The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-02-03

had ever passed upen the question. A
quorum OF this body was constituted by the
members present. Mr.. Bowers of California
seconded Mr.. Reeds remarks. His people
wanted some appropriations for their har-
bors. II he understood the report of the
committee Alright, unless he could get a pull
on the committee on rivers and harbors,
he was not in it," - The free coinage
discussion came up, and Mr.. Rayner of
Maryland said: "In 1888, democratic
president, on the great issue OF tariff reform,
with more than Roman courage, cut the
bridges down when he could easily have
bought victory at the sacrifice OF honor, He
was struck down facing the enemy. Far
better is honorable defeat in an honorable
cause than a corrupt victory by dishonor-
able means. To-day he is stronger than all
the political forces that are arrayed against
him. He will rise above the machinery of
our conventions; and with the abiding con-
fidence that have in the principles OF my
party, with the fervent hope that cherish
that the hour of deiverance is approaching,
let me counsel you and appeal to you to
abandon this hazardous undertaking which
will only environ us with difficulties and
which will imperil the leadership of him
who, after twenty. four years of exile, led
our hosts to triumph, and who will again,
by the intelligent suffrages Of his country
men, be called upon to shape and guide the
destinies of the republic" - The sen.
ate and house committees on foreign affairs
but no action was taken.
WEDNEsDAY..-Mr Morgan Of Alabama
brought up in the senate the rejection by
China of Henry w. Blair. Mr.. Morgan
called for the correspondence, and wanted
to know what the United States proposed
to do about it, AS for himself, he was in
favor of breaking off diplomatic relations
with the Chinese empire. - The alliance
party occupied most of the time in the
house. Mr.. Otis of Kansas thought the
rules conferred dangerous power upon the
speaker. Mr.. Watson of Georgia reviewed
the high aims of his party, and wanted the
house organized on Jeffersonan principles.
He arraigned the democratic aud republic
can parties, and elected universal laughter
by referring to Mr.. Reed, who was seated
beside him, as the despotic ear of the last
congress. Mr.. Simpson, the sockless states
man from Medicine Lodge, Kan, was salts
fed with the present rules. He also re-
ferred to the low price of corn in Kansas.
That state was in the "gripes," but he
thanked God that with the aid OF the all-
ance party 1t was out of 1t now.
THURsDAY.-Mr Hale of Maine took up
the question of reciprocity in the senate,
and caused something of sensation by
stating that that section of the Mckinley
bill alone saved it from being swamped by
the storm which, with or without reason,
burst upon it from the day of its passage.
He discussed the effects of the reciprocity
arrangements with other countries. The
trade with Brazil had increased nearly
50 900 900 in the last seven or eight months.
One Of the latest arrangements had been
with the British government, and embraced
its sugar and coffee producing colonies of
Jamaica, Barbados, the Windward islands,
the Leeward islands, Trinidad and British
Guiana. Negotiations are pending with
other Central and South American repub-
lies. - The discussion on the rules was
resumed in the house. Mr.. Reed made an
n hpr qnppph Ia favpra1 the rulps n ia
fifty-frst congress, and proclaimed his adj
herenCe to the doctrine of majority rule.
Mr.. McMillin of Tennessee was happy that
the gentlemen from Maine no longer oc-
cupied the speakers chair, and that his
party was in hopeless minority. Mr..
Catchings of Mississippi followed up the at
tack on Mr.. Reed, and talked until gen.
eral debate was closed.
FRIDAY.-The democratic members of the
house ways and means committee decided
unanimously in favor of Chairman Spring
er's policy of attacking the Mckinley tariff
in detail. Several of the more aggressive
"reformers wanted a general tariff rev-
sion BILL and threatened to vote with the
republicans of the committee, il need be, to
defeat the chairman. They were, however,
shown the error of their ways. - Con-
gresham Andrew, the chairman OF the
house committee on civil service reform,
introduced "a bill to exclude political in
fiuence in the employment of laborers under
the authority of the United States" The
bill provides for a system of registration of
applicants for positions as laborers in the
navy.yards and on public works, without
regard to political considerations.
MoNDAY.-The senate passed the Mex
lean award bill. 1t directs suit to be
brought in the name OF the United States
against the La Abra Silver Mining Com
pany and persons claiming any part OF
award in order to determine whether
award was obtained by fraud. The basis
of the Abra case is silver mine in Mexico
owned and worked by an American com
pany. During the Macmillan troubles the
Mexicans drove out the Americans and
took possession of the mine. Judgment
of $750,000 was obtained against the Next
cans, which was paid to the state depart
ment. Trouble over the distribution of this
sum gives rise to the bill. - In the
house consideration of the rules was re-
sumed. - Arnold of Missouri offered
resolution asking the recall of Minister
Egan.