Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-06-21

In looking over the records of the recently
completed session of Congress, one cannot
help being struck by the meagre amount of
legislation accomplished and the slender i'm
portance of what has been done One of the
principal acts affecting the business interests
of the country was that of June It'll, repeal
ing the Bankrupt law. The repeal takes
effect September LIST, cases instituted and
pending in any court prior to which date not
being affected. In respect of all pains, pen
alties and forfeitures incurred under existing
acts before September lst, or thereafter, un-
der any provisions OF acts kept in force, etc.,
the acts repealed continue in full force and
effect till the cases are fully disposed of. In
financial legislation, the first act was that
famous one passed over the Presidents veto
February %, 1878. making the silver dollar
OF 4l2t grains legal tender, except where
expressly stipulated by contract. To the
International Monetary Conference to es-
tablish bi-metallic standard, a commission
composed of Messrs. W. S. Groesbeck, F.
A. Walker and Reuben +. Fenton, has been
appointed. The act of May 81 prohibited
the cancellation and retirement after that
date of legal tenders, and provided for the
reissue Of notes redeemed or received into
the treasury under law. An act approved
May prohibited the further coinage Of the
2O-cent silver piece.
In the Departments, the Army bill leaves
the military force unchanged at twenty-five
thousand men. For the navy for the year end
ing June 80, 1873, deficiency appropriation
act provides Sl.446, 6SS.l6 for pay. and
that of May 1, 1873, for the incoming fiscal
year, appropr;ates for pay (active lisD
S3.S22,S75 The Indians are left under the
charge of the Department of the Interior,
and the act of May 81 appropriates for the
bureau for the next fiscal year about S5,O00,-
600. There was some Pacific railroad legs-
lation; and large number of acts regulat-
ing mail-lettings and postal contracts, the
settlement of the public lands, bidding for
army contracts, District Of Columbia af-
fairs, the consular service, and other mat
tiers OF no great general interest.
Among the miscellaneous acts are few
OF either intrinsic or eItrinsic interest, which
we note as follows: To provide an
appropriation of $1,000 to engraye
the portraits Of the late Senators Morton Of
Indiana, and Bogy of Missouri; an act in
aid OF the Polar expedition designed by
James Gordon Bennett, by issuing an Amer
lean register to the Jeanette and authoriz- |
ing the detail If petty officers of the
navy; an act to authorize the granting of an
American register to foreign-built ship, |
for the purpose of the Woodruff Scientific |
Expedition around me world joint resolu-
tion to enable the Joint Commission to carry
into effect the act of Congress providing for
the completion of the Washington Monu-
ment; an act to increase the pension of Ger
tain pensiOned soldiers and sailors who have
lost both their hands or both their feet or
the sight Of both their eyes in the service of
the country; an act granting General James
Shields pension of 500 a month.
Such is the outline record of the second
session of the Forty fifth Congress.