THE OREGON SCOUT.
JONES Sc CIIANCEV, Publisher.
ONION.
OREGON.
THE COXOItBSSIOXAC BUSIXB93.
7b Get Through irith It Congrett Will Have
to be Active. -
Washington special: Very little work will
be dono by congress during the rotnalnlng
eventcen days of the session other than
that on the floor of the two houses. Com
tnltteo work, with only two or threo excep
lions, Is finished, and there will bo no fur
ther meeting. The proceedings on the
floor will, too, be conducted with great
rapidity, and while some dnys may bo
thrown away in useless debates, others will
be fruitful of unusual results. Tlio statue
of varloun measures destined lor final pass
ngo before March 4th continues to bo of
lucli a character as to mako prognosti
cation quite uncertain.
In the scnato to-morrow Senator Came
ron intends to call up his bill providing for
the construction of war vesHels, and hopes
to have it passed with little talk.
Senator liae intend to ask the sonata
to consider his bill, of tlio same character,
very soon thereafter. The anti-Mormon
bill in anticipated from the conference com
mittee by the senate to-morrow or Tues
day, ami will likely be disposed of at once.
The river and harbor bill will be ready for
discussion by tlio uiiddloof the week. Tills
will consume two or three days, In all pro
bability. Wednesday after 2 o'clock has
been set aside for eulogies on tlio late Sena
tor 1'ike of New Hampshire.
To-morrow is District of Columbia day
In thn house of representatives, when vari
ous measures of Interest to Washington
are to be considered. Tuesday Chairman
Belmont on the commit too on- foreign
affairs, will ask tlio house to completo the
consular and diplomatic hill debate, which
was begun early last week. Wednesday
eulogies on the late Senator John A. Logan
bf Illinois are to be delivered. Tlio legisla
tive, executive and general appropriation
1111 is to follow the completion of His consu
lar and diplomatic bill. TIiIb moasiira has
much now matter in the form of changes of
salaries of olllcors and will excito consider
able debate, probably consuming tlio ro
malndcr of tlio week. Mr. Hatch will In
list, if opportunity olfors, that his pleuro
pneumonia bill and the experimental agri
cultural station bill be considered. It is
likely that the conference, committee on
fortifications will report during the week,
and it roport is privileged and may bo
considered at once. A pressuro is being
brought to bear for an oarly report from
this committee, and when it reports tlio
lame pressure will be excriised for immcdi
ato consideration of tlio report, so as to
relievo tlio committee on appropriation
from tlio responsibility on tlio subject,
thcra boing a number of bills before it mak
ing appropriations for coast defenses, and
It is intended that tlio uiensiiro which will
be reported by tlio conference on formica
tions shall be a substituto for theso bills,
and that the committee on appropriations
shall thus be relieved of the whole ques
tion. Ifthosenato net on the nntl-Mormon
conference report it will likely bo taken up
in tho hoitso during the week. Friday Is
private bill day, but itis genorally concoiled
that it will bo set aside, ns tho house is dis
inclined at this lato day, whou there Is
tuch n press of gcnornl measures, to give
up a day to privato ones.
SOME WASItlXOTOX aossn:
Tho president has approved tho appro
priation bill and tho luimodiato trans
portation bill.
Mrs. Logan Is about to start for Chicago.
Whilo thoro hIio will take out tho necessary
papors for administering upon her bus
band's estnto, and will also decide upon
his final burial plnco.
Senator Cullom hns introduced a bill to
amend tho rovised statutes so that no
prisoner shall bo debarred from receiving
a patent for an Invention or discovery, nor
any patent being declared invalid by reason
of its having been patented in a foreign
country, unless tlio same hns been Intro
duced Into public use in tho United States
for moro than two years prior to tho ap
plication. Treasurnr Jordan, acting on behalf of tho
directors of tlio Western National bank of
tlio city of Now York, called on Manning
and formally tendered him tho presidency
of that Institution. The secretary said lie
would give his answer in u short tlmo.
Thoro 1h much Indignation among srloti'
title inou that tho president docs not up
point a superintendent of thecoast survey,
The ollleo bus boon vacant for about two
years, and tho mere business details have
been transacted by a treasury clerk. Tho
committee of congress which Investigated
tho probability of continuing tho survey as
nt present oigunUed, has reported In favor
of doing ho, and still the piesideut makes
no appointment of a superintendent, and a
$1,200 clerk draws a 50,000 salary.
riHK, SMOKE ASH LAVA.
San Francisco dispatch: Advicoa from
Honolulu roport tho volcano Manna I.oa,
on Hawaii Islands again active. Eruptions
began January 15 with an emission of fire,
emoko and lava, tho lattor flowing down
the south slope. If its courso isuotrhnuged
it will How Into tho sea without damage.
Karthquako shocks throughout the Inland
wero frequent, but without verious conso
quenco. Rev. J. 1). l'aris writes from
Kmxwola, Hawaii, under date of January
lit, saying: "For thirty-six hours there
lias been ouo continuous series of earth
quake, tremulous Jars, with pretty hard
shake interspersed, running Into each
other, and our house lias seemed like a
llttlo emit or bubble floating on tho waves
of a chopped sea. While I write my table
rocks so that it Is with dillleulty lean
keep my scat and hold my pen."
