Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-03-07
Review of the For,y-secoud Consress---Th
Result.

kesuIt.
The forty-second Congress, which closed its
sessions on Tusday last, commenced its career
OH the 4th Of March, 1871 and has enacted many
important measures.
During the first session. the measure Of leading
interest and importance which was passed was
the Enforcement act. This bill continues In
force, with the exception Of the fourth section,
authorizing the President to suspend the writ of
habeas corpus, which section expired by limita-
ton at the close OF the succeeding session Of
Congress-, in June, 1852. An effort to renew It
failed
During the second session, which commenced
at the usual time in December, the approach OF
the presidential campaign gave rise to much
debate intended more for political effect than
immediate public interests, and much time was
consumed in this way. In the spring of 1872 the
treaty Of Washington was ratified by the Senate.
The measure Of greatest importance considered
during the second session by both houses was
the amnesty act, impeded long time by the
persistency Of Mr.. sumner In attempting to en-
graft upon it his famous civil rights bill. 1t was
finally passed without MIR. Sumner amendment,
but still not complete amnesty act. II removed
the disabilities imposed under the fourteenth
amendment, except those OF members of the
thirty-sixth and thirty-seyenth Congresses, off,
GERS Of the judicial, military or naval service,
heads Of departments and foreign ministers, who
afterwards took part with the South. These ex-
ceptione it was estimated embraced some three
relieved by special acts. +"
The next most important acts were those re-
pealing the duties on tea and coffee, the reduc-
ton OF the duties on salt 90 per cent, coal 40
per cent, lead 70 per cent, on many other arti-
oles 10 per cent, admitting hides Nee with many
other additions to the free list, principally drugs
and chemcals Most of the internal revenue
duties except those on malt and spirtuous
liquors and few stamp duties were also re-
pedled, The total reduction was about sos, OOO,-
600 The re-apportionment bill passed at tho
same session increasing the number of Repre-
sentatlves to 292 various amendments to the
election laws were passed. and also the act
a0ollshng the offices OF assessors and assist
snt assessors Of the internal revenue, effecting
tits claimed, an annual saving of So 000,O00
The act OF most general importance passed
during the third session, also begun in NOvem-
ber was that abolishing the franking privilege,
which was followed by the increase OF 'the
salaries Of the President to $50, 900.
Vice President speaker and Justices OF the
Supreme Court, and Cabinet officers to $4,000
Senators, Representatives and Delegates 81, 800.
Assistant Secretaries Of the Treasury, State and
Interior 500 1t must also be recorded that
Congress has directed the Secretary Of the
Treasury to withhold the earnings Of the Pacific
railways, and has accorded TO the companies the
right to bring the question before tue courts
whether the payment of those earnings from the
government il legally dne while the interest on
the bonds loaned by the country remains unpaid.
Congress has also ordered suit to be begun
against these companies 10 recover the proceeds
oil loans and lands from the United States mis-
appropriated through fraudulent contracts or
other illegal practices. This suit will embrace
not only shareholders in the companies, but all
VINO have participated In the unlawful profits.