The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-02-06
Congressional Proceedings.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30.-The senate
was plunged into the midst Of financial
debate Immediately after the reading of the
journal by the presentation of kilograms
from Chicago bankers and from the mer-
chants exchange of st, Louis, asking the
senators from Illinois and Missouri to aid
the pass age of the house bill to carry out
the views contained in the presidents mes
sage. The one from St. Louis was pre-
sented by Mr.. Vest, democrat, of Missouri,
and he took the opportunity of declaring
himself to be utterly and irrevocably op-
and Mr. Hill of New York discussed the
matter at length, after which the senate, in
executive session, ratified the Japanese
treaty. - The house spent three hours
in discussing the Pacific railroad funding
bill. On motion of Mr.. Powers of Vermont
the bill was passed authorizing the. chief
officer OF any state penitentiary or Jail to
open the mail of any prisoner which he has
reason to believe is intended to be deroga-
tory to the discipline OF the institution.
THURspAY.-A petition of the leather and
hide trade of the city Of New York was in
troduced in the senate favoring the issue of
$500, 0OO, 900 in bonds. The state Of the
In the course OF a brilliant speech, Mr.. AL
lson of Iowa said: IF there had been no
deficiency of revenue, this reserve could not
have been encroached upon. My belief is
that the primary trouble under which we
labor ia that we have been obliged to en-
croach upon the reserve; whereas ii there
had been in the treasury from taxation a
sufficient amount Of money to have paid
current expenses, the reserve would have
remained intact. Therefore, am convinced
that the primary step in this whole bust
ness is that we should make it brief. The
appropriations should be met by revenue
rather than from the reserve. Will it be
said OF us now, with all the troubles that
we have had in business and current af-
fairs within the last year and a half, that
we have not the power or the ability to
raise by taxation the money necessary to
carry on the government in q time OF peace?
II we cannot agree upon some measure of
taxation that will produce sufficient rev.
enue, can we not agree upon some tempo
rary measure that will, in the eyes of the
people and in the eyes of the world make
the treasury solvent beyond peradventure
as respects the current expenditures?
- The house spent the entire day in
discussing the Pacific railroad debt re-
funding bill. The passage OF the bill was
opposed by Messrs. Boatner OF Louisiana,
Snodgrass of Tennessee, and Cooper of Wis
consin and advocated by Messrs. Powers
of Vermont and Lockwood of New York.
FRDAY.-The house bill to establish
national military park at Gettysburg was
reported to the senate and placed on the
calendar. The discussion Of the District of
Columbia appropriation bill was resumed,
which led to another financial debate. Sena-
tor Teller, referring to the remarks OF Mr..
German, comm snted rather vigorously
upon the assertions of the Maryland senator
that there was treasury deficit of 100 000,-
900, and contrasted them with the presi-
dents message, saying there was com.
Portable balance" in the treasury. Mr..
Teller said the surplus was not there aud
he thought 1t was the right of the senate to
be told by the treasury the truth about the
matter. - In the house colloquy en-.
sued between Mr.. Heard of Missouri and
Mr.. Breckenridge of Kentucky, which re.
suited in the former calling the latter liar.
The rosy face OF the noted Kentuckian
flushed even deeper red at this, and,
aisle, he vigorously attempted to strike Mr.
Heard, but his blows fell short and in a
moment he was jerked back into the aisle
by Representatives Pence OF Colorado and
Cultivate of Ohio. The former was so
energetic in his excitement that he nearly
pulled Mr.. Breckinridge's coat from his
shoulders. Instantly the house was in an
uproar, and members and attaches crowded
into the aisles toward the combatants, who
were directly in the centre of the hall, in
front of the speakers desk The speaker
shouted for order, and directed the sergeant
alarms to arrest the gentlemen. Deputy
Sergeant-at Arms Hill rushed down the
aisle with the overpowering mace in his
hands and endeavored to restore quiet. 1t
required several minutes to accomplish
this. no wever, as Mr.. Breckenridge was
making attempts to reach Mr.. Heard Sub
sequently both these representative yes ten
dered an abject apology to the house.