The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-08-25
Senator Morrill, to Vermont Farmer.
STRAFFoRD, VT, August II

ClRaffOhD, W., August IL, 1000.
M Dear Sir:-Your esteemed favor of the
18th instant came to hand last evening, and,
although my health is not yet fully restored
| hasten to reply. You will bear it in mind
that was not present in the last few weeks
of the late session of congress. You say;
" 1t is charged persistently against Senator
EdmundS in several state papers that his
action upon the oleomargarine bill was hos
tile to the passage and efficiency of said bill.
1t is also charged against him that his Off
cial action upon measures pending in con-
gress concerning corporations has been uni
formly hostile to the interests of the United
States and of the people thereof and favor
able to the said corporations. Believing that
your long and valued service in congress
has given you the fullest opportunity of
knowing as to the truth or falsity of these
charges, | respectfully ask that you will
give me your opinion upon the matters men,
toned"
| cannot but regret that the friends of my
distinguished colleague, Senator Edmunds,
whose long and brilliant service in the
United States senate has obtained national
fame, should now seem to be called upon to
refute charges, possibly originating from
misnformation, but, as they appear to me,
wholly destitute of foundation, every
reader of the senate's daily record should
have known.
When the oleomargarine bill from the
house of representatives came to the senate
after Senator Miller of New York had made
his motion to refer the bill to the committee
on agriculture, of which he is the chairman,
stated to the senate, in substance, that
while the bill appeared to have been con-
sidered and controlled in the house by the
committee on agriculture, and while all pc
| titions and papers in relation to the subject
| had so far been referred TO the committee on
agriculture in the senate, yet, if the bill was
! to be treated as an internal revenue bill, it
! should be referred to the committee on
! finance, but if the bill was to be accepted as
! an agricultural measure, then of course 1t
should go to the committee on agriculture.
| gave notice, therefore, that should the mo-
! ton of Senator Miller fail, | should make
motion to refer the bill to the committee on
| finance. 1t was known that | was friend
of the bill, and perhaps as well known that
! all, or nearly all, of the democratic members
! of the finance committee We're opposed TO
! it, Senator Miler's motion, he having been
specially identified with the bill, did not
fail while | voted against it on the ground
| that the bill on its face, as tax bill, clearly
belonged to the committee on finance, and
my colleague voted the same way for the
! same reason, he being also an open and de-
clared friend of the bill. The measure from
| the outset was sure of a majority of the
| senate, to whatever committee it might
have been referred, and all of the repub-
| lican members present of the committee on
! finance, | believe, as well as my colleague,
voted in its favor on its passage. The
amendment reducing the tax to two cents
per pound suppose, was adopted because
il was not thought necessary to augment
the revenue, and also because without 1t
there was some apprehension of an eXecu-
tive Veto | was absent from the senate
upon the final votes, but was paired with
Senator Salisbury of Delaware.
The charge that Mr.. Edmunds was hostile
to the passage and efficiency of the oleomar-
garine bill, il is to be hoped, has been based
upon misapprehension rather imam sheer
misrepresentation.
The other charge-that his official action
has been hostile to the interests OF the
United States and the people and favor
able to the corporations-see to me
equally baseless and equally marvel of
misnformation. | am quite sure that
MIR Thurman would give to Senator Ed
munds as much credit for what is known
as the Thurman act " as he would claim
for himself, either as TO its initiation or as to
its progress through the senate. By that
act the United States is now collecting
some portion of the large Indebtedness of
the Pacific railroads. To these roads and