The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-04-29
Congressional Proceedings.

WEDNESDAY, April 22.-The senate pro-
ceedings opened with the presentation by |
the vice. president of the presidents veto of
two private pension bills. The Indian ap.
preparation bill was taken up and the
amendment offered by Mr.. Cockrell of
Missouri, allowing the contract Indian
schools to be continued till 1898, in cases
where, IL they were discontinued the chill
dren could not be educated in government
schools but prohibiting it absolutely after
July, 1898, was agreed to by vote OF
thirty eight to twenty-four. The Cockrell
amendment is substitute for that pro-
vision for the house bill which prohibits
payment for education in sectarian schools,
and which directs the secretary of the
interior to make all needful rules and regu-
lations to prevent such payments. Leave
of absence for the remainder of the present
session was given to Mr. Hoar of Massa-
chusetts, who intends to spend the summer
in Europe. - The house, in committee
of the whole, took up the bill reported by
the committee on invalid pensions, making
general provisions relating to pensions
Mr.. Picker of South Dakota, chairman of
the committee reporting the bill, explained
its provisions and its necessity, under the
ruliugs OF the present administration of the
pension bureau. The sections in the bill
fixing the date of the closing of the war and
giving a pensionable status to a soldier
holding an honorable discharge after ninety
days service, Notwithstanding previous
desertion or dishonorabe discharge, as ex-
planned by Mr.. Picker, awakened some
criticism by republican members, indicating
that they would oppose them. Mr.. Picker
spoke two hours and half, after which the
committee rose and the house adjourned.
THURsDAY.-In the senate the Indian ap-
preparation bill was taken up for action.
| Discussion was had on an amendment Of
| fered by Mr.. Platt to the appropriation for
| the Cherokee commission and instructing
the commission with reference to the break
| Al.
| and the distribution OF their lands in sever
atty A point of order against the amend
ment as being general legislation in an ap-
preparation bill was made by Mr.. George of
| Mississippi. After a long discussion the
vice-president sustained the point of order.
The bill was then passed. and a conference
with the house was ordered. The bill, as
passed by the house. carried appropriations
amounting TO SS,420 445. AS reported by
the senate committee on appropriations,
this amount was reduced to $7,413, S06-the
| great item in this reduction being one of
81 $50, 900 for payment on the Cherokee out
let purchase. This item, however, was re-
stored by the senate - The house, in
committee of the WHOLE resumed considera-
ton OF the invalid pension bill. Mr.. Tai
bert of South Carolina opposed the bill for
several reasons, first and foremost OF which
was the fact that there was no estimate any
where given of the amount of money that
would be required to carry its terms into
effect. Another was that the bill made a
new class of pensioners-men who from
their records were loyal to no authority or
| to no set of principles. Further legislation
| Mr.. Talbert contended, was unnecessary,
the present laws being liberal enough. In
replying to the statement made by MIR. Nc
| Clellan of New York that the republican
party set itself up as the particular friend
of the Union veteran without good ground
| for the claim, Mr.. Mahon of Pennsylvania
reviewed the history of pension legislation
since the war. The bills under which all
pensions are now being paid to veterans
and their widows and children, he said has
received the votes OF LOGS republican sena-
tors and representatives and been opposed
| by none; AIT democrats had voted for them
and 648 against them. No republican presi-
dent had ever vetoed a pension bill, while
Grover Cleveland had vetoed 537
FRIDAY.-In the senate Mr.. Sherman of
Ohio moved to proceed to the consideration
of the amendment to the tariff bill repeal
ing the provision which allows alcohol used
in the arts and for medicinal purposes to
| escape taxation. Mr.. Chandler of New
Hampshire and others appealed to Mr..
Sherman not to press his motion. as it was
a tariff bill and would bring up the whole
tariff question. Mr.. Sherman finally yielded
and the sundry civil appropriation bill was
taken up. Discussion on this measure oc-
cupied the entire day. - In the house a
bill reported by Mr.. Dingley of Maine from
the committee on ways and means was
passed, authorizing the entry into the
United States of animals and articles sent
out of tho country for exhibition purposes
Mr.. Jones OF Virginia, from the elections
committee No. 3, reported in favor OF
Cornell, republican, from the fifth district
of Virginia.. taking the seat OF Swanson,
democrat, the sitting member. The invalid
pension bill was taken up, and Mr.. Layton
of Ohio, democrat, championed the
measure in an eloquent speech