Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1868-1887, February 25, 1887, Image 1

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. ESTABLISHED 1850. I 'j.H. ESTILL, Editor ad Proprietor.) A brave veto sustained the HOUSE SF.ALSTHF, fate of the pen*ion grab. a Votr of 175 Yeas to 135 Nays Shows that Two-Thirds of the House Kelu-e<l to Go Wrong—Mr- Bragg Make* a Mag niOcent Kallyius Speech for the I'ririids of Pension Reform. Washington, Feb. 24.—1n the House to-day Mr. Mahoney called-up the depend ent pension bill with the veto message of Uic President thereon. It was agreed that the debate should run until 4 o’clock, when the previous question should be considered as ordered. Mr. Conger, of lowa, thought that the reporter the Committee on Invalid Pen sions was a complete answer to the Pres ident’s hyperbol e criticisms on the meas ure. He commented on the action of the President in vetoing the pending measure and yet signing the Mexicau pension bill, saying that he did not think that patriotic people were ready to indorse such action or commend their chief ruler for taking it. No protest had come against this bill ercept from the Southern States and from the money centres. Had it come to this Ifcnti Wall street and the solid South were so instrumental in electing the chief ex ecutive that they could command him to approve a measure which inured to the benefit of men who had fought against their country’s flag, and to withhold his approval from one for the benefit of those whose sufferings had saved tho nation and made it great. Passage over the veto was also advo ;aled by .Messrs. Sawyer of New York, Warner of Missouri, O’Hara ol North Carolina, Henderson of lowa, Haynes of New Hampshire, Bayne of Pennsylvania, Grosvenorof Ohio, Burrows of Miehigau, and Morrill ot Kansas. TIME TO CALL A HALT. Mr. Bragg, of Wisconsin, said that the time had arrived when the pension ques tion snould receive more than casual con sideration. It was time lor the members ol the House to get olit from the roseat bubble in which they lived in Washing ton, prepared lor them iy claim agents, and look after the interests oi the real soldier and the business interests of the country. They had drilted along, im pelled by a species of sympathetic im pulse, regardless of reason or judgment, until the period was reached which cul minated in the presentation and passage of one of the most scandalous bills which bad ever been sent to the President for bis signature. The people of the country, without regard to party, had every reason to be thankful that this bill had been pre sented to an executive who had back bone enough to meet the situation. Ir. a few years the soldiers of the I country (not the bummers) would I have arrived at an age when they could I come to Congress and demand as a right I and not ask as a charity that provision I be made for them. Let not Congress I bankrupt the Treasury before that time I arrived by yielding to "the demands of de- I serters, coffee coolers and bounty jump- I ers. If the gentleman from Pennsylvania I (Mr. Bayne) would read the National I Tribune, published iu Washington by I men who received from $23,000 to $45,000 Ia month as fees from pensioners—blood I money taken from the soldier, whom they I pretended to love—he would find in every I column some abuse of the President and I of those who thought differently from I them as to the propriety of this measure. I They prolessed to be iriends of the sol ■ biers, as vultures were friends of dead ■ bodies, because they fed aud fattened ■ on them, I A BRIBE FOR VOTES. I These were the men who were the nro ■ (eased friends of soldiers. They had the ■ lace of Jacob but their hand had the ■ clutch of Ksau. The men who advocated ■ this bill were not the friends of the true ■ soldier. They advocated this bill—many ■of them—why? Simply because men ■ could vote w hom thev expected to buy ■ bv this bill. ■ Mr. Henderson, of lowa—For one I pro ■ uounee that lalse. [Applause on too lle ■ publican side and in tile galleries.l ■ Mr. Bragg—l say that that is the sub ■ stratum upon which ail this action is ■ tased. If these men whom they call pau ■ psrs were to call upon them individually ■ “raid they would 6ay to them: "You ■ sood-ior-nothiug scoundrels, you are as ■ competent to work as we are. [Laughter ■ >'Hl applause on the Republican side.] ■ frooeedihg, lie stated that tho news ■ lai'ti" ni the country were teeming with ■ pMTessions approving the action of tho ■rnM ld i e!lt ' %vlll ‘ n Mr. Henderson lntur ■ u, ° suggestion that the ■ not advertise in the papers. ■ '• Bragg declined to take anv need of ■s'vii L- 1 !7 U I , . UOll, ile ® altl ha® been , y . tbe Bomtnittee on Invalid Pen ■.„( * ttm ' 'h<‘ President was inconsistent; ■p j!"„ h ":! !kl , I ‘ mve moetf the Mexican ■L Mr o ' lart 'he President done so ■o,:.;; ;* r *o would tufve esteemed it ■wien ih* e i •?, 0bl ** t * ,:u of his life, but Bee" Wt ' nt l " bim with almost Bl i J ' , ! U,l,s , Toteof ' J °th House and rv , ? Hll, l without the press oi tbeenun- ■ a hi* ati*-ntnin to its enormities, Bcce io '“"hlent wrong in euppos ngtiiat Bhnildw. 1,1,8 l J' e Pensi " n Committee eP n ri “s b 11 whlcll oKht tube u. Laughter and applause.) , GOOD REASONS. Boi^ a on tt H that thtru wore °lher bills been ! h8 Bl * me principle, ought to ■ lb., Presi.l m e , d - . 8 00ncetlci * ", but ■u I,, 1 ,. , "" 14 llll ‘9 to Inquire Into Hti/iq to every bill that came B°uVhavi 0,,,1 "" it ‘e alone, he ■“Wic hoii tp give to „nv other Hw, a..