Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-23
CONFERENCE OF THE AMERICAS
For Discussing Methods to Promote Inter
State Trade and Commerce.


A bill reported to-day from the House
committee on foreign affairs providing for
an interstate conference, authorizes the
president to invite the governments of
Mexico aud Central and South America
to Join the United States in a conference
to be held in Washington for the purpose
of discussing and recommending some
plan of arbitration for the settlement of
the disagreements and disputes that may
hereafter arise between them, and the
manner of considering questions relative
to the improvement of business inter
course between them. TO pay the reason
able expenses of the conference, $50, 900 is
appropriated. Two reports were submit
ted that of the majority dwelling almost
exclusively upon the necessity of iincreas
ing our trade with the nations of South
America. Belmont submitted the minor
ity report in which he says that for the
United States to recommend to another
government some plan of arbitration for
the settlement of disputes hereafter arts
ing between them, is to start at the wrong
end. 1t is the executive department
and not the legislative that should
originate such proceedings. AS to
the other topics suggested by the
bill, rs measures to be discussed
by the conference viz: The improve
ment of business intercourse with the
United States and providing of markets
for our surplus products The objection
is raised that nothing practical is pro-
posed
He closes by saying; If we can not
successfully compete in our own juris-
dicton with foreign manufacturers, eX-
cepting by aid of prohibitory or impeding
tariff rates, i am at a loss to understand
how our commissioners to the proposed
conference can convince Mexico or Brazil
or the republics of Central and South
America that we can in their jurisdiction,
compete successfully against those same
manufactures, and offer our products at
cheaper prices than European manufac-
turers can offer similar articles. A re-
vision of the tariff should precede any
such attempted conferences.
Report on the Electoral Count Bill,
WASHINGTON, April 15.-The report OF
the committee on electoral count upon
the Hoar bill was presented to the House
to-day Several important amendments
to the bill have been made. In the sec
ton which prohibits the rejection of the
vote of any State from which but one re
turn has been received, except by the
affirmative vote of both Houses" the
committee has struck out the exception.
Committee on Labor Investigation.
The speaker has appointed the following
committee to investigate the causes ant
extent of the labor troubles in the West
Messrs. Curtin of Pennsy lvania, Grain o
Texas, Outhwart of Ohio, Stewart of Yer
mont Parker of New York and Buchanan
of New Jersey.
Telephone Investigation.
The examination of Van Benthuysel
was continued before the telephone inves
tigating committee to-day. Ranney wa
about to continue his inquiry into tn
issues involved in the New Orleans suit
when Eden objected to going on with tn
subject. The Judiciary committee had al
ready decided the question of the govern
ment's right to institute suit, and thi
committee had nothing to do with il
Ranney maintained that the inquiry wa
proper because of the serious charges tina
had been made, but the committee rulet
the evidence out.
Frank Hurd Defeated.
Romeis retains his seat, and Frank Hur
fails to secure the seat by 63 majority
The result was quite unexpected to Hur
and the free-traders, and Hurd when tn
vote was announced, left the hall the pi'
ture of amazed despair. Romeis needle
% Democratic votes to retain this seat b
got more than 40. Mr.. Ely of Massachl
sets made an excellent speech in beha
of Romeis, stating the case in clear an
convincing manner.
Continuing the Telephone Investigate
A New Library Building.
WASHINGTON, April IS. - When IL
telephone investigating committee mi
to-day General Bradley II. johnson
president and attorney for the was
ington Telephone company of Baltimor
made an application to have eXpung(
from the record all that part OF Secretal