The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-02-18
Congress-.

Congress.
TUEsDAY.-Tbe naval appropriation bill
was taken up in the senate, and Mr.. Hale
made statement of its provisions. He said
the appropriation for the remaining ex-
penses of the department were between
100000 and 100000 less than they were a
year ago. Action on several amendments
was taken, but no vote on the bill itself was
reached Conferences were ordered on the
pension appropriation bill and on the army
appropriation bill. The presidents veto
message on the bill for public building at
Dallas, Texas, with the action of the house
passing it over the veto, was presented and
referred to the committee on public build
ings and grounds. A resolution was
adopted regarding the death of representa-
tive Walker was adopted, and Messrs Cock
rell, Berry Carlisle and Vest pronounced
euloges, after which the senate adjourned
as mark of respect. - In the house
the bill increasing the pension of the widow
of General Custer to 500 a month was
passed. The army and pension appropri-
alton bills were sent to conference. The
committee on public buildings and grounds
reported back the bill providing for an ex-
tension of the public building at Dallas,
Texas, at a cost of 100000. The bill was
vetoed by the president at the last session.
The vote was IA to 50, more than two
thirds, and the bill was passed. The house
went into committee of the whole on the
legislative appropriation bill. In the gem
eral debate Mr.. Lodge approved the course
of the secretary of the navy in reprmand-
ing Commander Reiter for his action in the
Barrundia affair. Mr.. Fithian of Illinois
characterized Charles Hill, secretary of the
shipping league, as liar in making the
statement that he (Fithian) was a British
emissary.
WEDNEsDAY.-In the senate resolution
was agreed to calling on the secretary of
the treasury for list of those Offering sill
for sale to the department under the act
of July II, 1890, a list of those from whom
bullion had been purchased, and the
amounts and prices, the basis for the esti-
mate of the market price, and the amounts
and prices of bullion purchased outside of
the United States The naval appropriation
bill was then taken up, and, after number
of amendments had been disposed of, it
was passed. 60 The house went into
committee of the whole on the legislative
appropriation bill, and lively debate took
place on the subject of the shipping bill
Mr.. Morrill, of Kansas offered resolution
which was adopted calling on the secretary
of the interior for information as to what
rules of evidence are recognized by the pen
sion bureau governing examiners in the
adjudication of pension claims
THURsDAY.-The copyright bill was laid
aside, owing to the absence of Mr. Sherman
and the District of Columbia appropriation
bill was taken up, and after some discussion
a pension of 500 per month to General n. T.
Banks was passed. Mr. Cockrell objected to
the bill giving pension to Mary Ann
Doughty, saying there never was such an
infamous fraud. The woman was drunken
debauchee. Mr.. Blair, who supported the
BILL scowled at Mr. Cockrel and withdrew
his motion to consider the bill - The
house went into committee of the whole on
the legislative appropriation bill. Mr.. Gros-
venor of Ohio sent to the clerks desk the
letter of Grover Cleveland in opposition to
free silver coinage, in order, as he said that
in the coming campaign it might be avail
able, under the frank of members of the
next congress- in disseminating information
throughout the country. Republican laugh
ter, Mr.. Perkins of Kansas offered an
amendment increasing the number of clerks
Ia the Indian Office. After some debate
his amendment was defeated. The reading
of the bill having been concluded the com
mittee recurred to the consideration of the
clause making appropriation for the civil
service commission, and Mr.. Grosvenor of
Ohio raised point of order against it Except
so far as it refers to the three commissions
ers, the chief examiner and the secretary
on the ground that it violated the law es-
tabshing the commission. The point of
order was sustained by the chair, and his
decision was, after long debate, sustained
by the house. Mr.. Hooker of Mississippi
referred to the letter of Grover Cleveland
on free silver coinage, saying that the judg-
ment of the American people as expressed
at the last election was for free coinage
Mr.. Cannon-I would like to ask the gentle
man whether he is in favor of Mr.. Cleve-
land for next president. Mr. Hooker-I
will say that do not think that man on
the continent of America will ever be a
candidate of the democratic party for presi-
dent of the United States who is opposed
to the free coinage of silver. [Applause,l
FRmAY.-The senate resumed the consid-
Grafton of the copyright bill, the pending
question being upon Mr.. Sherman's amend
ment to strike out the word Z" prohibited "
and to insert the words "subject to the du-
ties provided by law so that foreign edi-
tions of books, etc, which are copyrighted
in the United States may be admitted to this
country on payment of the regular tarlh
duties. A debate OF some length took place
In the course of which Mr.. Morrill, eX-
pressed the opinion that the adoption OF
Mr.. Sherman's amendment would transfer
the business of book printing entirely to
Germany, where printers were not paid
half as much as they were paid in the
United States He feared that there were
lax ideas spreading in the community as TO
the rights of property; and of all the prop
erty that was subject of acquisition. liter
airy, intellectual and artistic property was
the most honestly acquired. No man had
right to get up cry OF cheap books against
the pending bill and report. The discus
sion having closed, the vote was taken on
Mr.. Sherman's amendment, which was
agreed to-yeas twenty-five, NAYS twenty
four Blair, Dawes, Edmunds, Hoar and
Morrill, voting nay. The copyright bill was
laid aside without further action. The
presidents message announcing the death
OF Admiral Porter having been laid before
the senate, Messrs. Chandler, Plumb and
Hale delivered eulogies, after which the
senate adjourned. * The house went
into committee OF the whole on the legisla-