„ , h " ?t.on Ol coiihisteney. A lew Hppr< wiHtm imo U \ nt bad v, ‘t"”‘ 'he bill . a ' 1 $ M ,or the distribution Hue, ~! "" t'ieground that it was H>ariv '“‘"ty- Ihe chairman and Huiid ,r > member of the ■ •'iMHin n ! p m 1 oth'h'ttoo had voted liibm "'s 'r "' K ", , l e "L " hen the poml i leAan S , , '"‘" y lj " for '-' “he House, He bad declarml 'lt ( Mr - Mau H ll "IU . V,aa "*ta pension ■ want,..l to ~ ar, .V V ‘ aml - vol ,llat mnn reply io hn UHH ‘ ie 1 ov^r the vo to. ■"‘'fnori whn'rr, 4 ' 1 ,ron <>hio( Mr. H'r. Hra.'g’) wis a'ld <li * R 0 that be H : sav that thi .? We 5 11ßl ae,,t ’ "® at u* Hrand Army ol the 'B , ”Gi ar. soh, , u Kranfl encampment, ■ he.l , n ' 's? tho set-: to per ,n ""th. He then l 1! What he regarded lllo , 1)111 Rn(l P oi " 1 ■cures. r "k*idod as u* vitally evil 'lit would "? DM 0F TnK •'•A'tTU. ■ who had 6 R * B *rv ’ i* ralll l"'"*' 0 " 8 to H'Lto.June lr,,ln December, H"> were tile h ,° Wl ru ‘hose men ? H r " ltle acum-a, “ of ’■ he "krtb. They Hi"d in theirV ’ tt,ld lho drea "' They H"<bt |,v m , 8 r Jr ,nos ""til tuey were H' 1 !r '"" sko 7o , ;^j: 80ulniuf ’ in '*'o-’d, H miVw that all t'k, " ore l , ' | y* lo “ || y so ■ they had to do was to go to a hospital and not endanger their precious carcasses. These gentlemen talked about soldiers being in aims houses. The men who were found there were the men who had come from them, and who, when they lelt the army, had lapsed into their old condition. No true, bravo soldier need ever go to the poorhouso. The men who went there were natives Thev had no self-respect and no character. They laid down and opened their mouths for a teat to suck. Mr. Steele, of Indiana, interjected a re mark. 31 r. Bragg said that he knew that the gentleman who had just interrupted him, H he dared Vote his conviction, would vote as he (Mr. Bragg) dal. He khew gentlemen who had committed themselves day after day in opposition to the princi ple of the bill and were grateful for the veto, [Cries of “Who are they ?”] A SCENE OF CONFUSION. “1 know what lam talking about. I have heard them.” [Repeated cries ot “Name them,” “Name your man,” “You can’t do it,” and much noise and contu sion.] “Toe Republican Congressmen, all of them,” was Mr. Bragg’s reply, which was greeted with mingled applause, laughter and jeers. The spectators, who filled the galleries to their utmost capacity, and who lis tened eagerly to all that was said on the floor, now took part in the demonstrations of disapproval and approval, and though without adding to the noise and contu sion sufficiently to justlly the Speaker in ordering the clearing of the galleries, gave vent to their feelings uufil the close of the debate by frequent applause. Mr. Bragg declared that the press of the country was opposed to the bili. Those gentlemeu who sat up aloft—point ing to ibe press gallery—might some time or other turn this big pension boom into a much larger boomerang in some gentle men’s districts. [Applause.] “We have lared as well in our district as the gentleman bus in his,” exclaimed Mr. Henderson, of lowa, and this allu sion to Mr. Bragg’s lailure to secure a re nornination was greeted with loud and continued laughter on the Republican side. Mr. Bragg repeated that the press was opposed to the bill. The great Republi can paper of his State stood by the l’resi dent. The great Republican papers of Ohio sustained the i’resiueut. The great Republican paper ot Pennsylvania stood side by side with tbe President. The pa pers oi New York, almost without dis tinction of party, stood by the President. MAINE IN LINE. That, gallant soldier, the Governor of Maine, Gen. Chamberlin, stood by the President.” “Yes,” cried Mr. Bouteile, “and he stands alone in Maine. [Applause on the Republican side.] 1 speak for Maine. [Jeers on the Democratic side, and cries of “sorry for Maine.”] Mr. Bragg,continuing,said: “The great soldier, lieu. Palmer, of Illinois, stoed by the President; Gov. Cox, of Onio, stood by the President; Old Dan Sickles of the Third Army Corps said that the veto was a most glorious deed. Brave men of all parties stood by the President. It was only little minds that went buzzing about like insects around tbe lines that op posed him.” Mr. Henderson, of lowa, (contempt uously): “You stand by the President.” Mr. Bragg—No staff .commissary can ever excite me. lam speaking lor what 1 consider the soldiers’ interest. The largest Grand Army post In my State yesterday voted not to ask members ot Congress to go against the President. It is only the class of men who hang around the Grand Army posts, wbo crowd them selves in to get $5 a week and to live upon their comrades, wbo are making this grand hue and ory. A soldier preiers to stand by bis record, and asks not that Congress sbali mark him as a beggar. He wants to have it understood that he is, in private life, as be was in tbe army, a soldier lighting lor tbe maintenance of the Union, loving his country, and not asking to be supported by it. Why, look at the effect. Confederate soldiers with out nope are toiling day by day and ex hibiting a tbrilt, industry and energy never expeettd of them, while the North ern man, independent, self-rtdiant, indus trious, energetic and enterprising, lags behind into idleness. Wny? because be is waiting tor bis stipend to come from tbe govern ment, and wben that s'ipend comes it is spent quickly, and if be conies irom the poorbouse be lapses back into that posi tion and waits for another stipend. Hu manity only needs to be encouraged to do nothing. We are all liable to drop into a do-notbing policy il we can get somebody to support us, and it is not good public policy for us to legislate to encourage vagabondism, whether amongjour soldiers or citizens. • THE PORK DIVIDED. Mr. Steele, of Indiana —How about the Mexican pension bill? Mr. Bragg—l have said that 1 wished the President had vetoed It. It is