TIIK EISUEUIKS QUKSTIOX.
Now York dispatch: In an interview
with a reporter for tho Mall and Express,
Sir Lionel West, British minister at Wash
ington, said: I do not anticipate any trou
ble whatever about tlio fishery question.
Negotiations are now going forward in Lon
don between Minister l'liolpa and tho Brit
ish government, ami I think tho question
will bo finally settled before congress ad
journs. Uvea if the retaliatory and non
intercourse bill goes through and becomes
a law, I do not think the relations between
thin country and Canada will bo strained.
The president will have power to put tho
law in force or not as tie sees proper and
that as u provision that will prevent any
harsh and rash measures from being taken
until all other pacific remedies are ex-Intuited,"
A dispatch irom Victoria, British. Columbia,
In announcing the building of the Catiadlau
Pacltlc shot at Yule states that no through
mall baa been receive for twleve day ou ae
eount of uov blockade!, and that the tel
egraph llnei along the track have been pro-
&rtul Iiv altrwa.
TUB SEXATB AXD HOUSE.
rT7ial U Uelng Done In Both Dranehet o'
the National Congrett.
Senate, Feb. 10. Tho Joint resolution
of the convention of the general assembly
of Indiana (republican members,) protest
ing against the validity of the election of
David Turpio ns United Stales senator,
was referred to the committeo on privileges
and election. Tho committeo on naval
affairs reported back the bill for the pur
chase of John Errirson's "Destroyer," and
it was referred to the committeo on appro
priations. Tho houso bill relating to tho
importing and landing of mackerel caught
during the spawning season was passed.
House, Feb. 10. Weaver, In behalf of
tho committee on expenditures In the in
terior depaitmeut, called up the senate
bill providing that In tho general land ofllco
there hIniII be ten chiefs of division, who
shall receive a salary of 511,000 each.
Steelo (Ind.) moved to strike out tliociiact
nig clause. Tho republicans refrained from
voting, and left the houso without
a quorum, in which condition it remained
until tho morning hour expired. Tho
house then went into committee of tho
whole on tlio consular and diplomatic ap
propriation bill. Iielmont satd that the
bill wit an increase over tho actual amount
carried by the bill of last year ofSlOC.OOO,
hut tlio increased colled ions to tho treas
ury under it would, at the lowest estimate,
be'S 150,000.
Hknatu, Feb. 11. .Mr. .Mnndcrnn, from
the committee on military affairs, reported
the bill granting tho Salt Lake it Fort
Douglass Kiiilwny company tho right of
way acriiHH Fort Douglass military reserva
tion in Utah. Cilendp.r. Tho senuto bill
appropriating S100.000 for tlio improve
ment and enlargement of the court houso
and postolllco at Omaha was passed. Tlio
senate bill for tlio relief of Tiioman A. Os
born of Kansas (to repay him $8,701
public mousy lost by him in 1880 through
tho failuro of a privato bank), was passed.
House, Fob. 1 1. Tho presidents privato
secretary presented a messago from the
president transmitting without approval
tho dependent pousion bill. Tlio rending ol
the message wiir fol owed with nu ntiien
lion moro trict than is genorally accorded
to nch documents. At its conclusion Mr.
Miitsnn of Indiana moved that tho bllland
tho accompanying message bo referred to
tlio committee on Invalid pensions, prom
ising that thoy would bo reported back
within the coining week. Tho motion wua
ncreed to 1 117 to 27.
Sk.vati:, Fob. 12. Tlio chairman of the
committee on naval affairs leported back
with amendment tho bill "to IncreiiHo tho
naval establishment," and gave notice that
ho would call it up Monday. Tho amend
ments mado by the naval committee have
tlio effect of fixing tho bonut to bo paid the
contractor on tlio Ilrst knot in excess of
tho contract rate of twenty knot to bo
obtained by the proposed now cruisers at a
hundred thousand dollars, ami for each
additional knot $200,000. Tlio aggregate
of thu appropriation, 521,800,000, hns
not beon changed. Halo reported back
from the naval committee, witli an amend
ment, tlio bill introduced by him yesterday
to provide for tlio insurance of tlio naval
establishment and gavo notice that he
would call it up at an early day. Tho
postolllco appropriation bill was then con
sidered until adjournment.
House, Feb. 12. Tho trado dollar bill
wu considered. Tho houso hns agreed to
tho amendment to tho noun to trade dollar
bill, providing that tho rocoinago of trade
dollars rocoined under this act shall not be
comidorod as a part of tlio silver bullion
required to bo purchased and coined under
the Illand law. Tlio amended bill passod.
As passed the bill provides that for tho
period of six months after tlio pnsugo of
this act trade dollars, if not defaced, muti
lated or stamped, shall bo reeolved at face
valuo in the payment of all dues to tho
United States and shall not again bo paid
out or by any other moans issued. That
during the above period tho holder of such
trade dollars may receive in oxchango for
thorn a like amoiiutof valuo, dollar fordol
lar, in standard silver dollars or in silver
coins, and that all laws authorizing tho
coinage and Issuance of trado dollars nro
repealed. Tito house then wont Into com
mittee of tho whole ou tho diplomatic and
consular appropriation until tho hour of
adjournment.
