The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-02-20
Congressional Proceedings.
wFpsEspAy. FrpRuARy 13.-In the

"WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY BIN the SEN
ate, Mr.. Villas of Wisconsin introduced a
bill with the title, "To Save to the People
of the United States S16, TIA 600" At his
request, IL was read in full and laid on the
table for the 'esent. 1t recites that por-
ton OF the presidents recent communica-
ton to congress as to his reservation Of the
right to exchange within ten days three per-
cent gold bonds for four-per-cent coin
bonds, and thus save an annual interest OF
$3.50, 159 making an aggregate saving in
thirty years of S16,174770, and 1t author
ICES the secretary of the treasury to issue
three-per cent thirty year gold bonds. This
bill went to the calendar, and can be brought
before the senate at any time on motion.
Further discussion of toe post-office appro-
priatiou bill was resumed, - The report
of the American republic for he past year,
transmitted by the president, was laid be-
fore the hou'e The time of the house. as
previously arranged, was devoted to the
consideration Of business concerning the
District of Columbia.
THURsDAY.-The senate committee on the
Fords Theater disaster reported to that
body bill granting $4,000 to the heirs Of
each of the twenty-three clerks killed. The
debate on the general appropriation bill
was resumed. Several amendments were
killed. - In the house, the gold bond
resolution was refused third reading by a
vote Of 1877 to 100.
FRIDAY.-In the senate, a favorable re-
port was made on the house hill repeating
the discriminating duty on all sugars i'm
ported from countries that pay an export
sugar bounty. Mr.. Platt attacked the bill
in vigorous speech. He characterized
such legislation as vicious and utterl, indie.
fensibe. In concluding his remarks, he
said: within the last year or two foreign
nation h as undertaken to retiliate on the
United States, for some action of its con-
gress, by barring out its meats. L do not
propose to eng ge in the repeal OF any legis-
lation or in the amendment Of any act now
existing at the dictation of foreign govern.
ment. III Germany wants to retaliate, it's d
gam that two can play at. And the way
to convince her that her proposed retalia.
ton is properly understood in this country
Is to make use OF the power which We now
have, retaliating on Germany. l have very
little respect for the legislation which at
tempts to conciliate Germany by making
our laws satisfactory to Germany" -
The house devoted the day to discussion
of the paragraph of the naval and military
approp ration bill which provides for the
increase of the navy by the construction Of
three battleships and nine torpedo boats.
SATURDAY.-Iu the senate. the resolution
offered by Mr. Hill of New York, declaring
it to be the sense of congress that the policy
OF the government requires that its forts
be steadily directed to the establishment of
a safe system Of bimetalsm, wherein gold
and silver may be maintained at a parity,
was laid before the senate. This brought
on lively discussion. Mr.. Hill said that
the policy Of the United States was not to
maintain the single silver standard, nor the
single gold standard, but the double stand
ard, and that, If there should be any dis
parity between the two metals, the obliga-
tions OF the government would be paid in
the best coin In use He believed that his
resolution ought TO receive the approval OF
the friends OF gold and of the friends OF
| silver, and 1t certainly ought to receive the
approval Of the friends of bimetalism. The
step that ought to be taken was the cancel
lation of the greenbacks, but that was a
step impossible at this session, " by reason
of differences Ia the senate, differences in
| the other house and differences of both
houses with the president" Mr.. Wolcott OF
Colorado opposed, and Mr.. Lod ye Of Massa-
chusets ia yored, the resolution in strong
| speeches. No final action was taken. g.
In the house, several private pension bills
were passed, and the naval appropriation
| bill was discussed for three hours.
NoNDAy.-In the senate, Mr. Stewart oil
Nevada spoke in favor OF his resolution that
declares the United States has no authority
of law to buy gold coin in preference to sill.
yer coin. Mr.. Gray Of Delaware addressed
the secretary Of the treasury from the
"wanton attack made upon them last
Saturday because they had negotiated a
purchase of gold through the issue OF United
| States bonds. The president, Mr.. Gray said
had devolved upon him by an expression OF
| legislative will, more than once repeated
the duty of maintaining the parity between
gold and silver. That duty was instant and
constant. 1t could not be avoided or evaded
without dereliction on the part of the
president which would have subjected him
to the criticism and an animsdversion, IL
not something worse, Of the congress and OF
the people. On motion of Mr.. Lodge OF
Massachusetts, $4,000 was appropriated
for the determination Of the gypsy moth in
that state. - The house consumed all
day in further discussion OF the naval ap-
preparation bill.