inti mated that the bill passed because it ben efits Coniederates. I ask any one of you, bigoted as you may tie, if you did not get some of the pork. You all voted fpr the bill, and now you have discovered that It's a monstrosity. Mr. Morrison, of Illinois—ln my term of service l have voted lor every pension bill presented. In this time the pension roll has drawn from $29,000,000 t0580,000,- 000 a year. Concurring in the general purpose of the pending bill, so far as its purpose was to relieve those who have suffered from services rendered to the country, I voted for this bill. I am satisfied that it does not contain what its iriends claim for il, and that it is tairly subject to the objections urged against it in the veto. Besides, trie veto is so fur above tbe high water mark of ordinary execu tive independence and official manhood, that I feel like sharing and taking my lit tle part ot tho responsibility. [Applause on tbe Democratic side.] NOT CLEAR IN ITS WORDING. The I’resident, he said, did not veto the bill because it pensioned too many or too tew, but because by no reasonatde con struction could a man tell what it did mean. If the gentleman Irom Indiana ( Mr. Matson ) were Secretary of tho In terior this bill would mean one thing; If the Senator from Colorado ( Mr. Teller) were Secretary tbe bill would m-au sometblug else. So, with one man at tbe bead of the department, one set of men would be denied a pension who would be granted a pension il aaotberman were at the head. This was not tbe kind Of legis lation that ought to bseiiaoled. Several other members who bad voted, for the (till announced their Intention.to Hiisiawi the veto, since having received new light upon it. Mr. Hepburn, ot lowu, made an attack upon Mr. Bragg, likening him to Bene, diet Arnold, and denying tbe right of Messrs. Bragg and A. >J. Warner, of Ohio, (wbo spoke in a similar strain to Mr. Bragg) to speak lor the Grand Army ol the Republic. “It is not an uncommon thing,” said Mr. Hepburn, “lor a skilled huntsman to use decoys, bo It is that the solid South that opposed this bill, aud SAVANNAH, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1887. that stimulated this veto, puts forward all of these Northern gentlemen to repre sent it. Not one of them, for political reasons, has had the courage of his con victions and has dared to speak here as he will vote. Why? Because it would challenge attention to this conspiracy be tween those that once were opposed io us and who are now ‘our friends,’ and the wealtii of this country and the metropolitan press of this country. I deny that tbe great dailies of the cities speak the sentiment of the country. They do not do it. They are tho advocates and mouthpieces of wealth, aggregated in the communities where they are published, and I am sorry to say. and 1 confess it with shame, that this same wealin is op posed to our soldiers. Before I sit down i wish to ask the chairman of the com mittee (Mr. Matson) whether he has in his pookat a petition signed by Grover Cleveland asking Congress to pass the service pension bill to put all soldiers ou the pension roll.” THE CLOSING SPEECH. Mr. Mai son, of Indiana, closed the de bate. He would not attempt, he said, to indulge in any imaginative flights or make any oratorical display. He desired to speak plainly,and ha spoke for himself, lor the committee, lor tbe bill and for no one else. He believed that the President had the right to veto legislation on other than constitutional grounds, and he be lieved that the present Executive had in many Instances wisely made use of that right. It had been his pleasure and bis duty to stand here and defend the Presi dent when that officer had interposed his objection to legislation. He would be glad if he could stand to-day and support the President’s veto and present to the country an united party* in support of that veto if Ins conscience and bis heart would permit it. But he was driven and impelled to take the course he had because and only because he believed it to be his duly as a legislator to ask the House to pass this bill over the veto of the Presi dent. There was no parallel between this bill and the Texas seed bill, to which the gentleman from Wisconsin had alluded. The veto of one was based on constitu tional grounds, while no one denied the constitutional right of Congress to pass tho other. The pending bill ought to pass, it was a companion piece of legislation to the Slexloan pension bill, not because it was passed on the same day and in the same way, but because it provided for the payment of the same kina of pension lor the same kind of disability. THE PRESIDENT’S PETITION. He had been asked whether the Presi dent had ever signed a petition asking that a pension be granted to all soldiers oi the late war. lie held in his hand a petition, draw n up in 1884, which was too long to read now. it was numerously signed, and in substance asked that a pension of at least $8 a month be granted to all honorably discharged soldiers. It contained this indorsement: I am sure that the subject of this petition is worthy of the prompt ami caretul considera tion of Congress, and the fullest justice should lie done to the parties in whose interest this movement is made.