smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

A square, straight, stand-up fight occurred
in the House of Representatives between the
Committee on Appropriations and the Com
mittee on Pensions, over the section in the
pension appropriation bill breaking up the
pension agencies and directing payments to be
made in all cases from Washington


This proposition was urged very strenuousy
by the Committee on Appropriations, although
disapproved by the Commissioners of Pensions
We took occasion in our last issue to criticise
very severely, and to show certain good reasons
why the change, if made, would not be in the
interest of economy for the Government or con-
venience to the pensioner.


We have reason to know that these articles of
ours had good deal of influence in directing the
attention of the friends of the soldiers to the
wrong intended to be perpetrated by this scheme
of Capitalization, urged by the Committee on
Appropriations.


AT all events it is very certain that the
friends of the pensoner in the House followed
out the line of ideas suggested in this paper,
and that it was done with very marked ability
by several Representatives on the floor, and
notably by Mr.. Powers, of Maine, upon whom
the burden of the contest devolved.


Under the new rules of the House. which
permit general legislation in the appropriation
bills where the tendency of such new legislation
is to reduce expenses, the Committee on Ap-
preparations has gradually usurped upon the
the functions and duties of all other committees
in the House, and have undertaken to make
the most radical changes in existing laws by
attaching clauses to an appropriation bill.


So great change iii the system of paying
pensioners as was proposed ought to have been
considered by the Committee on Pensions,
which was the appropriate committee; and
that committee did perfectly right in resenting
such an usurpation, and in demonstrating, as
they did in the debate, that the change pro
posed was a bad one, and one that worked evil
to pensioners and saved no money to the Govern
ment.


We return again our thanks to the Com
missioner of Pensions for refusing to join
in this crusade and to Mr.. Powers and his allies
in the House for the gallant and successful fight
they made on this important question.


Let the Committee on Pensions consult the
columns of the TRIBUNE for sound and whole
some views on all matters relating to pensions
and the pension system and they will find in
the future, as in this case, that they will be apt
to be on the right side.
Year: 1878

We invite correspondence from surgeons and
others on matters of general or special interest.
Views and suggestions Of practical men are
always valuable.


We of course can pay no attention to anony-
NOUS communications, but shall always hold
all communications addressed to us as strictly
confidential, unless the writer permits the use of
his name
Year: 1878

Our dear friend, the Commissioner, has not
yet abandoned his idea of this organization.


He still sticks Ikea blister to the sixty sur
geons OF good repute," who are to supersede the
examining-surgeons Of the present system, and
bring order out Of chaos-truth out of error
right out of wrong.


They are to invade all the little peaceabe vii
lagos Of the country, to ride out gorgeously to
the solitary farm-houses Of the land, hunting Up
Year: 1878

We return once more to the subject of the
alleged reforms proposed by our Commissioners
of Pensions in the handling of his Office, in
the concentration of absolute and irresponsible
power in the hands Of himself and select officers
in the breaking up Of respectable agents and at
torneys, and the substitution of plunderers up
on claimants for relief in his office


Mr. Bentley is a good man originally, with
kind feelings and disposition to do full justice
when he first assumed office


But he is thoroughly spoiled for the delicate
duties he has to perform, and he confesses it.
Year: 1878

We do most respectfully, yet most urgently,
ask of the Military Committees of the House
and Senate what has become of the Bounty
Bill?


Every member Of these committees pretend
to be in favor of the measure every member of
both Houses is entirely familiar with it; it has
been examined and discussed elaborately in both
Houses for six years; everybody claims to be for
Its passage; but it does not pass


1t looks as if the House Committee proposed
to let it die in being born.


That they mean to keep it back until the end
of the session seems to be clear and then send it
through the House too late to be acted on by
the Senate, SO as to keep the " word of promise
to the ear and break it to the hope"


This is said to be the line of tactics of the dis
tinguished gentleman at the head of the House
Committee to gain cheap reputation as the
friend of the soldier, and yet avoid any practical
result.


The reputation is needed for a close district
in Cincinnati next November; but we distinctly
notify all soldiers that if the Bounty Bill fails
to become a law at this session, it will be very
largely the fault of General Banning, who could,
if he chose, have reported and passed it through
the House long ago.