Siinati:, Feb. 11. Dalonnd Dolph, from
tho conferonco committeo on the senate bill
restoring to the United States certain lands
granted to tho Northern I'ueillc railway
company, reported that the comniltteoliad
boon unable to agree. Tlio report was
ndopted and a new conferonco ordered,
Dolph, Toller and Cockrell being reap
pointed on the part of thoHOuato. Merrill
Introduced a bill for tho issue of subsidiary
silver coin- Referred to tlio committee nu
finance. Butler Introduced a bill for tho
erection ol a national memorial bridge over
the Potomac river from Washington to
Arlington. Itoforred to the committeo ou
public buildings and grounds, Tim Kads
ship canal bill was taken up and discussed
until adjournment.
HousH.Fob. 11. Tho following was In
troduced by Mr. Lawler: Resolved, That
tho becrotary of state bo requested to in
form the house whether tho troaty of
niient, by which peace was consummated
botween tho United States and Great
llrltaln In December, 1811. ratilled by tho
senate in February, 1815, is construed to
Inhibit the United States from maintaining
an effective navy ou tho northern lake
hordorinc tiie dominion of Canada, and
also whether the construction by Great
lir ta u of tho Welland canal is not, In
effect, a violation id tlio treaty of Ghent,
and In case of war witli that country, a
menace to tho safety of our lakeboard
cities.
Sknatk, Feb. 15. Tho presiding olllcor
presented a communication from the secre
tary of tho treasury in regard to tho need
ol impropriations lor a wharf and other
building at Sitka, Alaska. Referred to
tho committee on appropriation. Tho
bill to increase tho naval establishment
wuh taken up but not disposed of. Tho
Kads Teliuanteplc bill was then consld
eied. Van Wyek ottered an amendment
that no stock shall bo issued until fully
nald for in money at par valuo and no
totals Issued until the full amount of the
stock has been subscribed for, and 50 per
rent, of It paid for. Vest modi Hod Van
Wyck's amendment a to provide that no
ivrtitUntlnn of stork shall be Issued until
the same sha'l be fully paid for in money
of its par valuo; that no bunds in excess of
the amount of tho capital paid in, shall bo
authorized or issued until such capital
-hall amount to 510,000.000; and that no
bonds shall bo disposed olitt less than their
par value, l'eiidlug action, the bill wont
over.
Hoi-si:, Feb. 15. Hammond (Ga.) sub
in it ted the conference report ou the antl
Mormou bill and it was ordered prlutod
and laid over. Thomas, (III.) from tho
committee on naval affairs, submitted a
report to Increase thenavul establishment.
The house then went into committed of tho
whole on the diplomatic and consular ap
propriation bill. Varloun itomsof Increase
In the compensation oi consuls were ruled
out ou points ol order. Without com
pleting consideration of tho bill the com
mittee rose. Messrs. Cobb, Van Katon and
I'ayson were appointed conferees ou the
Northern I'uciuc luuu loneiiure mil. tub
bouse then adjourned.
Skhatk, Fob. 10. Doth parties In tho
Kcnate held an "order of business" caucus
this morning. The list of measures on the
calendar, prepared by the republican cau
cus committee, was laid before the demo
cratlc caucus, and certain change were in
dicated to the order in which it was desired
the measures should come up. The scnato
then resumed the consideration of the bill
to increase the naval establishment. Sena
tor Maxey Mipportcd the bill and said ho
wu not only in favor of building war ves
sels, but of fortifying every seaport in the
country. The question was then taken on
the amendment offered yesterday by Sena
tor Hale and it was adopted without divi
sion. Other amendments were adopted and
tlio bill passed. Senator Illalr offered reso
lution in honor of hi lato colleague, Sena
tor I 'ike, and nddresscd tlio senate in eulo
gy of the deceased Henator. After further
culngiums by Senators Edmunds, Dolph,
Manderson, Jones of Arkansas, Goorgo,
HvartH. Palmer and Oheney tho resolutions
were adopted and the senate, as a further
mark of respect, adjourned.
Hotmi:, Feb. 1C The houso to-day in
lted upon it amendment to tho senate
trade dollar bill and agreed to tho confer
ence requested by the senate. Mr. Iiel
mont, from tho committee on foreign af
fairs, reported back tho senate retaliatory
bill with ij substituto therefor, which was
ordered printed and recommitted. Mr.
Hatch, of Missouri, attempted to securo
consideration of thepleuro-pnoumoniu. hill,
but abandoned tho attempt when it was
evident tlio point of no quorum would be
raised against his motion. At 2 o'clock,
in pursuance of tlio previous order, public
business wan discontinued and Mr.
Thoma. of Illinois, railed up the senate
resolutions exprcssivo of respect to tlio
memory of the Into John A. Logan. Kulo
gies wore also delivered by Messrs. Butter
worth, Ilolmnu. Hem!crou, of Iowa; Rog
ers, McC'omiiH, Weaver, of Nebraska; Wil
son, of West Virginia; Ciilcheon, Rico,
O'llarn, Osborne, and Anderson, of Ohio,
niid then a a further mark of respect to
tlio memory of tlio deceased the house
adjourned.
DOTS AXD DASHES.