* Grover Cleveland. As .Mr. Matson concluded nearly every Republican was on bis feet, and as Mr". Matson finished reading the indorsement a loud hurst of applause came up irom the Republican side of too chamber. THE VETO SUSTAINED, The question was then put, “Will the House upon reconsideration pass the bill, the President’s objection to the contrary, notwithstanding?” and it was decided in tbe negative, the vote being 173 veas to 123 nays—not the constitutional two thirds in the affirmative. Following is the detailed vote: Yeas—Sfe-srs. Adams of Illinois. Allen of Massachusetts, Anderson of Kansas. Atkin son. Baker, Bayne, Bingham. Bliss, Bound, Bouteile, Brady, Browne of Indiana. Brown of Ohio, Brown of Pennsylvania, Brnmm. Buck, Bunnell, Burleigh, Burrows. Butter worth, Bynum, Campnell of Pennsylvania, Campbell of Ohio, Cannon, Carleton. Ca-well, Conger, Cooper. Cuteheou, Davenport, Davis, Dingley, Dorsey, Dunham, EKlridge. Ely, Evans, Evernari, Farquahar, Felton. Fieeger. Ford, Frederick, Fuller. Funston, Ballinger. Geddes, Giltlllan, Goff, Urosvcnor, Grout, Guenther, Hale, Hanback, Harmer, ilaydeu. Haynes. Henderson of lowa, Hender son of Illinois, Hepburn, Herman, Hlestand, flues, Itiscock, If it t. Holman, Holmes, Hopkins, H oik, Howard, Jackson, •lames, Johnson of New York, Johnston of Indians, Kelly, Ketchum, Kleiner, l.afollett, Laird, Landes, Lawler. Leievrc, Lohlbach, Libbey, Linusier, Little, Long, Lore, Lomu, Lovering. Lyman, Mahouev, Markham, Mat son, Maybury, AlcComas, McKenna, ,\lKi lev, Merriinau, Millard, Milliken, Moffatt, Morrill, Morrow. Murphy, Neeee, Neglev, SeUon. O’Donnell. O'Hara, O’Neill of Penii stlvania. O’.Niid of Missouri, O-borne. Oweu, Parker, Payne, Parson, Perkins, Peters, Pet tibone, Phelps. Pindar, Plumb, Price. Ran dall. llanney. Rice, Riggs. Rockwell, Romeis, ltowcll, Ryan, Sawyer, Scranton, Seney, Sessions, Smalls, Spooner, Spriggs, Steele, Stevenson, Stewurt of Vermont, Stone of Massachusetts, Strait, Struble. Swinburn, Swope. Symes, larsncy, Tauiosek K. B. Taylor of Ohio, ike Taylor of Ohio, Zacli Taylor of Tennessee, lhomas of Illinois, Thomas of Wisconsin, Thompson. Townshend, Van Schaick. Wade. Wadsworth, Wall, Wakefield, Ward of Illinois, Warner of Missouri, Weaver of Ne braska. Weaver of lowa, Weber, West, White ol Pennsylvania, W hile of Minnesota, Whit ing, Wilkins, Wolford, Woodburu and Worth ington—l 76. Nays—Messrs. Adams of New York, Allen of Mississippi, liaeon, Ballentine, Barbour, Barksdale, Barnes, Barry, Belmont, Bennett, Blanchard, Bland, Blount, Boyle, Bragg, Brolkenridge |pf Arkansas, Breckinridge of Kentucky. Humes. Cabell, Cnidwell, Felix Campbell of New York,Tint Campbellof New Yorii, Catching*, Clements, Cobb, Collins, (unipto*. Com stork, Cowles, Cox of New York, Cox of North Carolina, Cram, Crisp, Culberson, Curtin, Daniel, Dorguu. Davidson ol Alabama, Davidson of Florida, Dawson, 1 Ruble. Dockery. Dougherty, Dunn, Eden, Erinentrout, Findlay, F'isher, Forney, Gay, Gibson of Maryland, Glbmn of West Vir ginia, Glass, Green, Hall. liaised, Hammond, liairis, Hatch, Heard, Hemphill, llt-ndereon of • North Carolina, Her bert, Hill. Hudd, Hutton, frlon, Johnston of North Carolina, Jon^M^^'t- xas, Jones of Aluuama, kiiig,^^MdP M ‘‘ Till inn, Martin, McAdoo, .'h Mc- Rea, Miller, Mills, MilcTTeH Morgan. Morri son. Muller, Neal, Norwood, Oates, U’Ferrall, Outhwaite, Reel, Ferry, Reagan, Reese, Richardson, Robertson, Kogcis. Bayers, .Scott, Seymour,Shaw, Mngletoa, skinner, snyder, So’wden. Springer, stnhluecker, Stewart of Texas, St. Martin, Stone of Kentucky, Stone of Missouri, Storm, John M. Taylor of Ten nessee, Tillman, Trigg, Tucker, Turner. Van Kaion, Viole, Ward of Indiana, Warner of onio, Wellborn, Wheeler, Willis, Wilson and Wise—lßs. THE CHANGES. Tho vote by which the bill originally passed tho House was 180 to 78, so it ap yoars that tbo Billowing named member* --all Democrat*—changed their votea on the ineaeure: Messrs. Adams of New York, Bacon. Boyle. Burues, Cobb, Cur tin, Dawson, Dougherty, Etlon, Krnien trout, Kiaher, Gay, Gibson, Hall, Hatch, IIHI,McAdoo, Morrison,Outhwalle,Scott, Seymour, Shaw, Sowdeu, Spriuger, Slatil liecker, Stone of Missouri, Yielo, Ward ol Indiana, and A. J. Warner ol Ohio, As tbo Speaker announced the vote and stated that fac-thlrd* oi tuo members had not voted to pas* the bill, there was u storm ol applause on the Democrat io Hide, which wafeaiiswered after an in etant by prolonged hisses and groans from the advocates of tho bill. Tbe mem ber* unturned in knots in excited conver sation and tbore was much confusion, wiHio tuo Bpeakor pounded his desk to secure quiet. Finally comparative or der was restored, and on motion of Mr. Herbert, of Alabama, the House went into committee of the whole on tne naval appropriation bill. After a briel expla nation of the provisions of the bill by Mr. Herbert, it was read by sections lor amendments. Pending a vote Upon an amendment the committee rose and the House adjourned. MORE VETOES. The Speaker laid before tho House to day messages from the President return ing without,his approval bills granting a pension to Anthony M. O. Robertson, in creasing tbe pensions of Margaret K. Jones and Lorin Burritt, and for tbe re lief of William H. Merrehauser. They were referred to the appropriate com mittee. In the Senate to-day the usual sheaves ofpetitions from Grand Army posts for the passage of the dependent pension hill over the President’s feto were presented and laid on the table. MONEY FOR MAILS. The House Decliues to Concur io the Subsidy Amendment. Washington, Feb. 24.