fixing for pensionable purposes the
date of the termination OF the war; in
accordance with the proclamation OF
the President. and ruling of the Su-
preme Court; giving pensionable status
under the law of 1890 to n claimant
honorably discharged after 80 days SER
Vice. Notwithstanding 81 prior desertion
or dishonorablc discharge, and making
death in service. unless for or in viola
tion of law. equivalent to an honora BILE
discharge: fixing $500 as the maximum
annual income a widow may have, and
still have n pensionable status under
the act OF 1890.
The section in the bill fixing the dates
OF the closing of the war and giving a
pensionable status to a soldier holding
an honorable discharge after 90 days
service. Notwithstanding a previous de-
sertion or dishonorable discharge, as ex-
planned by Mr.. Pickler. awakened some
criticism by Republican members, indi-
eating that they would oppose them In
the course of n colloquy on the latter
section. Mr. Steele (Rep, Ind) stated
that he had had occasion to investigs te
the record of some bounty jumpers
and found that one man had enlisted