Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-03
Forty-Sixth Congress.

MONDAY, February 23-The senate held n
brief session. and adjourned in honor Of Wash
ington's birthday. In the house, various bills
were introduced, among which was one to estab-
fish a court Of pensions, which Is intended TO
facilitate the hearing and decision Of applications
disaowed by the secretary OF the interior, or
pension commissioner, all disaowed applications
OF persons against whom there is a charge Of de-
sertion. This court is intended to relieve the
pension bureau Of the immense accumulation Of
applications and Of pension bills in the house
and senate committees. The foreign affairs COM
inittee instructed ts chairman to report favorably
to the house the resolution making an appropria-
ton for the relief OF ireland The resolution
was amended, making the amount $500, 900 in
stead OF 100000, the amount originally proposed.
TUESDAY, February "a The committee on APP
preparations reported bill to meet the deficiency
In the appropriation for the star route service.
No appropriation has yet been reported to pay
the marsbals, and to-day the president reminded
the house OF its duty in this regard by laying be-
fore 1t letter OF the attorney general In which he
says that the marshas have undertaken to work
without fees but have gone rs far MS they can In
that direction. Nothing Of the least importance
was accomplished in either house Of congress, the
day being spent in useless debate.
"WEDNESDAY, February 2J-An exciting debate
was brought on in the senate by the introduction
OF bill authorizing the appointment of James
Monroe Hei-kel in the United States army, he hav-
ing served while youth In the confederate army
Senators Conkling and Blaine being absent, 1t
seemed to he R favorable moment to slip the bill
quietly through the senate, but Senator Edmunds
raised the question why n general bill repeating
the dsqnalifying sections OF the law had not been
brought forward. Senator Garland then moved
that bill as n substitute for the bill then before
the senate. Senators Edmunds and Logan vigor-
ously opposed the bill, on the ground that 1t
would not only permit those who served in the
rebel army to receive commissions in the United
States army, but would authorize the restoration
OF those officers who left the Union army in 1861
to serve in the rebellion and enable them to go
upon the list OF the retired officers Senators
Bayard and Thurman defended the bill, the south
ern senators remaining silent. The bill went over
at the expiration Of the morning hour. After an
extended debate on the five per cent refunding
bill, Senator Edmunds, at the close Of his remarks,
moved the indefinite postponement Of the bill,
which was carried, by twenty-eight ayes TO
twenty-one nays. motion to reconsider was
made, the consideration Of which was postponed,
and the senate adjourned The star route de-
fciency bill engaged the attention OF the house.
The general question Of the maladministration OF
this branch Of the public service was not properly
before the house, being still in the hands of an in
vestigating committee, yet members irrespective
OF party, could not restrain themselves from
making severe structures upon the course pursued
hv tho aacnpd al Il,
ceeding, contrary to express provision of law, by
more than one-third. the amount of the appropri-
alton for the star service The opinion was plainly
expressed that this official deserves impeachment
No conclusive action was taken.
THURSDAY, February 26 The senate did little
besides listen to n tide OF formal eulogy on the
late Senator Houston of Alabama. The star route
postal question was temporarily settled by tho
passage Of bill appropriating 500 900 to pay ex
penses of carrying the mails for the remainder Of
the fiscal year. and imposing certain restrictions
on the unwholesome discretion hitherto exer-
cised by Assistant Postmaster-G General Brady
The members from the frontier states bitterly ar
raigned the majority for curtailing their postal
facilities while large sums are voted to have the
mail Of congressman delivered on their desks. 1t
was shown that Mr. Blount OF Georgia, who has
been conspicuous in this war on the star service.
finds no fault with the extension of the postal
servlcein his district on nineteen routes, six OF
which center in his resident town.
FRIDAY, February 27,-Tn the senate the FIVE
per cent refunding bill was revived and its con.
sideration postponed till December next, on the
plea that correct information on the subject had
not been furnished. The proceedings in the house
were Of a general character and nothing import
ant was done.
SATURDAY, February 2S.-Congress has been
in session thirteen weeks and yet none OF the
regular business has been transacted A few unin-
portant measures have been passed, and this day
adds another to the frightening record OF delay
and inaction. A proposed new policy in the gov
eminent Of the Indians, based upon the principle
that the government should abandon the practice
~ treating tho-, q children aud place them AS
speedily as possible the footing of citizens will
be embodied in a bill by the senate committee
MONDAY, March 1-Senator Randolph deiv-
cred his defence OF Fitz John Porter, which de-
veloped nothing new in this case. lie will be
answered by Senators Burnside and Logan.