The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-05-20
Congressional Proceedings.

Congressional Proceedings.
SATURDAY, May Gin the senate the
house bill to allow the return, free of duty,
of certain articles exported from the United
States for exhibition purposes, was reported
back from the finance committee and passed.
A bill for the construction of a cable and
telegraph line from the United States to
Siberia, Japan and the Hawaiian Islands,
and to guarantee interest on bonds, was
introduced by Mr.. Wilson of Washington
and referred to the committee on commerce.
joint resolution authorizing the employ
ment of counsel for the purpose OF bringing
suits against the directors and stockholders
of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific
railroad companies was offered by Mr. Pet
tigrew of South Dakota and laid on the
table for the present, MIR. Pettigrew stating
that he desired to address the senate on the
subject. Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont offered
resolution, which was referred to the com
mittee on contingent expenses, authorizing
the finance committee to refer the bond
investigation " to a subcommittee, with au-
thority to summon witnesses, administer
oaths and sit during the session or recess at
such times and places as i may deem
proper; also to employ stenographer and
such clericpl and other assistants as may be
necessary. The bill making provision for the
deportation ofrefugee Cree Indians who came
into Montana after the Riel rebellion, and for
their delivery to the Canadian authorities,
was passed - The house was not in
session.
MoNDAY.--In the senate Mr.. Teller Of
Colorado reported substitute bill for the
house bankruptcy BILL and Mr.. Mitchell of
Oregon presented the views of the minority
of the judiciary committee, favoring the
house bill. The house bill provides for
both voluntary and involuntary bank
ruptcy, and the senate bill for voluntary
bankruptcy only. The house joint resolu-
hot in ha la n ar Ia
admission of contract labor immigrants
shall not be construed as prohibiting the
entrance into the United States OF mechan-
les, artisans and other laborers necessary
for the preparation and installment OF for
eign exhibits at the Nashville Centennial
Exposition, and also providing for the ad-
mission OF exhibits free OF duty was passed
Much time was spent in discussing the ex-
pending OF S3,000,00O for deep sea harbor
in Southern California. No final action was
taken. About dozen private pension bills
were passed. The house passed the
senate bill authorizing the secretary of the
treasury to make and enforce the regula-
tions to secure the safety of passengers on
excursion steamers at any regatta or yacht
race held on the navgable waters OF the
United States. Affairs in the District OF
Columbia received further consideration,
and the contested election case from the
seventh district Of Georgia was disposed OF
by seating John W. Maddox, the demo-
cratic occupant.
WEDNEsDAY.-The river and harbor bill
was taken up in the senate, and, after
many attempts to tack on amendments, was
passed by a vote of 81 to 8. The following
bills were taken from the calendar and
passed: Authorizing the construction of a
bridge over the Mississippi river to the city
of St. Louis, Mo-, from some suitable point
between the north line of st. Clair county,
Illinois, and the southwest line of that
pensions to the survivors OF the Indian
wars of 1882 to 1912, so as to include rem
nant of old and decripit men who served in
these early Indian wars, not yet on the
pension rolls. Amending the acts relating
to the United States courts in the Indien
Territory. The house bill making one
years residence in territory prerequi-
site to divorce was passed, also several
house bills donating condemned cannon and
cannon balls. - The house passed the
bill abolishing days of grace in the District
OF Columbia. The contested election case
of Rivaker against Downing, from the six
teenth congressional district Of Illinois, was
taken up and again referred to the election
committee No. /.
THURsDAY.-Mr. Gibson of Maryland adj
dressed the senate in opposition to the bill
establishing additional regulations concern
ing immigration to the United States. His
argument was that there was room in the
Western states for all the immigrants that
could come Texas alone, he said, could
find room for hundred million and then
not be crowded so much as European coun-
| tries, or so much as many of the Northern
states Many of the states with scant pop
ulation would be, he said glad to welcome
foreigners, either with or without education,
if they would only work. The present laws
| were quite sufficient, in his opinion, to pre-
vent all the evils of immigration that are
| complained Of and he supported this opin-
ion by quotations from statements of labor
union leaders. Mr.. Gibson characterized
! the A. L. A. as a secret oath-bound, red
lettered, left-handed, dark-lanterned organ
ization whose principle was hatred to the
! Catholic church. - In the house the
/ elections committee No. reported on the
/ contested case from the second district OF
North Carolina that Woodland, the sitting
democratic member, isl entitled to the seat
In committee of the whole disposition Of a
large number of private pension bills was
made.
FRIDAY.-In the senate Mr.. Morgan OF
Alabama offered resolution, which went
| over, instructing the committee on foreign
relations to inquire as to the rights of the
| United States under treaties with Spain in
respect to the trial Of American citizens ar
rested in Cuba and under sentence OF death
by the Spanish military tribunals; and also
directing the secretary OF state to send tC
the senate literal copies of the original text
of the Gushing protocol OF July r. 1877, and
copies Of correspondence on such protocol
and on its bearing toward the persons cap
tured on the Competitor" Mr. Bacon o.
Georgia addressed the senate in favor of the
bill TO prohibit the issuance OF bonds OF
other interest bearing obligations OF tn,
government by the secretary of the treas
ury or other officers of the government with
out the authority OF congress- The Distric
of Columbia appropriation bill was taker
up, and later the senate went into executive
session The house devoted the entir,
day to the consideration of private pension
bills and passed one hundred and one.