The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-02-18
CONGRESSIONAL BUSINESS.
How the work Of the session Stands
from the Washington Star, Feb. 81


congress closes its session, by consti-
tutional limit, three weeks from Thurs |
day next. A comparison of the number
of bills introduced, some 5000, with the
number passed at the first session, and
which will probably pass at this session,
will be found the most remarkable for
any Congress in the history Of the gov
eminent. At the opening of the present
session, an unusual amount of work was
accomplished before the holiday recess
but since the reassembly, Jan. 5, but
three important public acts the civil
rights bill, the finance bill, and the little
tariff act-have passed either House.
Of the appropriation bills, two have final
ly passed; one is hanging in conference,
and nine remain to be acted on. All of
these must, Of course, be acted on, or an
extra sessisn of the forty-fourth Congress
will be necessary, One Of these bills
that for the army-may possibly fail, if
an attempt is made to vote the appropri-
ations for two fiscal years, as has been
proposed in the Republican caucus. In
the way of special legislation, it is adj
mitted that large number Of bills must
fail. First on the list is the civil rights
measure. Each house has passed sepa-
rate bill, and the variance between them
may possibly lead to the defeat Of both.
The Louisiana question is also in great
doubt. The special house committee will
return this week, but want Of time prom
ises to negative whatever conclusions they
may arrive at. The proposed re-
construction of Arkansas is al
ready settled by an adverse report,
made by the special committee on Sat-
urday. The transportation question and
: the many bills covered by it. will GER
tainly fail, except in the way Of appro-
priations to continue surveys. The Hen
nepin canal scheme, which is regarded
most favorably, lacked strength in the
House on Saturday. Among the projects
worked up by the third House, the Texas
Pacsfc and Northern Pacific bills; the
cotton-tax refunding; the patent sewing
machine extension, reported on adversely;
the Bayfield, and St. Croix project, and
all of the additional bounty bills, will all
fail; though Col. Tom SCOTS friends claim
that they will be able to push the Texas
Pacific bill on an appropriation bill, as An
amendment. Numerous other railroad
bills will fail. The financial question
has been settled at this session, as far as
Congress intends to settle it and all OF
the various financial measures before the
committees on that subject have been
cast aside. Two new States are applying
for admission-New Mexico and Colorado
and probably the latter will succeed.
|, Both of these bills have passed the House
and now lie on the Senate calendar. A
new revenue bill, in course Of preparation
} by the ways and means committee
is one Of the few bills that
will not fail. The government
calls for nearly S4O,0OO,0OO Of
additional revenue, and Congress viii
provide for it. This will, of course, de-
feat all the measures pending for the re
peal Of the stamp tax on checks, matches
etc. The private calendar IN the Senate
has received quite liberal treatment; bu
in the House very few private bills hav'
passed, and hundreds must fail. Among
the public measures which have been re
! ported on, and which will fail to pass
: doubtless, are the following bills
3 To establish national savings deposi
I tory, as a branch of the post office; to in
9 corporate the Southern Transcontinenta
), railway; relating to salaries of Unitet
e States Judges to appoint a commission
of forestry to reduce and fix the pa,
v department of the army. to provide 70
h the completion of the Washington monu
: ment; to create the territories of Okla
n homa and Pembina; to grant > genera
is amnesty; the old French spoilatio
: claims the various postal telegraph an
n other telegraph bills; the civil servic
reform measures; to establish commits
S sion to regulate steam and horse railwa
d tracks in Washington to regulate CON
MERGE by railroad among the severs
!: States; for the relief Of owners and pun
n chasers Of lands sold for direct taxes, !
h the insurrectionary States; and all tn
amendments to the constitution. To tn
a list may be added two or three thousan
;. bills which the committees have not &C
!. ed on. Two commercial! treaties hay
been pending in the Senate: that Of rec
d procity with Canada was defeated Ia!
week, and the one with the Hawaiian
d sands will probably be disposed q IA
c. lesion -