—1n the House to-day, in pursuance of tho order made yesterday, Sir. Blount called up the re port of the committee of the whole on the Senate amendments to tbe post office ap propriation bill. The first three Senate amendments (relative to office rent in Washington and limiting the placing ol letter boxes to public places, buildings aud railroad stations) were concurred in. In the fourth amendment (a proposition appropriating $500,000 to enable the Post master General to oontract for the carry ing of loreign mails on American vessels to Central and Bouth America) non concurrence was recommended. Mr. Burrows moved tnat the House oonour in the Senate amendments. This motion was lost by 180 yeas to 157 nays. The following Democrats voted in the affirmative: Messrs. Adums oi New York, Blanchard, Campbell ol Ohio, Compton, Curtin, Findlay, Foran, Irion, King, Lawler, Lore, Martin, Mitchell, Spriggs, St. Martin, Tillman and Viele. The following Republicans voted in the negative: Messrs. Anderson ol Kansas, Fuller, Guentner, Henderson of lowa, Laiollette, Leblback, McCoraas, Nelson, O’Donnell, l’ayson, Rowell, Strait, Stru ble, Wakefield, Warner of Missouri, aud Weaver of Nebraska. The amendment was then non-con curred in and a conference ordered. INTERNAL lIKVENUE. $110,048,807 Collected During; the Past Seven Months. Washington, Feb. 24.—The total col lections of internal Revenue during tho first sevgp months oi the fiscal year, end ing June 30, 1887, were $60,048,807, being $837,644 less than the collection during the corresponding period of the last fiscal year. There was a decrease of $3,377,570 in the collections irom spirits; an in crease of $878,590 from tobacco; an in crease of $1,233,502 from fermented liquors, and an increase of $69,835 from miscellaneous objects. The total receipts Irom oleomargarine up to Feb, 1 last were $355,599. The aggregate receipts for Jan uary, 1887, were $216,790 greater than those for January, 1880. Ingalls Succeeds Sherman. Washington, Feb. 24.—The Senate caucus of Republicans to-day nominated Senator Ingalls to be President of the Senate. There were 28 votes cast, of which number 18 were for Mr. Ingalls, 8 tor 31 r. Hoar, llor Jlr. Edmunds and 1 for Mr. Frye. 31r. Ingalls was thereupon de clared to be the nominee of the caucus. The Democrats of tbe Senate, without holding a formal caucus, have deter mined to support Senator Harris for Presi dent of the senate. In the Senate to-day Mr. Edmunds of fered as a question of privilege a resolu tion declaring that John J. Ingalls, Sena tor from the State of Kansas, is chosen President pro tempore of the Senate, to take effect at 1 o’clock in the afternoon of Feb. 26, at which tiraai the resignation of John Sherman, the present President pro tempore will take effect. The resolution was laid over till to-morrow. There has been some speculation as to whether the selection to be made would cover merely the recess or continue in definitely. Nothing was said on this sub ject, and no understanding has been reached or suggested respecting it. Mr. Ingalls, therefore, if elected, will fill the chair until the majority ol the Senate shall determine to elect his successor, or until he shall resign. l’assrd by the Senate. Washington, Feb. 24.—1n the Senate to-day the lollowing House bills were taken from tho calendar and passed: To provide for holding terms ot the United States Courts at Mississippi City, Miss. (with an amendment). To authorize the Talladega and Coosa Valley Railroad Company ol Alabama to erect a bridge acr is* tbe Coosa river (with an amendment) To authorize the East and West Rail road Company of Aiubama to maintain a bridge across the Coosa river (with amendments.) There were also fourtoen pension bills passed. Conferences were asked on all bills to which amendments were adopted. The bill authorizing the construction ol a bridge across the Mississippi river at Grand Tower, 111., was passed. Kdil Against Stcelo. Washington, Feb. 24.—1n the House to-day Mr. Henderson, of North Carolina, called up the report oi the Committee on Election* upon the Indiana contested elections case of Kidd against. Steele, and tne resolution reported wusadopted with out division. Jtconlirms the right of the couteslee, Mr. Sisofe, to the seat. On motion of Mr. Wilson, of West Virginia, tbe Senate amendments to the Distrlot of Columbia appropriation bill Were non-concurred in. Special session I’ossl Hi lilies. Washington, Feb. 24.—Senators Sher man and Harris called together upon the President to-day to make inquiry on be half of the Senate as to his wishes in re spect to a special session ot the Senate. Tne President inlormed thorn that be would determine the matter without de lay, and would iniorm the Senate to morrow. Fishery Keialiallon. Washington, Feb. 24.—1n the Senate to-day tne House substitute for tbe fish ery retaliation bill was disagreed to, and a conlerenoe was asked. Messrs. Ed munds, Frye and Morgan were appointed ben ate conferees. Montfcoinery to Retire. Washington, Feb. 24.—Mr. Montgom ery, Commissioner of Patents, called on tb’o President to-day and notified him of me desire to return to the practioe of his profession In Mloblgau in the early sum mer. EUROPE’S EARTHQUAKES THE DEATH LIST IN ITALY HUNS UP TO 2,000. Noores of Live* Undoubtedly Lost in Other Prl of the llrll AuKxoiluaof Frightvued Touriat* from the Winter lteaurt* in the South of France—The Worst Believed to Be Over. Rome, Feb. 24.—Details were received this morning ol the results of the earth quakes yesterday, showing that the ef fects were far more serious than was thought. The loss of life and destruction of property is learned to have been terri ble. The most startling news comes from the Genoese Riviera. Over 1,500 people were killed in that district. At the Vil lage of Hajardo, situated at the top ol a bill, a number of inhabitants took refuge in a church when the shocks wore first felt. A subsequent and greater shock demolished the church, and 800 of the people who were in it were killed. Tho destruction of property in the sections of Italy visited by the earthquakes was im mense and widespread. 