The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-03-28
Congressional Proceedings

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 81. - Twenty-Five
bills of minor Importance passed the senate,
among them the bill to regulate the carriage
of passengers at sea, making 1t unlawful
after the arrival OF vessel within any col
lection district of the United States to allow
any person to come on board except officials
until the vessel has been completely moored,
and the bill to amend the acts relating to
the regulation Of steam vessels. The latter
names the collection districts in which
there shall be one inspector of bulls and
one inspector of boilers, and fixes the
salaries in proportion to the number of
steamers inspected. 60 The house was
not in session on Wednesday.
THuRsDAY.-Mr. Sherman Of Ohio offered
a resolution in the senate instructing the
judiciary committee to examine and report
whether the stimulation of current coins OF
the United States by coins of the same
weight of metal and fineness is made crimi-
nal by the statutes OF the United States
and other countries, and If not, to report a
bill to prevent and punish such stimulation.
Mr.. Sherman said it was a well-known fact
that in France, Great Britain and Germany,
the same thing was being done with their
coins. Their laws punished 1t as counter
| feiting and 1t was Counterfeiting and should
be so punished. 1t was his opinion that the
existing statutes sufficiently covered the
| case, but he said there were points which
| had not been contemplated when the laws
were passed in 1866, when the present dis
| parity between the value of silver and that
of coin was not contemplated. Mr.. Stewart
| of Nevada said that when silver coinage
was suspended in India it was predicted
that there would be very large amount of
silver coins issued on private account, and
| undoubtedly the thing would go on until 1t
| effectively destroyed silver. He thought
| that an international law to suppress the
evil would be necessary. But the matter
was so important that he thought the reso-
| luton should go over until there was more
time to consider it. The resolution went
over without action, as did the bill appro-
priating 100000 for the determination of
the Russian thistle. - In the house the
| O'Neil-Joy contested election case from
| Missouri was taken up, and the entire day
was frittered away in discussion whether,
unless a member is excused or necessarily
prevented he is obliged to vote on the ques-
| ton before the house. Mr.. Livingstone of
Georgia and Mr.. Reed of Maine had a lively
| tilt over the matter. The speaker pro
tempore Mr.. Bailey of Texas, finally ruled
that no member can be compelled to vote
on any measure, and as it was evident that
| no further progress could be made in the
business before the house, an adjournment
| was made.
| n FRIDAY.-The senate was not in session.
- In the house, several days ago, Mr..
Chickering Of New York introduced a bill
providing that whenever the president
Shall be satisfied that the Canadians are
other canals in that country against the
United States, he shall suspend by procla-
| nation the transportation across the United
States In bond and without the payment of
duty of all merchandise imported or ex-
ported from any foreign country to Canada.
The bill was referred to the foreign affairs
committee, and was taken up Friday morn
ing. Mr.. Chickering spoke in support OF 1t.
He referred to the fact that the representa-
tives from New England, who have always
been friendly to the Canadian Pacific rail-
road, had announced their sympathy with
the bill and would vote for it. He ex-
planned that the Canadian government has
for a long time Disseminated against the
United States in the use OF the Welland ca
nal, where no tolls are charged to vessels
half cent a bushel is made on all ship
ments of grain carried in vessels belonging
to the United States.
o SATURDAY Less than fifty members
were on the floor of the house, and but
little interest was taken in the proceedings.
After passing few minor bills, the house
went into committee OF the whole on the
post-office appropriation bill. Mr.. Hender-
son OF North Carolina chairman OF the post
Office and postroads committee, in charge OF
the bill, made short explanation OF the APP
preparations carried by it, in the course of
which he attributed the estimated deficiency
in the postal receipts to the general business
depression. Mr.. Cannon criticised some OF
the deductions made by the bill. The
amount appropriated for railroad transporta.
ton, 100000, $1,4O0,0OO less than the
estimates, he predicted would be made
quate. Without taking any action on the
bill the house adjourned
MoNDAY.-The death Of Senator Colquitt
was announced in the senate and house
and, after appointing committees to attend
the funeral and accompany the remains
to Macon, Ca, both bodies adjourned.