The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-06
Congressional Proceedings,

WEDNESDAY, April 27.-After the routine
morning business in the senate was COM
pleted, Senator Teller of Colorado reopened
the discussion on Mr.. Germans amendment
to the naval appropriation bill to reduce
the number of battle-ships provided for in
the bill from four to two. Mr.. Teller drifted
into discussion of the silver question and
in the course of his remarks he said
" When party lines are drawn for next sum-
mer, and when the two great political par
ties array themselves for BATTLE it may be
that one Of them will be the champion
of the white metal If that should be the
case, then every man will have the opportu-
nifty to put this silver question where he
thinks it belongs, and look with fear and
trembling to see what that great political
organization with which | have acted for
forty years will do. If the republican party
becomes the party of the gold standard peo-
Pile. from the day that it so declares itself
its disintegration will begin. / am fire.
quently asked what | will do if the present
party with which 1 am connected, and
whose record l am proud of, adopts the
gold standard and puts itself in line with
those who are demanding that gold, and
gold alone, shall measure the values of the
world. | have no hesitation in saying that,
whenever the political party to which 1 be-
long ceases to represent my sentiment and
Judgment, will cease to act with it," Mr..
Sherman of Ohio replied in a caustic man
ner to Mr.. Teller's speech. Mr.. Platt of
Connecticut opposed the German amend
ment. Without action on the amend
ment, the senate adjourned. - In the
house the bankruptcy bill was discussed in
committee of the whole by Mr.. Stone of
Pennsylvania and Mr. Broderick of Kansas,
who antagonized the involuntary feature of
the bill.
THURsDAY.-The day in the senate was
devoted to further discussion of the naval
appropriation bill, the pending question be-
,prr oh 4
of Maryland, reducing the number of battle
ships provided for in the bill from four to
two, and the amendment to that amend
ment, offered by Mr. Quay of Pennsylvania,
to increase the number to six. Mr.. Allen,
the populist senator from Nebraska spoke
at length on the question and made some
absurd statements He said that when lie
first came to the senate he supposed that
the debates there were serious; but he Had
learned since then, that they were simply a
play between the two great parties, as they
called themselves; aspsrring for points,
maneuvreing for political situation. And
that had been the character of the last two
days debate. Mr.. Allen asserted that the
Mckinley act had not produced sufficient
revenue, and he declared his belief that il
the Harrison administration had remained
in power it would have issued United States
bonds before the first of April, 1893. He re-
marked that rumor had it that Secretary
Foster would have profited largely by that
issue. Mr. Chandler of New Hampshire
said he would be willing to see Mr.. Cor
mans amendment adopted. if any PROPOSE
ton were made for torpedo boat destroyers
and topedo boats. The reduction of battle
ships to two would he a saving of from ten
to twelve millions. He therefore gave no.
tice of an amendment appropriating $4,000,
600 for thirty torpedo boats and torpedo boat
destroyers. The bill went over without
action. - In the house a bill was passed
granting pension of $50 per month to
Brigadier General William Crosse of In
diana. The house again went into commit
tee of the whole on the bankruptcy bill, and
Mr.. Bailey of Texas closed the debate in
opposition TO the bill.
FRIDAY.-It being a partial holiday the
senate was not in session. - In the
house the committee on labor ordered
favorable report on the bill to protect
free labor from competition with con-
Wet labor by restricting the sale of convict
made goods to the states in which they are
produced. Manufacturers of agricultural
products are exempted. Mr.. Butler, the
North Carolina populist, introduced bill
to make the Mexican silver dollar, the
Japanese yen, and the trade dollar equal in
value to the standard dollar of the United
States and full legal tender to any amount
for all debts and demands, public or pri-
vate; and he made an argument in support
of it, The gold standard he characterized
as the " Standard of Shylocks." Referred
to committee on finance.