2,000 DEATHS. Reports oi disaster continue to arrive. The total number of deaths reported up to the present time is abiwit 2,000. The shocKS were felt at Parma. Turin and Cosenza. Tho undulations of the earth were noticed at Catania, in Sioily, at the footof Mount Etna. Tbe director ol the Turin observatory telegraphs that seismic instruments are now quiescent and that no further dis turbance is teared. FELT ON THE WATER. The earthquake was strongly felt out at sea. Off Genoa it awoke sailors irom their sleep. At Turin a portion of tbe ceiling of Santa Teresa church fell upon the wonshipers, but no one was killed. In many streets traffic wus stopped, as houses were ren dered liable to tall. At Castellero a church collapsed, kill ing many persons. The transport Rome has left Genoa to take on board 500 prisoners confined in the Oneglia prison, which is expected to collapse. Parties of soldiers have been sent to the villages visited by tbe earth quake to assist in burying the dead. King Humbert desired to proceed to Genua, but was dissuaded therefrom. An Italian soothsayer iu an almanac pre dicted earthquake shocks between Feb. 15 and 23. It is reported that at Bussana, a village ol 800 Inhabitants, successive shocks leveled nearly every house. One-third of the people are said to be buried in the ruins, and there is no hope of rescuing them. Notone or the 106 of the communes in the populous province of Porto 31aurizio escaped injury. Villages built on terraces on the sides of hills are almost all destroyed. The dis tress is great everywhere. TERROR IN SOUTH FRANCK. London, Feb. 24. — Further dispatches concerning the earthquakes in southern Europe slate that although there have been no turtber shocks at N ice tho panic has not subsided. Fugitives are fleeing in every direction. The peopleare alraid to re-enter their houses and hotels, and last evening tbe heights back of the city were crowded with relunees. Two thou sand English, American and Russian visitors were camped out during the night on the elevated grouud- Six thousand persons have Jeft the city and started for Paris. A son or Albert N. Hattie way,the American Consul at Nice, was seriously injured. MONTE CARLO A REFUGE. There have been no further disturb ances at Monte Carlo. 'Hie place is filled with thousands ol refugees irom Cannes, Nice, 31entone aud Sau Heme. It is diffi cult to find shelter for the great number oi people, and last night many of them were compelled to camp out. A more confident leeling prevails to-day. Gam ing has been suspended, and tbe baud played on the terrace for the purpose oi restoring confidence to the frightened people. Another shock was felt at Mentone to-day. Jt wus so severe that bouses were shaken. No one was injured. Additional detais concerning tbe damage done hr yesterday’s shocks snow tiiat in some cases villages built on moun tain sides were toppled into the valleys, 'l’nree railway train* have been dis patched with iood lor me sufferers. A number of soldier* have also been sent to assist them. RENEWAL OF THE SHOCKS. Paris, Feb. 24, 4r. M.— A renewal or the earthquake shocks has occurred In the southern section of France. A terri ble disaster is momentarily expected. Nice, Cannes and Mentone are half de serti and. Fears are expressed for the saiety of the Prince ot Wales and the Orleans Princes, all of whom are in the section ot country where tbe earthquakes prevail. Two slight shocks of earthquake were felt to-day at Nice and Cannes, but no in jury was caused by either. Yesterday’s disturbances killed 2 persons and injured 10 at Nice; kilied 4 and Injured 2 at Bar; killed 2 and Injured 12 at Bollen. At Cbateau-Neuf many were injured. At Savona two houses lell, killing 9 persons and injuring 15. Tne whole population of Bavona are bivouacked about tile town. HOUSES TOTTERING AT NICK. Nice, Feb. 24.—Sixty houses here ure tottering and leady to tali Irom the shut terings inflicted by yesterday’s earth quakes. Many others are much damaged, and in most residences more or less of the furniture was damaged by the severity of the shocks. Tbe Prince ol Wales remains at Cannes, Fifty persons were injured at 3tentone anil one person wus killed. King Charles nod tjuoen Olga, of WurteuiDurg, remain in their villa at Nice. The excitement caused by the earth quake Is subsiding. The city authori ties to-day attended the luneralot School mistress Cheyiau, one of the vlotim*. Miss Chapelez, an American, wbo was buried ultve in the rulus of Villa Natal, wus rescued unhurt. The total number injured here Is 23. There have been oooaelnnal tremors during the day, winch caused acute sus pense while they lasted. Baron Hothso'hlld, wno was at Monaco, chartered a Pullman car for bis family. Borne wells In this section dried up while otbers increased in volume. A jet of hot water Durst Irom the bed of tne Patilon river. At Mentone 250 houses were rendered uninhabitable. Several fires occurred but were speedily extinguished. Military guards are on duty to prevent the pillaging of tbe wrecked bouse*. A field telegraph Is now working In many places. A bread iamine is expected owing to tbe destruction of the ovens of the baker ies. UN PERCEIVED BY THE rUBLIC. Vienna, Fob. 24.—The instruments in tho observatory hero showed seismic ac tion yesterday which was unperceived by the general public. SWITZERLAND SHAKEN. Geneva, Feb. 24.—Oscillations of the earth Irom north to south were felt throughout Switzerland quite severely No loss of life is reported, but much damage was done to property. HOW MUST PAY UP. The President He fuses to Sign a Hill Granting Private Relief. Washington, Feb. 24.