The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-02-22
At the Nations Capital.

Az tue NAJlOnS capital.
"WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15.-The senate
bill granting pension OF fifty dollars "a
month to the widow of General Abner
Doubleday has passed the house aud has
received the signature OF the president
The president has sent a message to the
senate recommending the annexation OF the
Hawaiian islands to the United States. 1t
was accompanied by treaty concluded he
tween the secretary OF state and the Ha-
waiian commissioners, and a mass OF CORE
spOndence relating to the question at issue
The message urges that only two courses
are open-one the establishment of q pro-
tectOrate by the United States, the other
annexation. The latter was recommended
as highly promotive of the best interests of
the Hawaiian people, and the only one that
will adequately secure the interests of the
United States. Stripped Of verbosty, the
treaty stipulates that the government OF
the Hawaiian islands cedes forever and
without reserve to the United States all
rights OF sovereignty of every kind, also the
absolute fee and ownership of all public,
government or crown lands, public build
ings, ports, hsrbors, Notifications, military
or naval equipments. The president by
and with the advice and consent of the sem
ate is to appoint commissioner to reside in
laid islands, who shall have power TO veto
any act OF the existing government, which
shall be in force until congress shall other
wise provide. Within one year congress
shall enact the necessary legislation to ex-
tend TO the islands the laws of the United
States respecting duties upon imports, the
internal revenue, commerce and navigation.
The further immigration Of Chinese labor
ers to the islands is prohibited the public
debt OF the islands, including the amount
due to depositors in the postal savings bank,
IL assumed by the government of the United
States, which also agrees to pay Queen Lii
liaokalini S2000d annually during life, and
20. Iluss II nAn
sum, provided both submit to the authority
of the government of the United States and
the local government of the islands.
THURsDAY.-The house resumed in com
mittee OF the whole the pension appro-
priation bill. An animated debate on
the question led to disgraceful scene. Mr.
Turpin of Alabama made the statement that
there was on the pension rolls of Indiana an
eX-soldier who was drawing pension of
nineteen dollars per month for total deaf.
ness and who was also receiving 81 800
while employed at telephone. Mr.. Waugh
OF Indiana denied the statement and a set-to
between these men was for time itnmi-
nent, but was finally prevented by Mr..
Hooper of Indiana, who stepped between
them. The gavel of Speaker Crisp was
powerless to bring order out of the in
tense excitement OF the scene. An adjourn
ment for the day followed the pandemo-
mum. The senate took up the sundry civil
reduction of the appropriation for the inn
provement of the harbor at Philadelphia
from 100000 to $500 900 for text, Mr.
Vest INDUCED in spicy TRADE against Mr.
Chandler OF New Hampshire for favoring
this amendment and advocating the annex
alton OF the Hawaiian islands, which would
necesstate an appropriation of $50 900 a
year for the deposed queen and bounty on
the sugar manufactured there. The pro-
posed amendment was finally rejected, and
the senate adjourned
FRDAy.-Mr sherman, in the senate,
offered his three-per-cent. bond amendment
to the sundry civil appropriation bill. Mr.
Mllls OF Texas moved to strike out the
words " five years from date" and leave
the bonds redeemabe at the option of the
government. Mr.. PETER approved both
amendments anc regarded the Sherman
amendment as a preparatory measure to aC-
commodate Wall street An unsuccessful
attempt was made TO get an agreement as to
the hour when vote would he taken, In
the house, the pension appropriation bill
was passed after having been amended so
that alter July /, 1898, there shall not be maid
to any person under the act of 1890 any pen
sion for or during the time when the income
OF such person shall amount to 81 800 year.
Mr.. Grout replied to Mr.. Turpin of Alabama
regarding the man employed in the pension
bureau at salary OF 81, 500 year, who was
drawing pension of nineteen dollars per
month and stationed at telephone. Mr..
Grout said, in the FIRST place the man was a
democrat, and in the second place Judge
Gresham was among the men who recon-
mended him; that it was not his business
| to attend the telephone. but as he drew his
| pension for total deafness OF the right ear
he occasionally used his left at the tele-
| phone. Laughter.
MoNDAY.-A good share of the time in the
house was consumed in futile flibustering
over the appropriation bills, but the rules
were finally suspended and the New York
and New Jersey bridge bill was passed.
The naval and agricultural appropriation
bills also went through under suspension
| OF the rules. In the senate Mr.. Morrill, Of
fered an amendment to the sundry civil APP
preparation bill, providing eight thousand
| dollars for collecting, transporting and TAX
ing care at the Columbian Exposition of the
display of agricultural colleges illustrative
OF the land grant policy of the United States
also an amendment approprating twenty.
| five thousand dollars for completing the
federal building at St. Albans, both OF
which were agreed to- The amendment tC
reduce the appropriation for Typographical
surveys from S20O,OO0 to 100000 was re
| jected