The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-02-14
Congressional Proceedings.

"WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY THE senate,
by vote of thirty-eight to twenty-nine,
voted to wipe out the federal election laws.
1t was strict party vote, except that Mr..
Stewart, republican, of Nevada, and Messrs.
Allen, Kyle and PETER, populists, voted
with the democrats in the affirmative. Be-
fore the vote was taken, Mr.. Gray of Della
ware and Mr.. Bate of Tennessee spoke in
favor of repeating the laws. They argued
that whether these federal election laws
were or were not constitutional, they were
certainly, in the year of grace 1894, unwise
and unnecessary. They had inspired more
fraud at elections than they had suppressed
They should be all repealed, and the states
should be left to regulate all elections
within their border. Mr.. Allison of Iowa
argued strongly against the bill, on the
ground that public opinion did not demand
the repeal of these laws. Mr.. Chandler of
New Hampshire offered three amendments,
all of which were rejected. - By vote
of III to 70, the house adopted the Hawaiian
resolutions OF the foreign affairs committee
When the vote was declared Mr.. BOutelle
of Maine called up his privileged resolution
which he introduced December %, 1893, and
which declared that it is sense of the house
that any intervention by the executive Of
the United States, its civil or military repre-
sentatives, without authority of congress, in
the internal affairs of friendly recognized
government to disturb or overthrow it, and
to aid or,abet the substitution or restoration
of monarchy therefor, is contrary to the
policy and traditions of the republic and the
letter and spirit of the constitution, and can
not be too promptly or emphatically repro
bated. The preamble recites that the presi-
dent has invaded the rights of congress in
instructing Minister Willis to subvert the
republican form OF government of Hawaii.
The resolution was defeated-yeas, 81 ;
nays, 161 The remainder OF the day was
wasted in debating the question whether
the house should go into committee OF the
whole on the bill introduced by Mr.. Bland
OF Missouri, directing the secretary of the
treasury to issue silver certificates equal to
the seigniorage on the silver bullion pur-
chased under the provisions of the act Of
July H. 1890.
THURsDAY.-Mr. Sherman OF Ohio pre-.
sented memorial OF the wool growers of
bis state against putting wool on the free
list' memorial was also presented from
the San Francisco chamber of commerce.
praying for the annexation of Hawaii the
laying of cable from the United States to
Hawaii and for the completion of the Mic
araguan canal under governmental control.
Mr.. Stewards resolution declaring it to be
the sense OF the senate that the secretary OF
the treasury has no authority to issue bonds
except under the resumption act, and that
the money derived from the sale of bonds
issued under that act cannot be applied to
any other purpose than as specified in the
resumption act, was laid before the senate.
IL was favored by Mr.. Sherman OF Ohio and
opposed by Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont Mr..
Morrill, said he understood that gold was
being drawn out of the treasury by the pre-
sentation OF United States notes. Yet there
was positive statute that such notes cannot
be cancelled, but must be reissued
The battle over the silver question went on
in the house with no quorum present, and
the time was taken in sharp passages at
arms between Mr.: Reed of Maine and Mr..
Bland Of Missouri on the question of call
OF the house and the arrest of absent mem
bers. No real business was transacted.
FRIDAY.-In the house, the silver seignior-
age bill was taken up in committee Of the
whole. Mr.. Bland was recognized, and
concluded his remarks in support of the
measure He was unwilling, he said, to
strike out the last section of the bill, which
provides for the coinage of the bullion in
the treasury, purchased under the Sherman
law. The principal object of his bill, he
said, was not TO redeem the notes issued
under the Sherman law, but to coin the sill
yer now remaining in the treasury. The
proposed bill did not go as far as the Sher-
man law, nor give the secretary,of the treas
ury such wide discretion.
SATURDAY.-Mr. Cultivate of Ohio an
nounced the sudden death of Representa-
tive Houk from that state, and, after adopt
ing the customary resolutions and the ap.
pointment OF a committee to accompany the
remains of the deceased member to the
place of BURIAL the house adjourned.
MONDAY. - Mr.. Gray of Delaware adj
dressed the senate on the resolution declar-
ing it inexpedient to annex Hawaii. For
three hours he talked on the inconsistency
of such an act on the part of the United
States, and in charging Mr.. Stevens with
completely in attempting to overthrow the
existing government there. Resolutions of
regret at the death of Representative Houk
of Ohio were adopted, and, as a further
mark OF respect, the senate adjourned.
- The time of the house was taken up
in eulogies upon the late Senator Stanford.
AT the conclusion of the addresses, the
presidents message transmitting additional
correspondence in the Hawaiian matter was
laid before the house.
THE Cooley Publishing Company, pub
fishers of Godey's Magazine, has assigned to
Benjamin s. Harmon of New York. The
company was incorporated two years ago,
under the laws of New Jersey, with cap
ital OF 100000. Two years ago the mag
aZine was transferred from philadalnh In