—The President returned to the House without approval this afternoon House bill No. 7,648, en titled "An act for the relief of the estate of the late John How, Indian Agent, and his sureties.” Mr. How was appointed Indian Agent in July, 1878, and held that offloe until December, 1881, when, upon the report of Inspectors connected with tbe Indian Bureau, he was suspended for fraud and mismanagement. On July 21, 1885, final adjust ment was made of his accounts, and it was found that he owed the gov eminent muoh more than the penalty of his bond. Suit was, therefore, instituted against him and his sureties to reoovor tho amount thus found due to the govern ment, and that suit is still pending. Alter reviewing the history of the ease tbo President, In bis veto message, says: “The Second Comptroller slates, as the result of examinations made iu his office, and by the Second Auditor, that it appears that many of the vouobers presented by tbe agent were fictitious, persons in "whose names they were given testifying that services and supplies therein mentioned were never rendered or furnished; that in other cases parties denied the genuineness ot the vouchers purporting to be made by them; that a largo voucher, apparently given for cattle, was acually given lor money loaned, and that supplies bought with government funds were appreciated for the agent’s per sonal benefit. I do not suppose that it was Intended by Congress to entirely re lieve those sureties, if a condition exists such as is above set out, which results in an indebtedness to ihe government. The proposed legislation, judging front the report of the House Committee on Claims, seems rather to proceed upon the theory that no sum Is due the government in the premises. 1 think it will hardly be claimed that the patient investigation of the accounting officers, should he lightly discredited In this case, and it seems to" me that justness to the government and fairness to the sureties seeking relief will presumably be secured by lurtlier prosecution of the suit already Instituted, in which the truth of all mat ters involved oau be thoroughly tested.” PLEUHO- PNEUMONIA. Const il lit fiiiial Points Discussed in the Senate. Washington, Feb. 24.—1n the Senate to-day the pleuro-pueumonia extirpation, bill was taken up. The constitutional points involved In the bill were discussed at considerable length by Messrs. Cullom, Hoar, Miller, Platt, Hawley and Butler. Tbe latter in opposing tbe bill expressed his belief that the reports as to the danger from pieuro-pnouinonia were ex aggerated, and that the clamor was made lor a purpose, that purpose being to en able certain people to gut their hands into the Treasury in payment for cattle which they could not otherwise dispose 01. He had too much regard lor tbe constitution of tho United States to support such a hill. 31r. Miller contended that the bill was constitutional in every respect. If be did not believe so he would not bave reported the bill. He wa* glad to know that tho Senator from Bou h Carolina was so warmly devoted to the constitution of his country. Mr. Butler retorted that it was a source of prolound regret to him that,the Senator from New York had abandon'd his love lor tbe constitution. He bud treated it to-day with euiuerr.pt and sneers. Mr. Miller agreed to have the bill amended so as to have the Conimis*ioners appointed by Ihe President ol tbe United States, without the necessity of confirma tion by the Senate, aud it was so amended. Various amendments to the hill giving to tn President ol the United State* au thority which bad been proposed to be given to tbe Commissioner ol Agriculture were agreed to. Several other amend ments were adopted, and still others were p nding when, without disposing of the bili, ihe Senate, at 7:25 o’clock, ad journed. HOLDERS OF OPINION. The Coining Convention of the Na tional Editorial Association. Washington, Feb. 24.—A special meet ing of the Executive Committee of the National Editorial Association was held here to-day. There werfe present: C. H. Jones, of Florida, President of the Asso ciation; W. E. l’abor, of Colorado, Secre tary; B. B. Herbert, of Minnesota, ex l’resident; H. B. White, of West Vir ginia; U. H. Thomas, ot Pennsylvania; John illcks, of Wisconsin; Francis Proc tor, ol Massachusetts; J. B. Stanley, of Alabama; J. B. McCabe, of the New Kug land Press Association; C. A. Lee, of Rhode Island; H. J. Grigsby, of Tennessee, and McKenzie Down ham, of Delaware. The time for tho next meeting of tbe association, which is composed of delegates (torn ail the States and Territories of the Union, wee fixed for Sept. 0 to 10, at Denver, Col. 'lhe programme of proceedings for that meeting was preparwd and topics lor discussion seleoied. Mr. Pabor, ol Col orado, assured the committee that great preparations were being made Iu Denver for the reception and enteri aininunt ol tne delegates at the annual meeting, in which much interest is felt. Tampa a Port of Entry. Washington, Feb. 24.—1n the House to-day, on motion of Sir. Davidson, of Florida, tbe Senate bill was passed mak ing Tampa, Fia., a port of entry. The President will *ign the bill. To Go Out of Commission. Washington, Fb. 24.—The United Status steamship Osslpee, now at New York, has been ordered to Norfolk, Va., where pile will be put. out of commission. Amendment* Concurred In. Washington, Feb. 24.—1n tbe House to-day, on motion of Mr. Bragg, the Sen ate amendments to tbe Military Aondemy appropriation bill were concurred iu. Sundry Civil t ouferees. Washington, Feb. 24.—1n tbe House to-day Messrs. Randall, Forner and Rian were appointed conferees on the sundry civil appropriation bill. (PRICE *lO A YEAR .I j 5 CENTS A COPY, j ALEXANDER’S SMALL-POX BULGARIA'S DEPOSED RUIiUH IN MORE TROUBLE. Bismarck Sure or a Working Majority iu the New Reichstag—The Result ia Alauoe mid Lvrralna a Ritter Fill for the Doughty Chancellor. Berlin, Feb. 24.