The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-01-11
Congressional Proceedings.


WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4.-when the Senate
went into executive session the peace treaty,
which had just been received from the
President, was laid before the Senate by
Senator Frye. who occupied the chair in the
absence of the Vice President The treaty
was not read, but the Presidents message
accompanying II was. This was simply
message OF transmission, without any
recommendation or suggestion and was
only few lines in length. On the motion
Of Senator Davis the treaty was referred to
the committee on foreign relations and or.
dered to be printed for the use OF the Sem
ate. Senator Allison announced the death
OF Senator Morrill,. In the course of his
brief remarks, Mr.. Allison said Mr.. Morrill,
had come to the Senate at the opening ses-
sion In December and had taken part in the
proceedings until the first day OF the holi
day recess. Although he was enfeebed in
body, Mr. Allison said, his brain was active
and his mental vision was undimmed. His
faculties, his activity, were uudIminshed
and his colleagues believed he was to re-
main with them yet long time, but the in
scrutable Providence ordained otherwise
and he was called away suddenly.
AS mark OF respect for Senator Morrill,
the Senate then adjourned. The
House devoted the time it was In session to
considering the bill TO define and punish
crimes in Ala-ka and provide q code of
criminal procedure for the territory. The
pointed to codify the laws of the United
States and is voluminous measure of 232
pages. Sixty-seven pages were completed
| Wednesday and the bill was made con.
| tinuing order until disposed OF, not, how.
ever, to interfere with appropriation bills or
| other special orders. Inc only section in
the bill which promises to cause a contest
| is that providing for the sale Of liquor in
Alaska. Upon this question considerable
difference OF opinion developed. The House
adjourned out Of respect to the memory OF
the late Senator Morrill,.
| THURSDAY, Jan 5.-Little business except
| that of routine character was transacted In
the Senate. Mr.. Berry, OF Arkansas pre-
sented a protest from j. Ed Murray camp
United Confederate Veterans OF Arkansas
| against the adoption Of the proposed amend
ment OF Senator Butler, populist, of North
Carolina to the pension appropriation bill
providing for payment OF pensions to con
federate soldiers. Mr.. Berry said the mem
bers OF the camp deemed it unwise to sdop'
such q proposition. They say, said Mr.
Berry, that they have provided Tor them
selves and families for more than a genera
ton and regard such proposition as Mr.
Buffers as "ungracious."
The following bills, called up by the
judiciary committee, passed the House Tt
provide additional circuit judges for the
third and sixth judicial districts; to regu
late the terms OF court in the eastern dis
trct OF Tennessee and the district of Butte
Mont; to retire Cassius s. Foster, United
States district judge of Kansas; to amend
the revised statutes so as to allow th'
United States five peremptory challenges il
criminal cases; to permit ship owners t
file indemnity bonds; to allow legally ap
pointed guardians OF insane persons Il
prosecute patent claims, and to release tn,
International Cotton Press Company o
New Orleans from small liability for in
terBal revenue taxes.
FRIDAY, Jan. 6.-Immediately after tn,
Senate convened the resolution Offered
Thursday by Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts
calling on the President for information a
to the instructions OF the commissioner
who negotiated the treaty of Paris, togethe
with all correspondence and reports relat
ing to their work was laid before the Sen
ate. Chairman Davis, one OF the commits
sioners desired that 1t be referred to tn
foreign affairs committee, but Mr.. Hoar in
sisted that the Senate had as much right u
such information ss the members Of tn
foreign relations committee and that thu
President should determine whether thu
Senate should have il. The resolution wa
adopted in secret session. - The Hous
considered the legislative, executive ant
judicial appropriation bill, and, after
heated debate, voted to strike out the ap
preparations for the civil service commits
| sion.