Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-02-29
CONGREss

The House committee is now working on
an interstate commerce bill offered by Mr.
Stewart OF this state, which Is likely to be
the basis Of the bill reported. II provides
that all charges for transportation between
states shall be reasonable and forbids dis
ordinations between individuals for like and
contemporaneous service. Determinations
are also forbidden in facilities, expedition
and rebates. Pooling is prohibited and a
commission Is created to execute the law.
Most of these provisions are unexceptionable,
though il is believed that the one against
pooling will not stand.
The Mcpherson banking bill has passed
the Senate, and it will probably get through
the House substantially intact. As 1t now
stands il permits any national bank to issue
circulating notes to the amount of the par
value of its bonds deposited as security, pro
vded that such amount shall not exceed the
amount Of capital stock paid in. The same
privilege is extended to the national gold
banks The most vigorous opposition in the
House will come from Congressman Potter,
who is pushing his own bill to substitute for
outstanding bonds new twenty-five years
bond at two and one-half per cent.
The Senate committee on military affairs
has reported favorably the House bill for the
relief of Fitz John Porter, and it has been
March 12 The bill is the one which passed
the House, with an amendment striking out
the provision for the restoration of Porter to
"al the rights, titles and privileges" Of the
rank held by him at the time of his dismissal
from the army. Thus amended, the restora-
ton provided for is simply to the position Of
colonel OF the same grade and rank as was
held by him at the time of his dismissal.
On Tuesday the chair laid before the SEN
ate the bill reported by Mr.. Hale from the
committee on naval affairs to authorize the
construction of additional steel cruisers for
the navy The bill authorizes the President
to have constructed seven steel vessels, be-
sides one steel ram, one cruising torpedo
boat and two harbor torpedo boats Mr., Hale
addressed the Senate pointing out the neces-
sity for the ships, the United States possess
ing not one of the class now recognized by
the nations of the world as necessary for ma
val purposes. Things are happening almost
every day-clouds lowering on the political
horizon-which though not themselves fraught
with danger, at least show that this country
should no longer be permitted to remain in
Its present helpless condition. Mr.. Butler
pointed out that every city of Importance on
our Atlantic coast could be bombarded by
the most recent guns from positions which
could be taken up by an enemy's vessels in
spite or channel ODstrucuons or our present
harbor defences. Besides, he said, the Eng
lish would have within few months clear
14-foot channel from the ocean to the great
lakes, which would admit vessels of respecta-
BILE size and expose our large cities on the
lakes to the dangers of bombardment. Mr.
Butler thought that facts of this character
appealed strongly to Congress to place the
navy of the United States in position Of
greater efficiency. There is evidently dis
| position in Congress to do something toward
creating navy. The only difference is rs tC
details. II will require 50, 24G, 900 to com
plete the vessels provided for in the pending
bill, and Sc, 552, 600 to complete the moni
tors and the cruisers ordered last year.
A bill was introduced in the Senate Wednes
day incorporating a company to build rail
way and telegraph liue in the Yellowston,
national park, with a capital not exceeding
$4,000 900.
Senators Vest and Butler had a lively til
over the steel cruisers bill For half an hou
ugly blood ran high, and it looked as thougl
something serious might come of the episode
but adjournment was discreetly brough
about by cooler heads, and personal en-
counter prevented.