Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-12-22
Forty-Sixth Congress.

| MONDAY, DECEMBER 13rH.-Nearly the entir,
session OF the senate yesterday was occupied IL
discussing resolution for restoring General Fit
John Porter to the army, and then retiring hin
at once with the rank and pay Of colonel, bu
without back pay No vote, however, wa,
reached, and the subject will be further consld
cred to-day. In the house a large number Of
bills and resolutions were introduced, among
them one by Mr. Grape of Massachusetts, declaring
that the construction OF an inter-oceanc canal by
foreign capital, under the auspices of a European
government, is in violation Of the Monroe doc
trine, apd that the United States should maintain
such control over any inter-oceanic canal as may
be necessary to protect its interests. bill was
| also introduced TO terminate the existing treaties
between the United States and the north German
confederation; substitute for the present fund
| ing bill was likewise presented. The debate
| on the electoral count resolution was resumed
but no vote thereon was reached Judge Tay.
lor General Garfield's successor, was sworn in
the factious opposition to him having been with.
drawn.
TUESDAY, December IA, 1ssO.-The Democrats
have finally abandoned the attempt to pass the
Morgan joint rule till such time in January rs
'h'J Nhh lHtlT lull tlFeDBtn-O0C hundred
and forty-seven votes. II they wait till one hun
dred and forty-seven votes can be polled for the
measure before again bringing it up it is quite
safe to say the joint rule will never pass the
house Of Representatives The funding bill has
been taken up The committee reported its own
amendment to the BILL fixing the rate OF interest at
three per cent instead Of three and one-half Judge
Kelley moved to amend by substituting provis-
ion for the issue Of s4cO 900 0O0 in notes payable
July 1, 1882 and 1872, OOO, 600 bonds payable July
l, 1885 both to bear three per cent interest The
Greenback leaders moved amendments and made
speeches expounding their peculiar gospel Of
| finance. The Democrats show evidence OF de-
termination to unseat Kellogg of louisiana The
Fitz John Porter bill has passed the senate by a
strict party vote David Davis voting with the
Republicans. bill to incorporate the Nlcara-
guam canal scheme has been introduced Gen
eral Grant is identified with this project. The
cooperation of Vanderbilt and other New York
capitalists it is thought will secure the construc-
ton Of this canal A tariff commission OF four
senators and five representatives is contemplated
by bill introduced in the house by Warner, a
Democrat of Ohio. The commission is to sit
through the vacation and report at the session OF
congress coming IN December, 1881.
"WEDNESDAY, December 10 The senate dis
cussed Burnside's educational bill Senator Nor.
ril spoke at length, demonstrating the success OF
the agricultural colleges established in 1862, OF
which he was the champion, and urging the ex-
tension OF that system. Speeches were also made
by Senators Burnside and Brown of Georgia. A
relic of barbarism" was brought up in the shape
of bill to pay the clerk OF the border rufan ter
ritoral legislature Of Kansas in 1865 81, 700 for
certain services connected with that body The
discussion was the occasion Of tilt between Sem
ators Vest Of Missouri and Ingalls, OF Kansas In
which the memory of Old John Brown was
vciousy assailed by the former and vigorously
defended by the latter, who claimed that the flag
dropped by John Brown at Harper's Ferry was
taken up four years later and borne in triumph to
Appomattox. Senator Edmunds also expressed
his appreciation Of the character and services of
John Brown In the house the funding bill was
laid aside and the fertilization bill taken up The
appropriation originally called for by this bill was
nearly doubled by the demands of southern mem.
bers. The Mississippi levee committee have de-
cided to ask congress for 81, 900 to begin the
work OF building levees along the banks OF that
river.
THURSDAY, December 16.-General Grant Wis
tied the capitol and was warmly received by mem
bers OF both parties, the southern brgaders being
especially cordial in their greetings. Each house.
on the occasion of the generals appearance in it,
took a recess of ten minutes, and the members
officers and pages were presented to the hero Of
the war OF the rebellion The senate passed bill to
regulate the water supply of the District of Column
bia. Senator Rollins made the astounding state
ment that there Is fifty per cent more water used
in Washington than in any other city in America
or Europe. Is this attributable to Mrs HAYES
cold-wate innovations? The education bill was
further discussed and laid over. The southern
senators generally favor the bill In the house
the pension bill approprating $50 900 for pen
sons was passed with some slight amendments
FRIDAY, December 1.-THE senate has passed
the Burnside popular education bill As finally
passed it provides that the proceeds OF the sales Of
the public lands and fees for patents shall be de-
voted to the education of the people. The
''plumed knight" endorsed Senators Beck and
salisbury in debate and they came haltiugly off
Senator Wallace introduced bill to provide for a
national bankrupt law, and the same bill was in
troduced into the house by Mr.. Hutchins of New
York The Notifications bill was referred to COM
mittee consisting Of Senctors Allison, Beck and
Booth. Friday is private bill day, but Mr. Forney
of Alabama, in behalf of the house appropriations
committee, undertook to bring forward the military
academy appropriation bill. He could not, how
ever, procure the necessary two-thirds vote. and
the house passed few private bills and ad-
journed.