Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-02-08
Largest Circulation in the District
Reading Matter on Every Page.
The Bu-tne.. Before congress.


Congress q. =es it, session, by Constitution
~ limit. thre- weeks from Thursday next A
comparison o. tbs number OF the bills intro
duced-some = Z thou sand-With the number
passed at IL first session and which will
probably pas at this session. will be found
To Be the mos remarkable for any Congress
in the histOrv OF the government At the
opening OF tEe present session an unusual
amount OF regular work was Accomplished
before the hOl az recess; but since the reas-
sembling Oh January 9Th, but three import
ant public sc~s, the civil rights in, the finance
bill and the li.tie taTiGact, have passed either
house. This 5alay has not been the fault OF
the regular NJ special committees, which
have been very prompt in bringing their
measures before Congress. Ofthe appTOpria-
tiOn bills, tw1 have finally passed. one is
hanging in Ca- ference. and nine remain to
he acted on. All % these must, Of course. be
scted on or a. extra session OF the fith Con
gross viii n reccSsary. But one Of these
bills. that lor rle army, may possibly fail If
an attempt h. made To vote the approximations
fJr two fiscal ears as has been proposed in
the republican caucus. The probability of
failure is rcHfeTed less, however. by the
amendment o. the rules OF the House which
prevents tllib. -tcTiug. In the Senate. where
the previous question il not recognized the
measure may - talked To death" In the
way OF special legislation &C i admitted that
large numb Of bills must fail. First on
the list is thu civil rights mea-ure. Each
House has passed separate bill, and the
variance between Them may possibly lead 10
the defeat Of both The louisiana question
j. also in great doubt. The special House
comWiftee viii return this week. but want of
time promises 10 negative whatever cOncIu-
slOnS they may arrive 1t. The proposed re-
construction Of Arkansas is already settled
by an adverse report made by the special
committee u toe HOu.e on Saturday. the
transportation question and the many bills
covered by II vii! certainly fail, except in the
way or appropriations to continue surveys
The HennePiu canal scheme which il re-
gaIded most favOrably, lacked strength in
the House OF saturday. Among the projects
worked up by the ..third House the Texas,
Pacific and NOrtherl Pacific bills. the Chor-
law clhin, the cotton tax refund. the
patent sewing machine extensiOl., reported
on adversely the Bayfield, AM ST Croix
project. and ali OF the additional bounty bills
VIII all fail, though Col Tom SCOTS friends
claim that they will be able To nut The Tsyas
Faclhc bill On an appropriation bill as an
amendment Numerous other railroad bills
VIII fail Happily the financial question has
heen settled at this session. So far As Con
sress intends to- settle il, and all of the Va
mittees on that subject have been cast aside.
Two new States are applying for admission
New Mexico and COlOraIO-and DrOhabIv
the latter will succeed. Both Of these hills
nave passed the House and now lie on the |
senate calendar a new revenue bin now 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
lorty millions Of dollars OF additional reye-
nue., and Congress will provide for il. This
VIII OF course defeat al the measures pend
ing LOT the repeal of the stamp tax on checks, |
matches, etc. The private calendar in the |
senate has received quite liberal treatment.
hut IN the House very few private bill, have |
passed, ard hundreds must ,aiI.
Among the public measures which bava
been reported on, and which will IaiI To pas.
doubtless, are the following Bills % estab-
Ilsh national savings depository as the |
bIahch OF the post Office: to nCOrDOrate the
>Outhein tranScOntinental railway; relating
10 salaries of United States Judges: To an |
POM commission of forCstry: tor,.tuce aud
NIX The pay department of the army: to pro-
Nlde Tor the completion OF the Washington |
monument; 10 create the territories of Ol<O-
BONANZA aud Pembina; 10 grant general am
hesIy; the Old French spCliatiOn claims. the
vailOas postal telegraph and other tele graph
'lils' CIVIL service reform measures; TO es- !
'abilsh commission TO regulate steam AMI .
morse railway tracks in Washington: To reg
'is'e commerce by railroad among the sew |
-fal states; for the relief of owners and pur-
shaSers OF lands sold for direct taxes in in
states; all the amendments to
he constitution; and to this list may be
added two or three thousand bills which the
have not acted ON.
The President is anxious TO have some def
bite legislation regarding the southern stu
itiOn, and may send in 4 message TO Congress
This week urging it.
Two commercial treaties have been pend
iug in the Senate. That of reciprocity with |
[ anada was defeated last week and the one |
with the Hawaiian Islands viii probably De |
disposed Of this session.
WOuid il not have been better for THE