And we further notify all parties interested
that if such bill does not pass before the No
vember election, it will not pass at this Congress.
Year: 1878

Soldiers stand by the NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
Give us a circulation of 25O,0OO, and we will
put through the Pension and Bounty Bills, and
will effect the needed reforms in the Pension
Office DO not delay. Decide fairly, frankly,
and at once
Year: 1878

: E

 An Act to establish State Board of Health, and Bureau of Vital Statistics, and to assign

 certain duties to local Boards of Health.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-

 resentatives in General Assembly convened:

 Sec. 1. That the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint six persons, three of whom shall always be physicians, and one lawyer, who together with secretary to be elected by them, shall con- stitute the state board of health. Of the six persons first appointed, two shall serve for two years,- two for four years, and two for six years, from the first day of July next follow ing their confirmation, and the governor shall hereafter biennially appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, tive members of said state board of health, to hold their of fees for six years from the first day of July next following their confirmation If vacan- cy occur in said board during recess of the legislature it shall be filled by the governor until the next regular session of the same.

 Sec. g. That the state board of health shall meet at least once in every three months, and as much oftener as they may deem proper. Four members shall always constitute a quo- rum for business. No member of the shall re- ceive any compensation except the secretary, but the actual travelling and other expenses of the members while engaged in the duties of the board shall be allowed and paid out of the
Year: 1878

An Act relating to Highways near Railroads Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep

 resentatives in General Assembly convened:

 Section 1. No highway which does not cross railroad track shall hereafter be laid out or opened to the public within one hundred yards of any railroad track unless the layout has been approved by judge of the superior court, af- ter notice to all parties in interest, and his written approval has been lodged in the office of the town clerk of the town in which the proposed highway is situated. Sec. 2. A judge of the superior court shall not approve the layout of any highway, which does not cross railroad track, within one hundred yards of any railroad track, unless he finds that public convenience and necessity re- quires such highways to be within such dis tance and he shall have power to require any town opening highway to the public within such distance, to erect and maintain such a fence between such highway and the railroad track as, in his opinion, the safety of the pub lie may require.

 Sec.S This act shall ta ke effect from its yassage, but shall not affect anysuit now pend ing

 Approved, March 2S, 1878.
Year: 1878

CHAPTER CXXXIX.

 An Act to regulate the calling out of the Mill

 tary Force of the State.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-

 resentatives in General Assembly convened <:

 Section 1. No person except the commander in-chief shall call out the militia or national guard of this state for any duty whatever IrO0tded, h01oecer, that the commander-in-chief may make such regulations for calling out the national guard, for drill, parades and inspec- tion, as seem to him proper in compliance with the law, and the national guard may be called out by the proper officers for these purposes, and no other

 Sec. g. In case of riot or other civil commo- tions at any place in this state. the sheriff, mayor or other officer whose duty it is to en- force the civil authority at such place, shall, if he considers that the force at his disposal is not sufficient to preserve the peace, communi- cate with the commander-in- Chief, informing him of such insuaiciency of force, when the commander-in-chief may at his discretion or der out such portion of the national guard as he thinks proper, and may direct the proper commanding officer of such force to place him. self in communication with the person making the application to assist such person in pre- serving the peace, and to use such portion of his force as may be necessary to preserve and enforce the peace. But before using this force against any body of men, such preliminary warning shall be given and precautions taken as are now obligatory under existing laws.

 Sec. 3. In case it is found impossible to inn mediately communicate with tlfe commander in-chief, the civil officer making requisition for military assistance may if he deem the danger imminent and not admitting of delay, serve a copy of such requisition, together with a state ment of his inability to communicate with the commander-in-chief, upon the commanding of ficer of such portion of the national guard as may be in his district, who is hereby author ized to exercise with respect to calling out the troops under his command, the powers confer red in this act upon the commander-i in chief; but if the action so taken is dlsapproyed by the commander-in chief. the troops so called into servlce shall be immediately discharged from further duty under that call:

 Sec. 4. If any person or persons resisting the laws of the state. or unlawfully or riotously assembled, shall be injured or killed by any of the military force called out under the provis- ions of this act, such force shall be discharged from all civil or criminal liability therefor

 Sec. 5. All acts and parts of acts inconsis- tent herewith are hereby repealed.

 Approved March 27, 1878.
Year: 1878

An Act to Confirm the Election of Jurors, and

 the Election and the Doings of Assessors

 and Boards of Relief.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep

 resentatives in General Assembly convened: {:

 Section l. In all cases where the town clerk of any town has not given due and le- gal notice of the meeting of the justices of the peace, selectmen, constabIes, and grand jurors on the first Monday of January, A. D. 1877, for the choice of judicious electors to serve as jurors in the superior court court of common pleas or district court, as the case may be, the defect in the call of said meeting shall not vi- tiate the election of the persons chosen by such meeting to act as jurors as aforesaid pr0Uid- cd, the law has been complied with in other respects; and in all cases where jurors shall have been chosen and their names returned to the town clerk without any designation as to which were chosen to serve as jurors in trials before justices of the peace, and the town clerk for that reason has been unable to write the words ''justice juror" upon said names the same may be placed in the box and drawn regardless of any want of designation, for ju- TOT services, as though the same had been des- ignnted in manner required by section four. chapter ten, title nineteen, of the revised stat utes of 1875.

