Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-15
FOrty-Seventh Congress.

TUESDAY, March Mr. Dawes spoke at length
In the senate in opposition to the Chinese immi-
grafton BILL and Mr.. Edmunds advocated the
measure. Mr.. Frye introduced bill for the re-
lief OF American shipping, and urged upon the
commerce committee the importance of an early
and thorough consideration Of the subject. Mr.
Sherman reported bill from the finance commit
tee in favor of refundng the $40 silver certificates
and bill was introduced to punish the unlawful
certifcation of checks by officers of national
banks, with an amendment extending its penalty
to officers who shall resort to any device or re-
ceive any fictitious obligation for pretended col
lateral in order to evade the existing law against
over-certfcation. An attempt was made in the
house to consider the tariff commission bill in
committee Of the whole, but point Of order that
the measure was entitled to no special privileges
was sustained by the speaker, and the agricultural
appropriation bill was proceeded with instead
bill appropristing $4,000 for the erection Of a
statue Of Chief Justice Marshall in Washington
was passed.
WEDNESDAY,, March S.-The session Of the SEN
ate was devoted principally to discussing and per-
fectng The Chinese immigration bill. The Ingalls,
amendment limiting the suspension of the coming
Of Chinese laborers to ten years was defeated by
tie vote OF twenty-three to twenty-three An
amendment was adopted providing that the act
shall not go into effect until ninety days after its
passage, and. pending vote on an amendment
that hereafter no state court or United States
court shall admit Chinese to citizenship, an ad-
journment was taken. :. In the house amend
ments to the proposed new rules for the govern
ment OF that body were submitted and laid over
Mr., Harris bill for the construction of vessels Of
war for the navy was submitted and referred to
the committee of the whole, and several other
bills were reported. The bill authorizing the pur-
chase OF the Freedmen's bank building in Wash
ington was passed, and an effort to take up the
Edmunds anti-polygamy bill failed.
THURSDAY, March 9.-The senate concluded the
debate on the Chinese bill and passed it by a
vote Of twenty nine to fifteen, Mr.. Edmunds vot-
ing with Messrs. Hoar and Dawes in the mega
tive, and Mr.. Hale Of Maine in favor of the bill
Mr. Farley's amendment forbdding the natural-
cation OF Cinnamon was adopted by vote Of
twenty-five to twenty-five. The bill as passed
provides that from and after the expiration OF
ninety days after the passage Of the act and until
the expiration of twenty years after its passage,
the coming of Chinese laborers to the United
States shall be suspended and prescrbes a pen
atty OF imprisonment not exceeding one year, and
fine OF not more than $500, against the master
Of any vessel who brings any Chinese laborer to
this country in that period. 1t further provides
that the classes OF Chinese excepted by the treaty
from such prohibition, such as merchants, teach
ers, students, travellers and diplomatic agents and
| Chinese laborers who were in the United States
on the 18th of November, 1880, shall be required
| as a condition for their admission, TO produce
| passports from the government Of China person.
ally Identifying them, and showing that they in
diyidually belong TO one OF the permitted classes
which passports must have been endorsed by the
diplomatic representative OF the United States in
China, or by the United States consul at the port
OF departure. 1t also provides elaborate machin-
cry for carrying out the purposes OF the act in
additional sections, prohibits the admission OF
Chinese to citizenship by United States or state
courts, and CONSTITUTES the words Chinese labor
ers" to mean both skilled and unskilled laborers
and Chinese employed in mining. The bill for
the appointment of n commission to consider the
alcoholic liquor traffic was further debated and an
amendment directing that not more than three OF
the five members OF the commission shall be Of
the same political party, was adopted. Mr.. Dawes
introduced a bill for the allotment of lands in
severalty to the Indians residing upon the Una
tila reservation in Oregon and granting patents
therefor The house discussed at length and
finally passed the agricultural appropriation bill
A bill was reported from the committee on terri
tories for the admission into the Union OF the
state of Washington.
FRIDAY, March l0-The senate passed the bill
providing for the appointment OF commission
to consider the alcoholic liquor traffic The com
mission is TO consist OF seven members, and re-
port Is to be made to congress within eighteen
months. A resolution was adopted authorizing
the secretary OF war to use government vessels Oh
the Mississippi river and its tributaries in the dis
tribution of rations and supplies to the sufferer
by the recent floods. The house was occupied
In considering bills on the private calendar, sew
eral being passed concurrent resolution was
adopted requesting the president TO advise tn,
Nicaraguan government that convention be ar
ranged for the final settlement OF all unad justeC
claims existing between the United States anC
Nicaragua, and also the claims OF citizens OF th'
United States against Nicaragua. An evening
session was held for the consideration OF pension
bills. Both branches adjourned until Monday.
MONDAY, March l3.-In the senate several 70
ports from committees were submitted and ap
propriately referred among them the post-ofiic,
appropriation bill and the bill defining the quail
ifications OF territorial delegates In the house
representatives. In the house the committee ol
woman suffrage was announced and a large mum
Der Of bills on a variety of topics was introduced
When the anti-polygamy bill was reached poin
OF order was raised that II must have its first con
sderation in committee Of the whole "a 1t pro
yided for an appropriation. The speaker, how
ever, oyerruled the point The previous question
was then demanded on the third reading Of IN
bill, but was not carried the democrats reirann
from voting and leaving the house without
quorum After season Of hhbustering tn
house ut forty-iiye minutes past six o'clock tool
a recess until half-past eleven o'clock Tuesday
] when the subject was TO be resumed