The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-21
Congressional Proceedings.
Additional Congressional proceedings
NAV he found ON maze

Additional Congressional proceedings
may be found on page2.
SATURDAY, Dec. 1S.-The Senate was in
session only few minutes. - The
House passed the bill granting right of
way through the San Francisco forest re-.
serve to the Saginaw Southern railroad in
Arizona Mr.. Payne of New York called
up the bill extending the laws of the United
States relating to commerce, navigation
and merchant seamen to the Hawaiian
islands. Mr. Sherman OF New York ex-
planned the provisions of the bill and said
that, while the appropriation was in excess
OF the estimates, no items were appropriate
ed that had not been approved by the ex-
ecutive authorities. The principal increase
was for the Indian schools, more than
81, 5000 900 going for that purpose. This
amount did not include contract schools,
as the question of sectarianism was COM
petely eliminated Nor did these figures
include the New York and Indian Terri
tory Indians, whose education is paid for
out of their own funds. Mr.. Little of Ar
kansas spoke in commentator of the bill,
and gave notice of an amendment providing
for the education of the white children in
the Iudian Territory. After extended de-
bate on amendments OF minor character
the bill was passed substantially as report
ed. The House then adjourned until Mon
| day afternoon.
| MONDAY, Dec. 19.-In the Senate Mr..
| Platt OF Connecticut spoke against the Vest
resolution which declares that the United
| States has no power to acquire territory.
He said that the power of a nation to &C
quire territory was as inherent as it's SOW
ereignty The United States had the right
to govern such territory in the best possible
manner until the people Of the acquired
| islands were capable OF self-government.
Mr.. Proctor of Vermont and Mr.. Hale of
Maine exchanged divergent views upon the
| subject of a commission of senators to visit
| no Mr. prnofnr oh mil
sion was necessary while Mr.. Hale said he
thought it would be in extremely bad taste
and useless. The Nicaragua canal bill was
| discussed at some length but no definite ac-
| ton was taken.
Monday was suspension day in the House
and several bills were passed, the most inn
| portant OF which was the bill appropriating
$3.50, GOO for the Philadelphia Exposition OF
1899. Bills were also passed under suspen-
| sion OF the rules to authorize the distribu-
ton Of the assets Of the Freedman's bank,
| to enable the scope Of the fish commission
| to include game birds, for the relief OF the
| Fourth mounted Arkansas infantry and for
the relief of John w. Lewis Of Oregon.
Mr.. Bailey of Texas introduced resolu-
ton In open House directing the judiciary
committee to investigate and report on the
question as to whether the members of the
House who accepted commissions in the
army had forfeited their seats in the House
He made the resolution the text for some
remarks In the course OF which he took oc-
casion to bitterly denounce newspaper
statement to the effect that in his attitude
upon this question he had been made a cats
paw OF by certain prominent Republicans in
the House. He denounced the Republican
who had instigated the statement az an in
famous liar and challenged him to father it
There was no reply to Mr.. Bailey's state.
ment and the resolution was referred to the
| committee on rules.
| TUKHDAY. Dec. 2O.-IQ the Senate Mr., AL
lison reported favorably the House resolu'
ton providing for adjournment of Congress
from December 81 to January and it was
adopted without division. Mr.. Gallingel
favorably reported Mr.. Proctors resolu
ton providing for committee of Senators
to visit Cuba and Porto Rico with the view
OF ascertaining the conditions on the islands
and reporting them with recommendation
to the Senate. - No business OF impor
lance was transacted in the House.