 Sec. 9. No person declared elected as a member of the board of relief in any town in this state who had been appointed and acted as moderator and box tender of such meeting whern such meeting was held, and assisted in the counting of the votes cast, if such election was otherwise legal. shall for such cause he held to be disqualified, but his election as a member of such board of relief is hereby rat fled and confirmed, and all acts done by him as such officer and by the board of relies of which he was so declared elected as a mem Der, if otherwise legal, are hereby ratified con firmed and made valid.

 Sec 3. In all cases where the assessment list of any town in this state has been made up, subscribed, and sworn. to by only one of the assessors, and is in ali other respects regu- lar, the assessment list shall not for such cause be adjudged defective but the same is hereby declared valid and is ratified, confirmed, and made binding upon the town where made and upon the people liable for the payment of tax es thereon, and all taxes which have been or which shall hereafter be laid and imposed ac- cording to such assessment lists may, notwith- standing, be leS ed and col 'ected. In all cases where any board of relief has made changes in or addition to the assessment of any person. with or without giving notice to the party whose list was changed; and in all cases in which a rate bill heretofore made out has not been signed by the constituted authority, and in all cases in which a legal warrant for the
Year: 1878

An Act relating to the Foreclosure of Mort

 gages.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep resentatives in General Assembly convened: !: Section 1. The foreclosure of mortgage shall be bar to any further suit or action up- on the. mortgage, debt, note, or obligation un- less the person or persons who are liable for the payment thereof are made parties to such foreclosure.

 Sec. 5. Upon the motion of any party to a foreclosure, the court shall appoint three dis interested appraisers, who shall, under oath, appraise the mortgaged property within ten days after the time limited for redemption shall have expired and shall make written re- port of their appraisal to the clerk of the court where said foreclosure was had, which report shall be part of the files of such foreclosure suit and such appraisal shall be final and con- elusive as to the value of said mortgaged prop erty and the mortgage, debt, note, or obliga- tion, shall recover only the difference between the value of ths mortgaged property as fixed by such appraisal and the amount of his claim.

 Sec 8. This act shall take effect from and after it's passage, but shall not affect any suit now pending

 Approved March 27th, 1878.
Year: 1878

CHAPTER CXXX. An Act relating te Public, Charitable and Re

 formatory Institutions.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep

 resentatives in General Assembly convened

 Section 1. Any judge of the superior court, on information to him that any person is un- justly deprived of his liberty by being detain- ed or confined in any insane asylum, or in any place for the detention or confinement of the insane, or in any inebriate hospital in this state, may appoint commission of not less than two persons, who at time and place ap- pointed by them shall hear such evidence as shall be offered touching the case said com mission need not summon the party claimed to be unjustly confined before them. but shall have one CT more private interviews with him and shall also make due inquiries of the phy- sicians and other persons having charge of such place of detention or confinement, and within reasonable time thereafter report to said judge the facts and their opinion thereon, and if in their opinion the party is not legally detained or confined in such place, or is cured, or that his confinement is no longer beneficial or advisable, said judge shall erder his dis charge but no commission shall be appointed with reference to the same person oftener than once in six months.

 Sec. 3. The judge before whom any of the proceedings provided for in the proceeding section are had may tax reasonable costs al his discretion.

 Sec. 3. Section fifteen of chapter five, title eight of the revised statutes is hereby repealed. Approved, March a7, 1878.
Year: 1878

of water under any circumstances which may reasonably be expected to occur, they shall at once notify one or moro of the board of civil engineers to inspect the said dam or reservoir with them, and if in the judgment of the said engineers said dam or reservoir is unsafe, they shall serve notice on the person or persons owning or having the care and control of the same to place said dam or reservoir in safe and permanent condition, under the supervis- ion of one of the said board of evil engineers, and when such repairs are completed and ac- eepted by said civil engineer, he shall issue a certificate to said owner or persons owning or controlling the same, and also cause to be re- corded upon the records of the town in which said dam is located, his doings, with copy of the certificate so issued, but if said engineer shali find said dam or reservoir to be secure snd safe, then the expense of such inspection shall be paid by the town in which said dam 0reservoir is located.

