The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-02-20

Many lives have been lost by shipwreck.
A LARGE meeting was held in Hyde Park,
London, Sunday, February TO- to denounce
the governments coercion measures in Ire
land and express sympathy with Mr.. Will
lam O'Brien.
The latest advices from Samoa show no
material change in tie situation. Mataafa
and the Tamasese are in their strongholds
and the American, English and German
war-ships are stationary.
The new constitution of Japan was pro-
mugated from the throne by the mikado
on Monday of last week. The constitution
establishes house of peers, the members
of which are to be partly hereditary, partly
elective and partly nominated by the
mikadO, and a house Of commons of three
hundred members. The right of suffrage Is
given to all men Of the age of twenty-five
years and over who pay taxes to the amount
of 1915 yearly. Liberty Of religion, freedom
OF speech and the right of public meeting
are established.
THE French cabinet resigned last Thurs
day. Premier Floquet submitted to the
chamber of deputies proposal for the re-
vision of the constitution, and demanded its
immediate consideration. A motion was at
once made to postpone the debate on the
subject, and was carried by vote of 307 to
21S. The premier then announced that the
ministry would resign All the members
of the cabinet have sent their designations
Meline, president of the chamber of deputies,
and intrusted to him the task of forming a
new ministry. The Floquet ministry was
organized in April, 1888, representing
mainly the radical party. When General
Boulangers revision agitation became dan
gerous, in the autumn, M. Floquet brought
forward his plan, which was of a radical ma
ture and designed to take the wind out of
Boulanger's sails. The president was to be
deprived of the right of dissolving the
chamber of deputies; the senate was to
have only a suspensive veto for two years
in general legislation and an empty privi-
lege of remonstrance in financial affairs;
collective responsibility of ministers was to
cease, and each one was to be personally re-
sponsible to the chamber; all measures were
to be submitted to council of state; minis
ters were to be secure in Office for a fixed
time, and the lower house was to be renewed
by thirds every two years Radical as was
this measure il was considered by the re-
vision committee too moderate, as they adj
vocated the abolition of the senate and the
presidency.
MoNDAY.-In the senate bill was passed
appropriating S250,000 for the protection of
American interests in Panama. - BY a
vote of one hundred ihirty-one TO eighty
nine the house decided to consider the con-
tested election case of Smals against Elliott
and proceeded to discuss the matter. No
vote was taken.
TUEsDAY.-The report of the committee
on the Texas election outrages was dis
cussed in the senate, but no action was
| taken. The naval appropriation bill was
passed. - The discussion of the Smals-
Elliott election case was continued in the
house, Mr.. Smalls himself advocating his
claims.
WEDNEsDAY.-In the senate Mr.. Evarts
debated the Texas election outrages. -
The house, after hot discussion, decided
the Smalls-Ellott election case against
Smalls, republican, by vote of one hun
bred forty-three to one hundred twenty-siX.
THURsDAY.-Mr. Hoar introduced reso-
| luton in the senate calling for the Byrne
report on the alleged custom frauds in New
York city. - In the house it was de-
cided, by vote of one hundred thirty-five
to one hundred SIX to eliminate New Mexico
from the territorial bill.
| FRIDAY.--In the senate Mr.. Coke of Texas
| continued his speech on the election out
RACES in reply to Mr.. Evarts. The bill
retired list was passed: - In the
house Mr.. Mills reported adversely the
! senate substitute tariff bill. The house
conferees on the territorial bill were in
structed to yield to the senate. The bill
| appropriating S250000 for the protection of
| American interests in Panama was passed.
| SATURDAY.--In the senate Coke of Texas
| continued his discourse. The conference
report on the direct tax bill was submitted.
| - In the house tariff reduction bills
were introduced by Messrs Mcmillan and
Breckenridge The Slocum pension bill
! was discussed.
NOTES.
THE president has approved the bill pro-
! Viding for an agricultural department and
nominated Norman j. Colman for secre-
tary. The senate confirmed the nomination.
GOVERNOR SAWYER of New Hampshire
! has appointed General Gilman MarstOn of
| Exeter to succeed Senator Chandler from
! March till the state legislature shall chose
! a successor.
A BILL introduced by Senator Spooner
| provides that system of farmers Institutes
shall be maintained as part of the agri-
cultural department. superintendent Of
! institutes is to be appointed, at an annual
! salary of $1,000
! GENERAL RosECRANs speech, as chair
man of the committee on military affairs,
| against the bill to place General Grant on
! the retired list, is now called up against
him, when a bill for a similar benefit to
himself is brought forward The speech
was bitter and vindictive and especially I'M
| generous being made at a time when Grant
was known to be afflicted with a mortal
disease. Personal and political animosity
! of that sort is not a very good recommended
! ton to national bounty.
department as to the probable effect on the
revenues of the tariff bill and the senate
amendments have been made public. They
show that the house bill would reduce the
collections from customs $50, $50, 345, and
| from internal revenue SIT $40 23i, or a total
reduction of revenue of S67, 960,579. The
| bill, as amended by the senate, would re-
! duce the customs collections S13,976, 1887, and
| the internal revenue receipts S33, 905, 7S0, or
s47 ,SS2 ,667 in the aggregate. The average
ad valorem rate, under existing law, is 1861
under the house bill it would be AZ 3S and
under the senate bill as.
THE electoral vote was counted last
week Wednesday before both houses in Joint
committee. The counting of the vote re-
CURED an hour and twenty-five minutes.
1t was the first time that the electoral vote
was counted under the new law of 1885
| -Four years ago Senator Edmunds occupied
the chair, and by his guarded and curious
wording of the final declaration of the
! counts gave rise to good deal of unfavor-
able comment and dissatisfaction. Wednes-
day Senator ingalls, presided, following
strictly the forms and intent of the new law.
-Four years ago the family and friends of
| President Arthur occupied prominent seats
in the executive gallery, but this year the
presidential bench was unpeasantly CON
spicuous by its vacant cushions-an impo-