D. T. Todd, the leading fruit-dealer at Do
Monies, w us found dead In tlio Ice-box at his
warehouse. The jiollce report that a Btioug
odor of gas and chloroform pervaded the
place, leading to a siipielon of suicide. Ills
watch and chain lay on a box near his body.
Maunders of largo niuches In Indian Terri
tory re ort that the winter lias been the
mildest lor live vear., and that the loss of
stock will only he from 2 to 4 per cent. Ad
vices from the Ycllowstouc ranges are to tho
elloct that two hundred thousand head of cat
tle are siiflenng terribly for grass and water,
and carcasses can be counted by hundreds
along the river.
C. A. Scollcld, a leading citizen of Winni
peg, was ou Saturday night killed In his olllce
with a knife, mid hi-, body was dragged ta tho
river and pushed down an air-hole.
On a farm near California, Missouri. L. D,
Wright and Miss ThoiiiDiou were killed by the
.misting of u saw.
The houso of representatives passed the sen
ile hill for the retirement of the trado dollar,
witli an amendment providing that its recoin
.igo shall not count in the bullion required to
be coined under the bland law.
A bill has been introduced In tho Nebraska
house to provide for the stamping of merchan
dise made in the penitentiary.
The Northern Pacific road Is building a car
to supply light, heat, and pure water to pas
senger tialus. It Is to bo placed Immediately
behind the locomotive.
An incendiary fire nt Anaconda, Montana,
burned thirty buildings, valued ut $7.r,0OJ.
The Knights of Labor have purchased for
their general headquarters a building on
North ltioad street, Philadelphia, for $(i.r),000.
The United States government has 150,000
Smlnglleld rllles stored away, and is still
iiiaimfaeruriug tho antiquated weapon at the
rate of 40,000 per milium.
General R. 11. Potter is reported to be se
riously ill at Newport, Rhode Island.
A Dispatch from Winnipeg announces tho
death of Lieutenant Colonel MacKeant. who
led tlio Ninetieth battalion in the campaign
against I.ouisRiel.
For the tlrst live weeks of 1S77 the railway
construction was double that of the same
period last year.
A SEXSATIOX IS AUSTIX.
A special from Austin, Tex., say:
Thoro is qulto a sensation hero to-day
among tho member of tho grand lodge of
Odd Fellows, which ha been in session
during tlio week. It is alleged that Mr.
Thomas M. Joseph, of Galveston, and for
ten years treasurer of the Grand lodge ol
Odd Fellow of Texas, is short in his ac
counts in a sum ranging nil tho way from
512,000 to 530,000. Suspicion wu tlrst
formed nearly a year ago by a draft drawn
ou Mr. Joseph being returned unpaid.
Subsequently other drafts drawn ou him
and which should have boon promptly
honored, wore returned unpaid nnd an ex
planation was demanded by tlio grand
master. It was not satisfactory and the
matter wa laid before thu lodge at this
session. Mr. Joseph was present to bo re
installed as treasurer for the coining year,
ho having been re-elected at tho lust an
nual meeting, but ou tho representations
made by the grand master, the lodge be
fore proceeding to install him, demanded a
new and better bond and that he produce
tho cash and United States bonds in tho
lodge. tronsury amounting to about 530,
000, Ho left for tho ostensible purpose of
complying but thus far has failed to re
turn, nnd prominent otlicers of the grand
lodge express tho opinion that ho is short
Inpn In ri-.i Hiini. iierhan tho entire S30.-
000, There are also grave doubts about
the solveucy of Ida boud, given n year ngo."
S-IB llAVEXXA Tit A IX no nr.
Masshxon, O., Feb. la Late last night a
young, well-dressed nnd Intelligent woman
went beforo Mayor irantz nuu mane a voiuu
tnry statement which Is regarded ns nn im
portant clue to at least the Identity of the
thugs who assaulted Detectives iiuiugan ami
lloehno nt Ravenua, and rescued the
fur thief McMunii. Sho gavo her name ns
Margery Robinson, and said she was the w ife
of Edward Robinson, a nephew of John Rob
inson, tho circus man. Sho says she wa In
tho houso of Jennie Rogers, a Third avenue
brothel In Pittsburg, ami assisted to secrete
the lur wraps. Moieu irom iieneuivi oc uue iy
in Cleveland. They were taken to the Roger
house by an expressman. There was n regu
larly orgauued gang oi croons numoenuK
lllUClCm, Mill l III' lingers inmso nus ini'ir iu
sort. Four - them. Tom lloddv. Joe John
sou, Smith Carson and her hut-band, went to
Alliance, via tho Fort Nuvuo mad, tlie even-
lug preceding ye rescue oi .mc.muiui aim re
turned to l'ituburg the following Mondav.
Johnson was wouuded In the encounter, went
to llarnshurg, Pa., and died there from the
elfects of hi Injuries. The house was beareh
ed three different times while Ihe furs were
there, but the goods were uot discovered. 1 uey
were stored In cupboards and Ice boxes In the
basement
In explanation as to why sho disclosed the
secret the woman said tho Ltim had threat
ened her life. She appealed to the mayor for
protection ami giauiv couseuieu louectuiiiueu
In the cltv prison, where she uow Is and will
Iks held to await Instructions from the chief of
police of Pittkburgli.
Mr. Emtim Molloy Is conductlus revival
at Vancouver when1 she went Iu search ol .Mrs,
(iratiam, generally believed to have been
murdered in Missouri.
