River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-02-19
CONGRESSIONAL BUSINESS.
How the Work OF the Session Stands,


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 recesss;
but since the reassembly, J-... 5, but
three important public acts the civil
rights bill, the finance bill, and the little
tariff act--haye 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-
atoms for two fiscal years, as has been
proposed in the Republican caucus. In
the way Of special legislation, it is ad.
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 timeeSom.
Uses to negative whatever conclusions they
may arrive at. The proposed re-
construction of Arkansas is all
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 fayorably, lacked strength in the
House on Saturday. Among the projects
worked up by the third House, the Texas
Pacsiic and Northern Pacific bills; the
cotton-tax reiunding; 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 OH that subject have been
cast aside. Two new States are applying
for admission-New Mexico and Colorado
land 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 S40,000,000 of
additional revenue, and Congress will
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; but
in the House very few private bills have
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 /:
To establish a national savings deposit |
tory, as a branch Of the post office; to in
corporate the Southern 1ranscontinental |
railway; relating to salaries of United |
states Judges; to appoint commission |
of forestry; tn reduce and fix the pay |
department of the army; to provide for
the completion Of the Washington monu-
ment; to create the territories Of Okla |
homa and Pembina; to grant general
amnesty; the old French spoilation
claims the various postal telegraph and |
other telegraph bills; the civil service
reform measures; to establish commits
sion to regulate steam and horse railway /
tracks in Washington to regulate COM
merce by railroad among the several
States; for the relief of owners and pur-
chasers of lands sold for direct taxes, in
the discretionary States; and all the |
amendments TO the constitution. To this /
list may be added two or three thousand |
bills which the committees have not act. |
ed on. Two commercial treaties have
been pending in the Senate: that of reci-
procty with Canada was defeated last
week, and the one with the Hawaiian is
sands will probably be disposed of this
ssiOn -