Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-12-12
CONGRE.NN.

The standing committees of both branch
es Of Congress have been announced, and
1t Is a gratifying fact that the Vermont
Representatives and Senators have inhuen-
tial places on some of the most important
mmttces. Mr.. E1munds retains the
caarmanship Of the Senate Judiciary Com
mttee and also has place on the joint
committee on the Library. Mr.. Morrill, al
so retains his position as chairman OF the
Senate committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds and has the second place on the
Finance Committee. OF the House Com
mittoes Judge Poland has The chairman
ship of tho Committee on the Revision of
the Laws, and is third on the Judi ciary
Committee. Mr.. Willard is dropped from
his former craftsmanship OF the Committee
on Revolutionary Pensions, but has places
on no less than four other committees. He
is second on the important Committee on
Reform in the Civil service, third on the
Commit of Foreign Affairs, and is on
the Committees on Pacific Railroads and
Coinage and Weights. Mr.. Hendee is on
The Committee on the District of Columbia
and on Private Land Caims-both resposi-
BILE places.
A very large number of bills have been
presented In both houses of Congress, but
definite action has been taken on very few
of them. In the house a general amnesty
bill and bill repeating the "iron-clad"
oath, have been passed. Mr.. Poland of
this State has introduced n bill providing
for the distribution of the Geneva award,
and bills have been introduced TO again
permit the free transmission of newspapers
In the county where published.
The most interesting feature of the House
proceedings has been the debate on the
bill repeating the salary grab law. The de-
bate commenced on Tuesday, and was the
occasion of much amusement and excite
ment. The strongest argument was made
by Mr.. Wilson of Indiana, who showed that
in view of the history of the country much
might be said in behalf of the right of the
increase. The debate was not without its
victims. Mr.. VIM. Lawrence, of Ohio,
who sought to lead the advanced guard of
the repealers, suffered severe discontinue.
IL had the misfortune to forget that he had
a back pay record, and 1t encountered him
ana was thrown up at nun NJ every palnlui
turning In his tortuous course throughout
the day. There has seldom been a scene
in Congress when a member who started
with such pomp and junction has come to
so disastrous an end. His record, which
was produced upon him, showed that in
1866 he himself took 50, 900 back pay and all
the front pay, and also made speech de-
carlng 1t to be unconstitutional to refuse II.
Mr.. Samuel Cox, in an earnest speech
early In the day, denounced the insane
greed for salary, but he forgot TO be consis.
tent. Mr.. Negley showed that up to the
time OF taking his seat, last Monday week,
Mr.. Cox had already drawn $4,000, although
he was not elected until November.
The debate was continued on Wednes-
day, when Mr.. Dawes Of Massachusetts
made strong speech favoring the repeal
III the course of his speech Mr.! Dawes stat
ed that The the Presidents rerquisite ex-
elusive of bis salary, amount to $50, OtO an
nualy.
Senator Morrill, of this State, has intro