TUB VEPEXDEXT VEXSWXEllS.
The Meature for Thtlr IXtUtf Vetoed by the
Vrtstilent.
ollowlng is the text of the presidents
messnge vetoing the dependent parent pen
sion bill:
I hereby return, with my approval, houso
bill No. 10,457, entitled "An net for the re
lief of dopciidont parent nnd honorably
discharged soldiers and sailors who are
now disabled and dependent upon their
own labor for support." This is tho first
generHl bill that lias been sanctioned by
congross since the closoof the lateclvil war,
permitting a pension to soldiers and sailor
who served in tliatwnr, upon the ground of
Hervice and present disability uloiif. and
the entire nbsenco of nny injuries received
by c.iHulties or incidents of such services.
While by almost constant leg:lution since
the close of the war there hns been compen
sation awarded for every poKsiblo injury
received ns a result of military service in
the Union nrmy and while a great number
of lan a passed for that purpose have been
administered witli great liberality and have
been supplemented by numerous privnte
uct to reach special enses, there has not,
until now, been an avowed departure from
the principle thus faradliered to respecting
Union Boidicrs, that the bounty of the gov
ernment in tho way of pension is generous
ly bestowed when granted to those who in
their military service, in tho lino of military
duty, have to a greater or les extent been
disabled. Kut it is a mistake to suppose
that service pensions, nuchas are permitted
by t he second section ol the bill under con
sideration, uro now to our legislation. In
1818, tliirty-fiveyciir after the close of tlio
revolutionary war, tiiere wero granted to
soldier engaged in that struggle, condi
tional upon sei-viceiintil the end of the war,
or for a term of not less than nine mouths,
ami requiring every beneficiary under the
act to bo ouo "who is, or heiealter by rea
son of Id reduced circumstances in life
shall be, in need of nssistauro from his
country for support. Another law of like
character was passed iu 1828, requiring
service "to tho close of tlio revolutionary
war;" and still another, passed in 18!!2,
provided for those perous not included in
tlio previous statute, but who served two
years at some time (luring the war and giv
ing a proportionate sum to those that had
served no less than six mouths. A ser
vice pension law wn pased for tho
benefit of the soldiers of 1812, in the year
18d, fifty-six years alter the close of that
war and which required only sixty day'
service nnd another was passed in 1878,
Bixty-threo years after that war, requiring
on'y fourteen days' Hervice. The service
pension bill pushed at this session of ton
gres, thirty-nine year after the close of
tlio Mexican war; lor the ucnciit oi vuo
siilditMH nf that wnr. I coilire either some
degree of disability or dependency, or that
the claimant under the provisions hiiouiu
be G2 years of age; and in either case that
he should huvo served sixty day or been
actually engaged in battle. It will be seen
that the bdl of 1818 and the Mexican pen
sion bill being tluiH passed nearer the close
of the wars in which its benificinries wero
engaged than tho otheiH ono thirty-five
vi-nrs ami thu other thirty-nine years after
tlio termination of such wars embraced
person who wero quite advanced in age,
assumed to be comparatively few iu num
ber, and whoso circuniMtances, Dependence
and disabilities wero clearly dolined and
could be quite easily fixed. The other
law referred to appear to have been
passed at a timo so remote Irom l tie mili
tary service which they embrace that their
ago alone was doomed to supply presump
tion dependency and need. The number of
endorsement iu tlio revolutionary war, i
staled to lie :i0!),7,.tl, and in the war of
1812, 577,022; but it is estimated that on
account id repeated re-enlistment tho
number of individuals engaged in the wars
did not exceed one-half of the number re
presented by theso tlgures. In the war with
Mexico, tlio number of enlistment was re
ported to be 112,2:S0, which represent tlio
gieater proportion of tlio individuals en
gaged than the reported enlistment o! the
two previous wars. Tlio number of pen
sions granted under all laws to HoldierM of
tlio revolution i given at 02,000; to
soldier of t lie wnr of 1812, and thoir
widows, 00,178; nnd to tho soldiors of the
Mexican war, and their widows, up to
Juno :t0, 1885, 7,01!).. This number of
pensions was granted to the soldier of tlio
wnr involving much hardship, for disabil
ities incurred as tlio results of such service;
and it wau not till within tlio Inst month
that the few remaining survivors wero
aw arded a service pension. Tho war of tho
rebellion terminated nearly twenty-two
years ago. Tho number of men fur
nished for its prosecution i stated to bo
2,772,108. No corresponding number of
statute have over been passed for every
ind of injury or dissability incurred in tlio
military service of any war. Under theso
statutes, 5(11,570 ponsion havo been
granted from the year 1001 to Juno !10,
1SS5. and more than 2,000 pensioners
have been added to tho rolls by privnto
act passed to meet case, many of them
of questionable merit, which the general
laws did not cover. On tlio first day of
.lulv. 1800. :ill5.(7!l pcneioneis of all
cIukso wero upon the pension rolls, of
which ;10,505 wero survivors ol tlio war
of the rebellion and their widow
and depo'.identH. For the year ending Juno
HO, 1SS7, 575,000,000 has been appropri
ated for tlio payment of pensions and tlio
amount expended for that purposo from
lSlUtoJuly 1, 1880, is 5S0S.02 1,811.