 ahec- 4. Whenever any person or corporation purpose constructing dam or reservoir in keality where the life or property of any oth-

 erson may be endangered, through the in- ssaciency thereof, the plans and specifications fer Ruci dam or reservoir shall be submitted to any member of said board of civil engineers, who shall examine the ground where the dam or reservoir is to be built, and the plans and specifications therefor, and if he approve the same, le shall issue certificate authorizing the construction of such dam or reservoir, and no sucA dam or reservoir shall be constructed without such approval and certificate. Sec. 5. The engineer under whose authority any dam or reservoir is being constructed, shall cause the work upon the same to be inspected at leaH three several times before it's compile tion, and if he shall be satisfied that such dam or reservoir has been built in a substantial and safe manner and in accordance with the plans and specifications approved by him, and is strcng and secure, he shall issue certificate which shall be recorded in the office of the town clerk of the towniu W which such dam or reservoir shall be used until such certificate is obtained and recorded.

 Sec. 6. The compensation and expenses of the board of engineers, or any one of them, when acting under the provisions of sections three, four and five of this act, shall be paid by the persons or corporation owning or con- stucting the dam or reservoir.

 Sec. T. The superior court shall have juris- diction in equity, and make all judgments and decrees necessary to carry into effect the pre- visions of the proceeding sections.

 Sec 8. This act shall take effect upon it's passage.

 Approved March 29, 1878.
Year: 1878

An act relrblng to F1shlng. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep resentatives in General Assembly convened:

 Section 1. No person shall take at any time from that portion of the Shetucket river lying between the Greenville dam and the lower end of the Shetucket company's property, any shad. Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to prohibit the taking of shad from the fishway on said Shetucket river known as the Preston ferry way.

 Sec. 3. Any person who shall violate the provisions of the above section shall be sub- ject to fine of twenty dollars and both the city attorney of the city of Norwich, and the grand jurors of the town of Preston shall have power to complain of violations of this act, and the accused may be tried either in the city of Norwich or in the town of Preston.

 Sec. 3. That so much of section eighteen, chapter four, article two, title sixteen, is in consistent with this act is hereby repealed.

 Approved March 27, 1878.
Year: 1878

An Act in relation to Fishing inthe Hockanum ~ River, in the town of East Hartford.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep

 resentatives in General Assembly convened {:

 No person shall fish between the first day of December and the first day of the following April, in the Hockanum River in the town of
Year: 1878

East Hartford, above the lower mill dam in said town; and no person shall at any time fish in said town aM no person shall at any time fish in said river, as aforesaid, with net Or seine, under penalty of ten dollars for eve " such effense.

 Annroved March 27, 1878.
Year: 1878

: .
" TIE Rusaianl Bear and British Lion are


represented BY Punch rs having met on .


marrow pathway oyerla rayine Whsre-two


cannot pass at time. Each stands watch.
ing the other, and it is evident that one or


both must go back Or fight far the right Of
way Ii is q fair representation Of the
position Of affairs at Constantinople, and
sarves to explain very clearly the mean !


Ing Of the negotiations tor the retreat Of
both Lion and Bear, and the difficulty


t.at has arisen in arranging the details as


to who shall move FIRST and the shortest


distance each shall be required to go so as
oto.preserve vantage ground if they should


start again for the same narrow pass.
Year: 1878

isn't the first time, to be sure
that this method of eifecting reconcllIa-
ton by wiping out all opposition mas
been proposed but this has in 1t some
thing more than the charm OF novelty
from the fact that we had begun 10 De-
beve that these Southern brethren oil
ours were utterly lmplacable. lt IS
refreshing circumstance, therefore, TO De
informed that the only thing now neces-
sary to bring the era in is to wipe
out the Republican party. Let us hope that
little thing like that Will not be allowed 20
keep us longer apart. by all means Wipe II
out. And then we may add to the Par-
able OF the PrOdigal Son a narrative OF
how, after the calf had been killed ana
the Old Stag whiskey brought ON, ana
the elder brother charged with embeHhng
turnips while The younger was in the musk
business, and the old nan abused roundly De-
cause he would not consent to have the gang
who had helped the boy spend his substance
in riotous living quartered on him, tine old man
said "Well, Proddy, my boy, you don't seem
"quIte satisfied what can | do for you J.
And Proddy answered: "Tm solid against
",py elder brother and | shall be for all
" time, because when l came back be did not
meet me afar off and give me all the keys.
" If YOU could wipe him out, I'd uy and FOR
get .he way I've been outraged" And ut
last accounts the old man was considering the