—1 t la ascertained that Prince Alexander of Battenborg, the Re posed King of Bulgaria, who was report ed yesterday to be lying ill with gastrla fever at his father’s house In Darmstadt, has the small-pox. It is reported here that three officers implicated in the recently discovered military plot have been hanged at St, Petersburg. The Russian government has strictly enjoined official secrecy re specting the conspiracy. Definite results are now leave exactly one-halt of the the new Reichstag distinctly pleaWd i the support of the septennate, without reckoning re-ballots. The supplementary elections have been fixed for March 2. Although a majority of the districts in which new elections are to be bflVfcn 4 certain to be carried l>y opposition candi dates, the total result will give Prtnsw Bismarck a working majority, indepen- ■ dent of the Centre members, many of wbom will either vote lor the septenuala or abstain from voting. The total vote of Alsace and Lorraine* Is: French,72,4Bo; German, 10,022. The Frankfort Gazette says that many has little reason to felicitate herseiD -upon the result of the returns in the cun'*' quered provinces. The royal order prescribing the form oC oath which Catholic Bishops appointed Ur sees in Prussia shall taae before being confirmed by the State in their appoini inents, ordains that each Bishop shall swear to be submissive, loyal, obe dient and devoted to the King of Prussia, and to inculcate on bis clergy and the people of his diocese'veueratioa and fidelity toward the King, love of tha fatherland and obedience to the State’* law. Tbe oath also binds the Bishop to refuse to tolerate by any of his clergy any teaohing or action opposed tit the spirit of the vows taken by the Bishop in making the oath, and abstain from maintaining either within or outside of the country, any re lations prejudicial to tbe security of tha country. The oath concludes as follows: “I promise to keep all this more inviola bly, as I am certain by tbe oath I took to tbe Pope and church I did not bind my self to anything that might be opposed t> this oath of allegiance to tbe King.” THE CHURCH’S INFLUENCE. Rome, Feb. ‘24.—Cardinal Jacobin!, the Papal Secretary of Stale, has instructed the Papal Nuncio atMunicb to urge the members of the Centre party In the Reichstag and In the Landtag to vote re spectively for the septennate bill and the new ecclesiastical bill. AUSTRIAN ENTHUSIASM. Vienna, Feb. 24.—The Relchsrath ha* passed the extra military credit for equipping the Landsturm. The vote was 1 unanimous. DILLON’* JURY DISAGREES. Only a Few Minutes Necessary* to Settle Their Standing# Dublin, Feb. 21.—0n the resumption this morning or tbo trial of Messrs. Dil lon, O’Brien, Redmond and the their connection with the “plan of oSR paign,” Judge Murphy continued his charge to the jury. He said that if the Jury believed that the traversers bad united in agreeing to urge tbe people to <lo what the indictment alleged, the tra versers had acted unlawfully. (The Judge then concluded his obarge and tbe jury retired to consider their verdict. After &' short absence from the court room they returned and reported that they were not. able to agiee upon a verdict. PARNELL HEADED OFF. London, Feb. 24.—1n the House of Commons to-nigbt Mr. Parnell moved ex emption from closure of measures ig creasing stringency of tho criminal law in Ireland. Sir Michael Hlcks-Beach said emphatically that the government declined to entertain such a propcsJl. I on is Blanc’s Statue. Paris, Feb. 24.—A statue of Louia. Blanc was unveiled here to-day in th presence of the Cabinet Ministers and many Senators and Deputies. The cere mony was made the occasion of a violent demonstration by Anarchists, who were present in large numbers. Alter the un veiling they hissed and shouted* “Ixmg live Anarchy I” Then they made a rush lor the inciosure In which the statue stands. Police interposed and arrested several of those who were most promi nent in the disturbance. . 0 France's Congress. Paris, Feb. 24.—The Senate by a vote of 210 to 38 bas reinserted in thebudg.-t a credit for sub preteots, the rejection of which by the Chamber of Deputies was the cause of the overthrow of the Frey oinet Ministry. The Chamber of Depu ties to-day adopted estimates for the Ma rine and Colonial Departments. Agriculture’* 1 onvcntioii. New Orleans, Feb.24.—Atyesterday.’a session of the Interstate Agricultural Convention at Lake Charles, tem|>m:ary organization was effected bv calling Hon. L. 8. C' tti , of iowa, to preside, and Rev. Irvine Rockwell, of Wisconsin, to act at Secretary. Tbe temporary officers will bo made permanent. In response to ad dresses or welcome Chairman Coffin made un address ol tbe visitors. A number of pa mil on matte s pertaining to emigration and agriculture. An idirr Disui inUerctl C.irp.e. Pittsburg, Pa., Feb. 24.—The Pitts burg office oi the Baltimore ami Ohio (ex press Company bas another “myatery” in tbe shape of a dead body 111 a box,(whose consignee cannot be found and whose consignor In body rs disniomb biH of it ia missing, whajg&slpPß only weighing express the opinrtßWtiit it is the propet ty of some medical man. Unprovoked Murder. Charleston, 8. C., Feb. 24.—Mike Platt Kiui, a young merobant. was shot and killed at Holly Hill Wednesday night. The murder was unprovoked unil was comma ted by thro*! colored men named Mose Washington, Jako Nlmons and William Robinson, all of wbom have been arrested and committed to jail foi trial. ■ "Fabricators Given a Holidny. Washington, Fob. 24.—Owing to tbt cauetis this morning, and to tbe legisl*. tton in the Semite, wbioh demanded the attention of lbs members of tbe Texas investigating Committee, that committee hud no session to-day. j