While annually paying out such a vast
sum far pension already granted, it is now
propimeilbytlie.bill under consideration
to award a service pension to soldiers of
all wars in which tho United State has
been engaged, including, of course, tlio war
of the rebellion, and to pay those entitled
to the benefits of the net 512 per mouth.
Sofnrnsit telate to t lie soldier of the
lato civil wnr, the bounty it affords them
is given thirteen years earlier than It has
boon furnished to the soldiers of any othor
war, and beforo a largo majority of its ben
ellclarios advanced in ago beyond tho
strength and vigor of the prime of life. It
exacts only a military or naval servico of
three mouths, without any requirement of
actual engagement with the enemy in bat
tle, and without subjection to any
of the actual requirements of tlio
actual dangers of war. Tho pension
it awards is allowed to enlisted men
who have not suffered the least injury,
disability, loss or damage of any kind, in
curred In, or iu any degree referable to,
their military servico, including tlioso who
never reached the front at all, and those
discharged from rendezvous at the close ol
tho war, il discharged three month aftor
enlistment Under tho lust call of thopre-
Ident for troops, in December, 1SG1, 11,
303 men were furnished who were thus dis
charged. The section allowing till pension
does, however, require, beside a service of
three months and uu honorable dischnrge,
that those seeking the benellt of the act
shall be such a "are now or may hereafter
be eufferfng Irom mental or physical disa
bility not the result of their own vicious
habits or gross carelessness which inca
pucitates them for the performance of
labor in such a degreee as to render them
unable to earn a support, and who are de
pendent upon their daily labor for sup
port." It provide further that such per
son shall, upon making proof of t lie tact,
"be placed on the list of invalid pension
era of t lie I' luted States and be entitled to
receive for such totul (nihility to procure
their subsistence by d kly labor, $12 per
month, and such pension shall commence
from the tlato ol the tiling oi tne applica
tion in tho persiou ofllce, upon proof that
I disability then existed and continued dur
ing the existence ol the same in tne debtee
herein provided; provded, that persons
whoaienow receiving pensions under ex
isting laws or whose claims ate pending in
tli pension olllce, y, by application to
the commissioner ol pensions, iu such form
as be mny prescribe, receive tlio benellt of
this net." It is manifestly of the utmost
importance that the statutes, which, like
the pension laws, should be liberally ad
ministered hm measure of benevoluiu-e in
beliall of monthly beneficiaries, should
admit of no uncertainty as to their
geh'inl objects and consequences. Upon
careful consideration of the language of the
section of this bill above given, it seems to
me to lie so uncertain nnd liable to such
conflicting constitutions and to be subject
to such unjust and mischievous applica
tion as to alone furnish sullicieiit gi-i.tiud
for disapproving the proposed legislation.
Persons seeking to obtain a pension pro
vided by this i-octiou must be now or here
after suffering from mental or physical dis
ability;" "Biicli disability must not be the
result of their own vicious habits or gloss
carelessness;" such disability must lie such
a "incapacitates them from the pel form
anco of labor in such digree as to render
them unable to earn u support;'' they
must be "dependent uron their daily labor
for support;" upon proof of theso condi
tions they shall be "placed on the list of
invalid pensioners of the United States and
be entitled to receive for such total in
ability to procure, their subsistence by
daily labors, 512 per month."
It is not probable that the words last
quoted, ("such total inability to procure
their subsistence by daily labor'') at all
qualify the conditions prescribed iu the
preceding Inugiiagx of the section. The
"total inability" spoken of must be "such"
inability ulleail.y described and constituted
by conditions already detailed iu previous
parts of the section. It thus becomes im
portant to coiibidcr the meaning uud scope
of tlie hist mentioned conditions. Tho
mental and physical disability spoken of,
has a distinct meaning in the practice of
the pension bureau, and includes every
impairment of bodily or mental Htrciigth
and vigor. For such disabilities these
are uow paid 131 different rates of pen
sion, ranging from 51 to 5100 per mouth.
This disability must not be tlie result of
tho applicant's "vicious habits or gross
carelessness." Practicably, this provision
is not important. Tlie attempt of tlie gov
ernment to escape the payment of pension
on such a plea would of course in a very
large majority of instances, and regard les-i
of tho merits of tlie case, prove a failure.
There would be that strange, but nearly
universal willingness to help an individual
a between him and the public treasury
which goe very far to insure n state of
proof iu favor of tlie claimant. The disa
bility of applicants must be such as to "in
capacitate them for the peiformunce of
labor in such degree as to render them un
able to earn a support." It will be
observed that there is no limitation nor
deliuation of the incapacity, injury, or tlio
ailment iuself. It need only be such a de
giee of disability from any cause as ren
ders tlie claimant unable to earn a support
by labor. It seems to mo that "support"
here mentioned as one which cannot be
eurned is complete, and entiresupport with
no diminution ou account of the least im
pairment of physical or mental condition.
Jf it has been intended to embrace only
tlioso who, by disease or injury, were totally
unable to labor, it would have been very
easy to express that idea instead ol recog
nizing, a is done, tlie "degree" of such in
ability. What is support? Who is to de
termine whethrr a man earns it, or has, or
1 1 ic it not? Is the government to enter tlie
ho. nes of the claimants for pension and,
lifter an examination of their surroundings
nnd cirutmtunces, settle these questions?
