The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-07-25
Congressional Proceedings.

WEDNESDAY, July 1S.-The senate passed
a bill authorizing John E. Johnson and
others, keeper and crew of the life saving
station at Hog Island, Va, to accept medals
of honor and diplomas from the king of
Spain for saving the crew of the Spanish
ship San Albano" on February 2, 1892
also bill authorizing Rear Admiral John
G.. Walker and Surgeon General j. Rufus
| Tryon, u s. N, to accept decorations from
| the government of Venezuela; also author
zing Commander G. II. Davis, U. S. N, to
accept decoration from the king of Spain
in recognition of his services to the Infanta
| Eulalie during her visit to the Worlds
| Fair. The bill authorizing the president to
appoint delegates to the International Geo
detic Association was also passed. 80 In
| the house, the senate bill to regulate en-
| listments in the army was passed, and the
most of the day was devoted to business re-
ported from the committee on military af-
| fairs A house bill to amend the existing
law so as to permit the board of managers
| OF the volunteer soldiers homes to employ
as surgeons and assistant surgeons others
than those disabled in the military service
of the United States encountered the oppo-
sition of Messrs Picker of South Dakota
and Marsh of Illinois. An attempt had
been made earlier in the session to have an
amendment to accomplish this change
placed on the sundry civil appropriation
bill, but without success The bill was fa-
| vored by Mr. Black of Illinois, Mr.. Curtis of
New York and Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio on
the ground that the time had come when to
secure the most efficient medical service at
the soldiers homes it was necessary to go
outside of surgeons disabled during the
civil war. The bill had been recommended
by the board of managers of the homes.
THURsDAY.-The senate considered the
Indian appropriation bill for four hours and
finally passed it. 60 In the house. the
Presidents letter to Mr.. Wilson was taken
as text by Mr.. Reed of Maine, and a severe
r II. r.tl
Reed remarked that nobody on the repub-
lican side would find fault with the severe
language which the democratic president
had seen fit to use about a democratic SEN
ate, Undoubtedly his personal intercourse
with the members of that body and his of
fetal relations with them had enabled him
to put all the strength into the reproof
which that letter contained. But the trans
action as it stood to-day was between them
and him. If the president had made a
righteous charge, the senators characters
were blackened; and if he had made false
charge, it was for them to see that Justice
was done to the truth of history. The mo-
ton of Mr.. Wilson to disagree to the senate
amendments to the tariff bill was agreed to.
Routine business was then taken up.
FRIDAY-A message was received in the
senate from the house asking for further
conferences on the tariff bill. Mr. Hill of
New York said the senate must recede
and provide for free raw materials and
vote no tax on sugar. Mr.. Vest of Missouri
made a sarcastic speech. He said it was a
matter for congratulation that the senator
from New York and the president were at
last able to stand together on any platform
at all. A political millennium seemed to
have come, at least in a modified degree.
The lion and the lamb of New York had
lain down together and the committee on
ways and means now lead them. Which
was the lion and which was the lamb, he
left for the future to ascertain. An at
tempt was made to vote further confer
ence, but was unsuccessful, and the senate
adjourned till Monday. - The house
voted not to concur in the senate amend
ments to the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill, and ordered a
conference. Seven bills reported from the
judiciary committee were passed.
SATURDAY.-The senate was not in ses-
sion. - The house passed the Tucker
joint resolution providing that United
vote of the people. The bill directing the
unemployment, as fast as vacancies occur,
of those railway postal clerks who were
dismissed between March 10 and May /,
1899, was then taken up under the special
order adopted on Friday. Mr.. Reed of
Maine characterized the bill as one for the
purpose of looting the service, and conse-
quently one that would meet with the APP
prevail and applause of the democratic
party. Mr.. Henderson of Iowa opposed
| u
stroy piecemeal the civil service law; and,
second, as an attempt to encroach upon the
appointing power of the president. Speak
ing of the removals in the railway postal
service at the beginning of the Harrison adj
ministration Mr.. Henderson said thew
were for the benefit of the service. When
the question of making them came up, the
administration, from the records, divided
the clerks into three classes-best, good and
poor. None of the first class were dismissed,
Al. Ill l.. IL.
two classes. Pending vote on this meas
ure, the house adjourned.
MoNDAY.-An exciting scene was wit
messed in the senate when some of the
leading democratic senators declared war
against President Cleveland. Senator Cor
mans speech was surprise to those who
have assumed that he is lacking in courage
In a word, he impugned the honesty OF
President Cleveland. He said that Cleve.
land knew what the conservatives in the
senate were doing and that he approved
their course as necessary TO secure the pas
sage of some tariff bill. Senator Vest said
that Senator Jones told him that the presi.
dent had seen all of the compromise amend
ments, and approved them as necessary to
pass a bill. The president, according to
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas, said emphatically
using this language: 81 will do anything
that will get this bill through congress- y
Senator Vest was very emphatic in his dec
laraton that the president knew all about
the compromise, and approved of it as q
necessary expedient. Senator Harris OF
Tennessee confirmed what Senators Cor
man and Jones had said. He asserted that
the president had deceived his party col
leagues in the senate and broken faith with
them, playing a double part. In second
speech, Senator German delivered philip
pic against Cleveland which has probably
never been equaled in the senate. He said
the president had joined the commune
His denunciation of the president was ter
rife, was delivered in a most impas
stoned manner and created profound i'm
preston. - The republicans in the
house, under the lead of Mr.. Reed of Maine
flibustered against the passage of resolu
ton directing the arrest of members absen
without leave. No business was transacted
as many of the representatives were in the
senate listening to the remarkable debate
there.
H.