The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-04-22
Congressional Proceedings.

WEDNESDAY, April 15.--The senate bill
for the protection and preservation of burial
places of soldiers and sailors of the War of
1872 was reported to the senate by Mr..
Mitchell of Wisconsin, and passed. The
house bill directing that the officers of the
volunteer service in the War of the Rebel
lion who received brevets shall receive ap-
pointments by brevet in the Regular Army
for the same rank, dating back to the time
of their appointment by brevet in the vol
unteer service, was received back from the
committee on military affairs by Mr.. Sewall
of New York, with an amendment making
the appointment optional with the presi-
dent, not compulsory, and asking that 1t be
put upon its passage. Mr.. Allen of Ne
braska objected to its present consideration.
lowed, participated in by Senators Gray of
Delaware, Mitchell of Oregon and German
of Maryland. An executive session was
held before adjournment. - The live
lest kind of discussion arose in the house
over the joint resolution providing for the
having charge Of the national soldiers
homes. Mr.. Blue of Kansas made the SEN
sational statement that Governor Franklin
of Kansas was a drunkard, that he had
been crawling drunk hundred times
during the past year, and that he ran a
beer-shop in one end and Kelley Institute
in the other end of the Leavenworth
Home. An excited discussion followed this
statement, a half dozen members trying to
gain the speakers recognition at one time.
No vote on the measure was taken.
THURsDAY.-Senator Morrill, addressed
the senate on the necessity of new build
ing for the National Museum. 1t was not,
he said, a dime museum of grotesque OBJ
jects, but museum that offered, without
money and without price, wonderful at
fractions by its rare specimens. The several
states were represented in it by great
variety of contributions of special interest.
In all there were 3,406, 500 specimens, many
Of almost priceless value. A register Of
visitors had been kept for the past nine
years and numbered 8, 474 ,O56, an average of
nearly 100000 year. At the close Of Mr..
Morrill's remarks the bill for the new build.
Dupont election case was again taken up,
and Senators Gray Of Delaware PETER of
Kansas, Allison Of Iowa and Hill of New
York addressed the senate. Without con-
Guiding his speech Mr.. Hill yielded to a
motion to proceed to executive session.
- In the house the debate was re-
sumed ON the resolution providing for the
election of members of the board of man.
ayers OF soldiers homes. Mr.. Hepburn of
Iowa, supporting the motion to strike out
General Franklin's name from the joint
resolution, said it meant no reflection upon
General Franklin. 1t meant only that the
house proposed to exercise its judgment
and to replace him by another man. Mr..
Hepburn had been informed that when
General Franklin's term expired he would
be eighty years DID, and he thought it time
that franklin was relieved of some of the
duties devolving on him. Mr.. Hepburn
criticised the beer saloons and Kelley cure
at the homes, and in conclusion said that
whether General Howard or some other
man took Franklin's place, it was time that
change be made and that some new blood
be injected into the old body. The joint
resolution was finally agreed to electing
General W. B. Franklin and General G. W.
Steele, members of the board to succeed
themselves; General G. L. Beal of Maine to
succeed Francis Fessenden and General T.
j. Henderson Of Illinois to succeed John @.
Black.
FRIDAy.-After the disposition OF routine
| business in the senate Mr.. Cannon of Utah
! sought to call up the resolution directing
| the secretary OF the interior to open the
Uncompabgre Reservation in Utah to set
| Element in accordance with existing law,
| but the point OF no quorum was made. This
resolution lost its place as unfinished bust
ness and went to the calendar Thursday,
| when Mr.. Peffer's bond resolution was
taken up. The discussion of this matter
| led to lively tilt between Mr.. German OF
Maryland and Mr.. Aldrich of Rhode Island
| regarding the constant attempts to delay
| business in the senate. - In the house,
| by unanimous consent, several bills grant
ing condemned cannon and ballsto Grand
| Army posts and cemetery associations, and
bills granting pensions and for the relief OF
| soldiers who desired their military records
| to be cleared of erroneous and unfounded
| charges, were considered and passed. Five
| private pension bills were also passed in
| Guiding one granting $50 per month to the
widow OF Admiral Fairfax.