Shall the government say to one man that
bin manner of subsistence by his earnings
is support, and to another that thu thfngs
which his earnings farniuh are not support?
Any attempt, however honest, to admin
ister this law iu such a manner would
necessarily produce more unfairness and
unjust discrimination and give more scope
lor partisan partiality, uud would result
iu more perversion of tlie government's
benevolent intention than the execution
of any statute ought to permit.
if iu tlie effort to carry out the proposed
law, the degree of disability, as related to
earnings, be considered for tlio purposo of
discovering if in any way it curtail tho
support which tlie applicant, if entirely
sound, would earn and to which lie is en
titled, wo enter a broad field long occupied
by the pension bureau, and wo recognize ns
tlio only difference between tlie proposed
legislation and previous laws passed for the
benellt of the soldiers of the late civil war.
It must be borne in mind that in no case is
there any grndingof this proposed ponsion.
Under the operation of tlie rule tlrst sug
gested, il there is a reduction in any degree
of the support which ho might earn if
eoiind, he is entitled to a pension of 512.
iu tlie latter ease, and under the provision
of tlio proposed bill, permitting persons
now receiving pensions to be admitted to
the benefit of the uct, I do not seo how
those now on tlie pension roll for disabili
ties incurred in tlie service, and which di
minish their earning capacity, can be de
nied tlie pension provided iu this bill. 01
course none will npply who nre receiving
512 or more per month, but June au,
1880, there wero on Mie pension rolls 202,.
021 persons who were receiving 58 different
rates of pension, from 51 to 511.75 per
month of these 28,142 were receiving 51
per month, 18, 52 per mouth; 01,110 5-1
per month; 37,251. 50 per mouth, and
50,274 whose disabilities were ri-d us to
tal, 58 per month. As to the meaning of
a section of tlie bill under consideration
there appears to have been quito a differ
ence of opinion among its advocates iu con
gress. The chairman of the committee on
pensions in tlie house of representatives who
reported the bill, declared that there was
in it no provision for pensioning any one
who litis a less disability llian a toiui dis
ability to labor; and H at it was a charity
measure. The chairman ol the committeo
on pensions in the senate, having charge of
the bill in that body, dissented from the
construction of the bill announced iu tlio
house of representatives and declared that
it not only embraced all soldiers totnlly
disabled, but iu his judgniDlit, nil who are
disabled to any considerable extent, and
such construction was substantially given
to the bill by another distinguished sen
ator who, as former secretary of the in
terior, had imposed upon him tlie duty of
executing the pension laws nnd determining
their intent nnd meaning. Another condi
tion required of tlie claimants under this
act is that they are "dependent upon their
daily labor for support." This language,
which may be said to assume that there
exists within reach of tho persons men
tioned "labor," or tho inability in somo
degree to work, is more aptly used in the
statute describing those not wholly de
prived of tins ability than in one which
deals with those utterly unable to work.
1 urn of the opinion that it may fairly be
contended that, under tire provisions of
this section, any soldier whose faculties of
mind or body become unpaired by acci
dent, disease or age, irrespective of his ser
vice in the army as a cause, and who by
his labor oulv is left incapable of support,
which hs might, with unimpaired power,
have provided lor himself, and who U not
so well endowed with this world's goods, as
to live without work, mny claim to par
ticipate In its bounty; that it is not re
quired that he should be without property,
but only that labor should be neceBsary to
liu support iu some degree, nor is it re
quir d that lie should beuow receiving sup
port from others.
Believing this to be the proper interac
tion of the hill, the president can nut but
remember that the sold ersof the civil war
received, in their par and bounty, such
compensation as soldiers never received
before, anil that since tlie war more has
been done for them than for nny other
soldiers in history. Hitherto such relief
had been granted to only soldier few in
number, venerable in ng, ix ter a long
lapse of time since their military service
and ns a parting benefaction by a grateful
people.
The president continues by snylng that
he thinks that vutersiM who regard the
firesent pension roll as n roll of honor do
not desire to see tho roll increased by
charity seekers whose cuiim i based upon
alleged dependence; that fraud has been
used in securing pensions and could
and would be resorted to again;
that tho cHtimute ol probable cost
to the government i tdo small,
viewed in the light nf pension history since
tho days of the pus ige of t he Ilrst of the
pension nets; that the country is still
groaning under a burden nf taxation, made
necessary by the wnr, and that the popu
lar wisli is against adding to that load;
that the cost of maintaining a large stand
ing army would uot be so great as the cost
of maintaining an increased pension roll.
I am not willing to approve a measure pre
senting tlio objections to which this bill is
subjected, nnd which moreover will have
the effect of disappointing Uie expectation
of the people and their desire nnd hope for
rebel from war taxation in timo of peace.
I cannot do otiiorwise tlian to
brine to the consideration of tills mensuro
my best efforts of thought nnd judgment
and pei form my constitutional duty in re
lation thereto regardless of all conse
quences, except such us appear to me to be
related to the beat and highest interests of
tho country.
A MTSTEllT SOLVED.
l'lnlicrton Says the llotk Island Iloboery
and Jturdtr lt'ill be Cleared.
