The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-04-04
Congressional Proceedings.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2S.--A resolution Of
fered in the senate a few days previous by Mr..
Sherman of Ohio, instructing the Judiciary
committee to inquire whether the simula-
ton of United States coins by other coins of
like weight and fineness is made criminal
by existing law, was laid before the senate.
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada spoke at length on
the question, arguing that the law on the
subject as it now stands, is as ample and
specific as human ingenuity can provide.
Mr.. Sherman said he was inclined to think
that the existing law did punish such
counterfeiting, but there had been some
doubt expressed about it, and he thought it
we'll to let the matter be examined by the
judiciary committee There was no doubt
that more or less counterfeitng was going
on. The resolution was then agreed to.
Mr.. Morrill, then addressed the senate
against the bill to refer the famous McGar-
rahan claim to the court of private land
claims. Mr.. Morrill, characterized the claim
as a stupendous fraud, and protested
against the bill as steel-trapped in favor
OF the claimant. Mr.. Hunton of Virginia
urged that the two houses ought not to
hesitate in giving new trial to this old
man, who lad spent most of his life in adj
vocating a claim which he knew to be
right. - The ONeil-Joy contested cleo
ton case came up in the house. Mr.. Daniels
OF New York, the author of the minority
report, which declared that Joy was en-
act forth in that document. The vote on
the acceptance of the minority report re-
suited yeas 102, nays 149. Pending recon-
sideration, the house adjourned.
THURSDAY. - In the senate, the house
joint resolution appropriating $4,000 for
carrying out the provisions OF the Chinese
exclusion act was reported from the COM
mittee on appropriations and passed. The
McGarrahan bill was again taken up. Mr..
George of Mississippi offered an amend
ment providing that nothing in the bill
shall be construed as acknowledging any
liability on the part of the United States to
pay for the land, substances and materials
taken, or as assuming any obligation in that
behalf. This amendment was agreed to,
and the bill was finally passed without a
division. After an executive session, the
senate adjourned till Monday. - In the
house, tilibustering on the O'Neil-Joy cleo
ton case was resumed. No quorum was
present, and call of the house was or
dered. Scenes of confusion followed, in
which the speaker and Mr.. Reed of Maine
engaged in battle royal. The sergeant-at-
arms was finally directed to seat Mr. Reed.
The scene recalled some of the incidents of
the Fifty-tirst congress
FRIDAY.-There was absolutely no legis-
lation in the house. The time was frittereu
away in parliamentary wrangiiDg, Speaker
Crisp's tyranny eliciting an indignant pro-
test from Mr.. Reed. 1t was found at roll
call that no quorum was present, and the
house adjourned.
SATURDAY. - Both sides of the house
greeted Speaker Crisp with rounds of APP
plause as he took his seat in recognition OF
the fact that he had declined the offer OF a
senatorship from his state. The house bill
to amend the laws relating to barratry
which had been unanimously reported by
the committee on the judiciary, was called
up and passed. 1t changes the penalty for
this crime from death to imprisonment for
| life or for a term OF years. Several eulogies
were then delivered on the late Representa-
tive O'Neill of Pennsylvania, after which
the house adjourned till Monday.
MoNDAY.-The debate on the tariff bill
was opened in the senate by Mr.. Voorhees,
of Indiana, who spoke for two hours to q
large audience. He stoutly defended the
sugar and income taxes, and al valorum as
against specific tax. He said that absolute
| free trade in sugar is an attractive theme
but no such thing ever existed for single
hour since the organization of this govern
ment. Mr.. Voorhees, declared that II he be
lieved the putting OF wool on the free list
would harm the farmers, he would not vote
for it; but 10 was matter of actual demon
stration that free wool is one OF the great
| est blessings that can befall the farmers
| - In the house, no business was trans
acted. Without quorum present, fill bus
tering was resumed on the O'Neil-Joy cas-,
Immediately after the journal was read ant
was continued until adjournment.