The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-02-28
The Week in Congress.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21.-Soon after
the senate met, lively breeze was stirred
by Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire asking
Mr.. Voorhees, of Indiana whether Mr.. Mills
was still member of the subcommittee on
the tariff. Mr.. Voorhees, replied that the
senator from Texas was doing magnificent
work, and was one of the mainstays of the
committee. The discussion, which was be-
gun by Mr.. Voorhees, personal explanation,
continued for over an hour, and took the
character of sharp personal animosity be-
tween Senators Chandler and Vest Mr..
White of California then addressed the SEN
ate in support OF the resolution of the COM
mittee on foreign relations against the pro.
posed annexation Of Hawaii. In response
to an inquiry from Mr.. Teller, Mr.. White
said he did not regard it to be the duty of
the president at this time to restore the
queen to her throne. He declared himself
absolutely opposed to annexing the Ha-
waiian islands, because the provisional gov
eminent had not the power to assure its
stability and did not represent the people Of
Hawaii. He said Mr.. Cleveland had done
only what was within his power, what
honor dictated to him to do. The condi-
tons were undoubtedly such that it was in
our interest and proper in every respect to
recognize the present government; to de-
clare that no foreign power shall intervene;
and to record the solemn assertion that we
do not wish any treaty of annexation at this
time Republicans would find a united
democracy in this matter. They need not
flatter themselves that there was any work
of disintegration going on in the democratic
party. The democrats were prepared to
stand by the democratic administration.
They might criticise little, but little
family row did not mean divorce db UinculO.
- Less than eighty representatives
were In their seats when the session of The
house opened. Silver Seigniorage Bland
was at his wits end and made several vain
attempts, with the assistance of the sergeant
alarms, to secure quorum. Several alb
sent members were arrested and brought in.
Mr.. Bland asked unanimous consent that
members under arrest be excused without
being brought before the bar of the house.
Mr.. Reed of Maine objected. He said:
" Our members were paraded here in front,
now we want to see yours" After further
Intellectual attempts to obtain quorum for
business, Mr.. Bland moved that the house
adjourn. Mr.. Talbot of Maryland offered
an amendment that the house adjourn over
Thursday, Washngton's birthday. This
evoked a dramatic declaration from Mr..
Bland that until the democratic party could
provide quorum to do business it should
not fritter away it's time in observing holi-
days. Mr.. BANDS motion prevailed
THURSDAY The president of the senate
announced that, under an order heretofore
made, the farewell address of Washington
would be read. Senator Martin of Kansas
was appointed TO read the address, which he
did to a small but attentive audience. A res
olution was introduced by Mr.. Martin of
Kansas instructing the judiciary committee
to formulate and report proposed amend
ment to the constitution for the election OF
president and vice president of the United
States by direct vote of all the people and
for a single term of six years--the president
to be- hereinafter ineligible to an election
for second term; also providing for the
election of United States senators by di-
rect vote of the people of the several states.
1t went over without action, and the senate
adjourned until Monday. - The holiday
session OF the house was characterized by
the utter absence of any business transacted.
| Motions to adjourn followed each other as
often as the clerk could call the roll. A
| heated controversy arose between Mr..
| Sickes, the democratic member from New
York, and Mr.. Dockery, the speaker pro
tempore, during which great confusion pre-
vailed. The statement of the chair, as he
| pounded the desk in vain attempt to pre-
serve order, that " this is the house of rep
resentatives and not a bear garden" must
have been gratifying explanation to any
stray spectators in the gallery. The
sergeant-at-a arms was called to task for exc
cutting nameless warrant for the arrest OF
absent members, and, after burying Mr.
Bland in his attempt to gain the floor fol
a speech, the house adjourned.
FRmAY.-The disorderly scenes of Thurs
day were repeated, and the quarrel over tn,
arrest of members continued, Mr.. Richard
son of Tennessee was in the chair, al
Speaker Crisp was confined to his house b,
illness. On motion to discharge from ar
rest Mr.. Adams, a republican member frou
PENNSYLVANIA, Mr.. Bland spoke very bit
terly. He said that Thursdays proceeding
constituted anarchy and revolution. lii
asked how members who openly declared
! that they would not obey the orders and rule