Chicago dispatch: Pinkerton is about to
duplicnte his success. He has caught nnd
sentenced tho robbers of tho Missouri ex
press, and now hns, it is believed, tlio nu
thors of tho Rock Island crime in which
Kellogg Nichols, tho messenger, was mur
dered. Tho velvet-footed men have acted
with extraordinary circumspection nnd
Mr. Schwartz of Philadelphia, has told
about all ho knows. Pinkerton bus all his
money; that is, all be received from the
robbery, with tlio exception of S3.000.
Tlie statement Hint "Dill" Gallagher,
Schwartz' cellmate, gave up anything of
iinportunce, or in fact anything at all, is
pronounced by Pinkerton as a diabolical
canard. It is a long story, but n usunl,
murder will out. Continued pumping by
Pinkerton ha resulted in tlio squealing of
Schwartz. Hei chicken hearted and lacks
"gall," and when pressed told all lie knew,
m it is said. Ho, witli others, planned tho
robbery. The murder fell to a third man
who i unknown to anyono but Billy Pin
kerton, and tlio murderer i not in n posi
tion to be renched, at least to-night. Ilia
colleagues took two men out of lliiiikiu'e
gambling den nt a lute hour to-night, but
what thoy are wanted for is vain to conjec
ture. Schwartz i as good as salted. Wil
liam Pinkerton told a Republican reporter
at nn early hour thin morning that tho
Rock Island express robbery nnd the mur
der of Messenger Nichols would be cleared
up within lorty-eiglit hours.
OATTI.BMEX IX COXVICXTWX.
Denver special: The second day' session
of tlio Range association began this morn
ing. After somo preliminary work J. II,
Brusli of Colorado introduced two resolu
tions; Hie first demanding retrenchment in
tlio expense of dressing and shipping beef
cattle; tlio second demand that tlie gov
ernment shall give tlie range cattlemen bet
ter weather service A resolution wns
adopted thanking President Cleveland lor
prompt response to the telegram of Presi
dent Head iu relation to Hie memorial on
contagious disease. Communications wore
received from tho National Butcher asso
ciation and Brooklyn Butcher' association
asking for co-operat'on for the benefit of
butcher nnd cattle grower. Mr. McGal
lan of Cleveland, O., addressed the associa
tion and charged tho commission men na
being tlie cause of cuttle men not getting
just prices. Heclo-ed by offering a p'-m to
organize nn immense corporation partici
pated iu by all cattlemen which should
butcher uud market all cattle and sell
direct to consumer. Several other utiim
poi taut addresses wero made. The after
noon session was taken up by the discus
sion nnd revision of tho constitution and
by-laws.
I'EAlt DEMOHAL1ZA TIOX.
Chicngo dispatch: Managers of western
railways appear lost nnd greatly in fenr of
a demoralization of rates during tho period
elapsing before tlio inter-state commerce
law takes effect, tliero being already a seem
ing indication ol a relaxation in pool
authority. To-day tlie general freight
agents of tlie Southwestern Railway asso
ciation liucH wore in session hero giving tlie
subject consideration. They concluded
that action would have to bo taken by nil
tlie western lines in hnriuony to avert the
pending trouble. For this reason no action
wa taken at tho meeting beyond agreeing
that a general conference should be held
to-morrow by tho general malinger of the
southwestern nnd northwestern lines, at
which nn ngreement will lie reached, and if
possible maintain tlie present tariff rates
until the interstate law goes into effect
FOUR J HEAT TAllKh SUITS.
St. Louis dispatch: Col. R. I). Lanaster,
Biirveyor of tho port, and an Intimate
friend of Sonator Vest, will file in tlie circuit
court to morrow or Monday libel Bints
ngninst the New York Herald, the New
York Trihuno, Cincinnati Commercial-Gazette
and John M. Glover the JainngeB '
eaeli ense being placed at 5100.000. ton
gressmnu Glover, who has been lor year
a bitter political foo of Lancaster, recently
wrote an open letter to Senator Vest,
which wns given general circulation among
politicians, nnd which charged I Lancaster
witli grave political crimes. Tlie papers
named are alleged to have printed Rome of
the allegations made iu the lotter in their
issues ol January 25.
AMEEICAX CAltDlXALS IX HOME.
Romb, Feb. 13. The American cardinals
arrived iu Rome this evening. Father O'Con
ucll rector of the American college, met them
at Genoa. They were met at the depot by
Archbishop Cake of Melbourne, and Klrby, of
tho Irish college. Bishop Keane of Rlchmoud,
Mgr. Callahan, Stover, Straneiro, Count
Muccloll, Vico Rector Deasy aud many promi
nent laymen. Cardinal Gibbons will make hia
home here in the American college, being as
signed to the apartments formerly occupied by
the late Curdlnal McCioskey.
A Tit AO Eli Y UXEAltTlir.O'
Denver special: This morning new of ft
terrible tragedy was received from Houlder
county. On Monday last Weniloline Mole
a Germnu ranchman on tlie lelt hand ol
the creek, shot hi child dead and II red two
bullets into ills w die's breast, leaving her
lor dead. He then tied to the mountains.
Mrs. Mole cannot recover. ""'"; tw
days the start, tlie murder is still at large,
No cause whatever U Uuwn for the act.