The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-13
FIFTY FOURTH CONGRESS.

Tor torpedo boats and torpedo boat destroy
ers. Mr.. German of Maryland argued
against the amendment. He said the pro-
vision reported by the committee on appro-
priations allowed 81 100000 for torpedo
boats and torpedo boat destroyers, and he
thought that, in the present condition of
Affairs was ample. He added that If the
submarine boat now being built Of the Hol-
land type was successful it would revolu-
ttonize the whole system of torpedo boats
all over the world. Mr.. Chandler of New
Hampshire advocated the amendment, and
said that the national saving effected by it,
in view OF striking out two battle.ships and
some torpedo boats, would be about 1920
600. Mr. Chambers amendment was de-
feated by vote of 80 to %. - Consider
alton of the bankruptcy bill was resumed in
the house. Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa made
vigorous attack upon the bill. 1t was, he
said, fraud upon its face and in its pro-
visions. 1t had been described as a bill in
tended for the insolvent debtor, by provid-
ing him a method of release from his obliga-
tions AS matter OF fact the bill was in
tended to give the creditor another grip
upon his debtor, which he did not have
when the debt was Contracted; it was
debt-collecting measure and nothing else.
MoNDAY.-No business of Importance was
transacted in the senate. Mr.. Frye of
Maine attempted to get the river and harbor
bill before the senate, but the PETER bond
resolution was given the preference by a
vote of thirty -nine to twenty-eight. Mr..
Frye said he would accept the vote just
taken as instructions to him not to press
the consideration of the river and harbor
bill until the bond resolution was out of
the way. Mr. Wolcott of Colorado said the
country would breathe more freely if the
river and harbor bill were withheld until
/ the country understood something as to
whether bonds were to be issued from time
to time. Mr.. Hill remarked that all the in
formation which Mr. Wolcott would get
from the proposed investigation would not
relieve his mind at all. The senate, he
added, had seen fit to displace the river and
harbor bill in order to take up this I" sense
less, uncalledfor and mischievous resolu-
ton" - In the house Mr.. Boutelle of
Maine called up the naval appropriation
bill and asked the non-concurrence of the
house in the senate amendments. lie criu'
csed the action of the senate in reducing
the number of battle ships from four to two
after contributing by its action to the ex-
cited condition of the public mind that pre-
vailed when that bill passed the house.
Mr.. Quiggs of New York made the point of
order thai the gentleman could not criticise
or comment upon the action of the senate,
aud Speaker Reed sustained the point. An
attempt was made to get conference with
the senate, but the matter went over.
WEDNESDAY The conference report on
the legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill was presented to the senate.
The chief point of difficulty has been the
United States district attorneys and mar
shals. A schedule of salaries has been
agreed upon for those officers, the amount
varying in the several judicial districts.
The report states that there are still many
amendments on which no agreement has
been reached. On the request of Mr.. Hill
of New York the report was ordered to lie
and be printed. The resolution introduced
on Tuesday by Mr.. Call of Florida regard
ing United States citizens captured on board
/ ha schooner Enrnnatitinp - laid hp.
fore the senate. Mr.. Sherman of Ohio
moved to refer it to the committee on for
eign relations. That motion was opposed
by Mr.. Call, who spoke of the extreme
anxiety of the friends of the men over whom
death was hanging, but who were properly
subjec5 to no other treatment than that of
persons captured on board a vessel carrying
things contraband of war. Mr.. Pasco of
Florida said he had been to the state de-
partm mt on the subject and was satisfied
that all proper means known to diplomacy
would be used to secure fair treatment for
| those men. The resolution was referred to
the committee on foreign relations. - In
the house the committee Oh ways and means
reported through Mr.. Dingley of Maine a
! concurrent resolution providing for the ad-
| journment of congress Monday, May IS.
! The reading of the resolution was greeted
with applause. Mr.. Dingley asked i'm
mediate consideration of the resolution.
Mr.. Wheeler of Alabama asked that the
'
| morrow, but Mr.. Dingley moved the
previous question, which was ordered by an
! overwhel ming vote. The house then went
| into committee OF the whole to consider
private pension bills. Seventy-two bills of
| this character were ia 7orably acted upon.
THURsDAY.-In the senate the Peter reso-
| luton for an inquiry into bond sales was
taken up and Mr. Palmer of Illinois and Mr..
Vest of Missouri addressed the senate. In
the course of his speech the latter said: " |
serve notice now, that If the convention at
Chicago is to be made up of federal office
holders, brought there to over-awe and over
ride the wishes of the honest majority of the
democratic party throughout the United
States, it is no democratic convention with
me. | will abide by the will OF the major
ity of the party honestly assembled and
honestly expressed. | make no threats, but
] want no Misunderstanding. The demo
cratic party is the party of honest EXPIRE
sion, and not of federal patronage" The
resolution was passed by vote of fifty -one
to six. - There was no quorum in the
house when the reading OF the journal was
begun, and more than an hour elapsed be-
fore the necessary number arrived. Mr.
| Picker of South Dakota impeded business
by continuous objection on the ground
that no quorum was present, and the time
was frittered away without accomplishing
anything.
FRIDAY.-In the senate a bill to prohibit
the issue of United States bonds without
authority of congress was introduced by
Mr. Bacon of Georgia. 1t was laid on the
table, as Mr. Bacon gave notice that he de-
sired to address the senate in favor Of the
measure After the other amendments had
been disposed of, the committee amend
ment as to the deep water harbor in South
ern California was taken up. 1t provides
for a breakwater at Port Los Angeles in
Santa Monica Bay, and authorizes contracts
to the amount of $32 1893 900 exclusive Of
amounts heretofore appropriated. Without
disposing of the matter the senate ad
iourned. - In the house Mr.. Ranney OF
Wisconsin secured consideration of the bill
to quit titles Of certain bona fide pur
chasers OF public lands, to au .horze the
government to issue patents for the same
and to make homestead entries date from
settlement and not from entry. The bill
was passed. A resolution was agreed to
asking the president to inform congress
what had been done to carry out the pro
vision of the sundry civil appropriation fol
the current year, that negotiations be en-
tered into with the government of Grea
Britain to secure the abrogation or mod
| Al 81, lat 81 th.t