The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-01-13
Congressional Proceedings.

WEDNESDAY, Jan 6.-The report of the
Secretary of the Navy in relation to the
cost of construction of armor plate was laid
before the Senate and later was referred to
the committee on naval affairs. An adj
verse report from the committee on foreign
relations on the claim of John s. Waller,
United States consul at Madagascar, for
damages by reason of his arrest and i'm
prisonment was presented and indefinitely
postponed. The resolution offered by Mr..
Call of Florida, calling for the corresond-
ence in the case of Charles GOWN, United
States citizen who lost his life in Cuba, was
agreed to, and his resolution demanding
the immediate release Of Sanguilly, the
American citizen who is confined in prison
in Cuba, was referred to the committee on
foreign relations, In a speech Mr.. Call said
he had it on good authority that GOWN, who
was in Cuba as reporter, had been arrested,
tied to a tree, and cnt in pieces with
machete by a squad of Spanish cavalrymen.
- In the House Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio
created furry by calling attention to the
fact that he introduced series of resolu-
tions last May requesting information from
several departments Of the government re-
latng to the administration of the civil SER
vice law The committee acted favoraby
on the resolution, but no responses have
been received from any department. He
offered resolution calling on the depart
ments to explain and it was passed. A
general debate on the Loud bill followed.
THURsDAY-In the Senate Mr.. Mills of
Texas introduced a joint resolution declar-
ing that the expediency of recognizing the
independence OF a foreign government be-
longs to Congress; and when Congress shall
80 determine the executive shall act in har-
mony with the legislative department of the
government. Second, that the indepen-
dence of the republic Of Cuba ought to be
and hereby is recognized; and the sum of
$4,000 is hereby appropriated for salary
" n q mi
ment whenever such minister shall be ap-
pointed by the president. The resolution
was ordered to lie and Mr.. Mills gave notice
that he would address the Senate at an
early day in support OF the resolution. Mr..
Morgan of Alabama offered a resolution
which was adopted, instructing the COM
mittee on expenditures in the executive
departments to inquire into the circum-
stances OF the abstraction of certain papers
from the files OF the treasury department.
In reference to the Pacific railroads-which
papers the acting secretary of the treasury
reported few days ago 'cannot be found"
On motion OF Mr.. Frye Of Maine, the House
bill passed last session to amend the laws
relating to navigation was taken from the
calendar and passed, with amendments.
II deals with rules governing vessels at sea
and on the lakes and rivers. The Senate
adjourned until MONDAY. - Discussion
OF the Pacific Railroad funding bill occupied
the time OF the House. This measure was
opposed by Mr.. Powers Of Vermont, chair
man Of the committee, Mr.. Grow Of Mis-
souri, and Mr.. Bell of Texas. The latter
presented substitute bill that will later be
formally offered for consideration. A bill
was passed providing for the appointment
Of surveyor general OF Alaska, at salary
OF $4,000 year.
FRIDAY.-The Senate was not In session.
g The House went into committee of
the whole, to further consider the Pacific
railroads finding bill. The second days
discussion of the bill developed more
interest from a popular point OF view. Mr..
johnson Of California In the course of a
speech supporting the bill alluded to W. r.
Hearst OF the San Francisco Examiner and
New York Journal in most vituperative
terms. He was answered by Mr.. Cooper
Of Wisconsin, who characterized the Incl
dent as the most disgraceful he had ever
known in the history OF Congress. The bill
was advocated by Messrs. Patterson of Ten
nessee and Hepburn of Iowa and antago-
nized by Messrs. Harrison OF Alabama,
Swanson Of Virginia, Mccall Of Massachu-
sets, Wheeler OF Alabama and Shafroth
and Bell of Colorado. Several private PEN
sion bills were considered