The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-27
Vermont In Congress.


and representatives in congress are both doing
their full duty to the public service and attend
! ing faithfully to the individual interests of
| their constituents.
SENATOR EDMUNDs
has been conspicuous for the number and char
| acter OF important public bills he has introduced,
| and the passage of which he is working TO se-
cure. Among the earliest born measures on the
| senate calendar we find bill in relation to the
| oath OF office, having reference to the abolition
OF the iron-cad oath, and bill to provide for the
| further protection OF citizens Of the United
| States and others against the violation Of GER
tain rights secured to them by the Constitution
| OF the United States In presenting this meas
ure to the senate, Mr.. Edmunds said: ut
undertakes, and | believe successfully, to
accomplish the security for the protection of
the colored citizens Of the United States against
| the inhuman, and, as | believe, wicked and
cruel and prejudiced distinctions that in some
OF the states are still made against them in re-
( spect OF their civil rights, and to protect them
consistently with the late decision of the
| supreme court of the United States upon that
subject" This just and humane measure was
| Immediately followed by another to protect the
| constitutional rights of citizens and to punish
violations of the samoa bill which, az the
senator says, ideals with the rights OF colored
| citizens, and white as well, in respect of being
| secured in the enjoyment Of the dearest of all
of freemen's rights, the right to free vote and
| fair count" There followed, consecutvely,
| his famous bill to provide for the establishment
| of postal teegraphic system; a bill to amend
thea against polygamy, framed and advocated
by him and passed by the previous congress-
| and a bill to provide for ascertainng and set
| Ting private land claims in certain states and
territories, which has lately passed the senate
| The bill is fought by band of cormorants in
| terested in keeping up the confusion Of land
! titles, especially in New Mexico where there is
a good deal of muddle. After short interval,
| he offered measure for the relief of the sur
| vivors OF the exploring steamer Jeanette,
| and the widows and children of those who
persisted in the retreat from the wreck of that
vessel in the Arctic seas In introducing this
measure Mr.. Edmunds asked for it the favora-
| BILE consideration OF the naval committee on
grounds that must commend themselves to the
| sympathies, the sense of justice and Of honor
| of the people OF the whole country. He was
opposed to sending forth that expedition, and
| prophesied-"b because every man thinks he is a
| prophet himself that we should be obliged to
send another expedition to recover that lost
one, and 1t turned out to be so. He had been
of the opinion for some time " that the advan-
tages to be gained for science-and that is all
there is to it, BECAUSE practically, navigation
in those waters is out OF the question-were al
together incommensurate with the loss of life
and exposure OF brave men who were induced,
or were willing, to undertake such expeditions"
But as 1t was undertaken under the auspices of
the government Of the United States he thought
we ought to make every reparation and pro-
vision reasonably in our power for the people
who imperled their lives and the representa-
tives OF those who lost their lives, in that ex-
petition. He has also introduced bills to per-
NIT suits in the court OF claims by owners of
vessels, and to provide a special jury in the su-
preme court of the District OF Columbia in GER
tain cases. Having antagonZed the Western
Union, the great monopolist of the telegraph
business of the country, by his bill to establish
postal telegraphic system he arrayed against
him the influences of great railway monopolies
by his measure to settle claims growing out of
the issue of bonds to aid in the construction of
the Pacific railway and to secure to the United
States all the Indebtedness of the companies
named in that measure. Private measures
have had his attention, and he has participated
in debates upon all important matters. As a
contemporary has forcibly said, " Senator Ed
munds conduct in the senate is that of a
statesman who does not know that his name
has ever been mentioned for the presidency"
SENATOR MORRILL,
ia the complement of Mr. Edmunds in the SEN
ate. The two together fill up and perfect the re-
quiremeDts of the senatorial office Vermont
has not duplicated her representation in the
senate. Each senator is the recognized chief
in widely differing departments of important
legislation. Mr. Morrill, promptly brought in
at the opening of the session well-consdered
measure relating to coinage, silver certificates
and United States notes, which he supported in
aspeech that was widely published and favora-
bly, regarded He is the author and firm sup
porter of the bill for new congressional library
building, and of the simplest and the most
sensible measure yet brought in for providing
for the circulation of the national banks On
these matters he has spoken in the debates
with the clearness and directness of the think
ing, practical man of affairs. The records give
proof of his constant industry and attention to
his duties in resolutions introduced, petitions
presented and reports made on many matters
of important public and private concern.
In the house, the reputation of the state is
sustained with ability and dignity that are in
!, harmony with her representation in the senate.
JUDGE POLAND
has been not unmindful of the interests of his
constituents This is shown by the following list
of private measures he has brought in: For the
relief of Denis M. jackson, a former member
, of company E, fourth New Hampshire volun-
teers granting arrears of pensions to Mrs.
Mary l., Martin, dependent mother of James
L. Martin, company |, fifth Vermont volun-
teers granting pension to Julia Spenard; for
: the relief of Lydia Johnson; granting PEN
sion to Joseph Fullington, war of 1872; granting
, pension TO Mrs. Elizabeth A. Randall widow
Of Captain Fernando Randall; petition of Julia
A. Ross, for pension; Mary A. Martin, for ar
, rears of pension; Mary p Thomas, petition for
pension; to pay Evelyn M. Lovejoy, widow of
Daniel w. Lovejoy company C, ninth Vermont
volunteers; relief of John Ord, company E,
ninth Vermont volunteers; to increase pension
3 of George ]. Stannard, major-general Of volun-
teers; relief of Charles L. Lewis company H,
l first Vermont cavalry; relief of George W.
/, Saulpaw; to pay c. +. Barrett and Gardner j.
Howe; to correct the military record of Frank
, Greenwood company ii, third Vermont volun-
3 teers; to amend the record of Harrison Dewey,
company f. first Vermont volunteers; to re-
= move charge OF desertion against Frank Gard
! ner to increase widows pension of Mrs. Ho-
nora Wilmarth to $40 month for the relief
J, of George W. Kingsbury; to pension Clarissa
r S. Drown; pension to William Bridges; for the
relief of James f. Smith Other measures,
! affecting the rights or interests Of individuals
. and communities in various parts of the state,
seem to have been put into the hands of this vet
5 eran legislator with liberality which seems to
+ betoken confidence that they will not be for
gotten or neglected, or fail for want of efficient
advocacy Among the important public meas
ures which Judge Poland has brought in, is
bill limiting the use of habeas corpus; making
s trade dollars legal tender and forbidding fur
Their COINAGE; granting pensions to volunteers
In the military and naval service OF the United
g States; regulating proceedings and appeals in
| wrts of habeas corpus to allow writs of error
. in certain criminal cases; relating to the quail
j fications of voters in Utah and Idaho. He has
also been the means through which many reso-
lutions, motions and petitions on various mat
Y tiers have obtained a hearing, and Is a member
of the Boynton-Kelfer investigating commit
tee. The Judge seems to have lost none of his
3 | old-time vigor and habits of industry. No
measure from the judiciary committee. of
which Judge Poland is member, has yet been
9 up for discussion, yet he has mingled in the
/, debates on other matters, particularly the
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