New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-04

tuonal to protect the people of the States from the
introduction and spread of disease when they
cannot protect themselves Ii now looks as though
the so-called Gamgee experiment, authorized by the
present Congress- would not be tried. The Secretary
of the Treasury refuses to make contract for the
building Of steel refrigeTatnE ship. except after
free competition, INTO which Professor Gamgee de-
cines to enter. The Senate refused to direct the
Secretary to award the contract in any other way.
OF financial schemes the XLYIth Congress has
thus far been much less prolific than its immediate
predecessor, although its members have introduced
and referred to the committees great number OF
bills on this subject. One law was passed-that
authorizing the redemption OF subsidiary silver
coin. This has already brought relief TO the retail
dealers all over the country. For more than year
they had been taxed from TO 2 per cent on the
larger part of their sales before they could convert
their receipts into bankable funds. The House OF
Representatives passed the Warner Silver bill, shorn,
of course of of its most Objectionable features
but still dangerous enough If ii should become
law in its present shape. This was dlstlnctVely
Democratic measure, perfected by a Democratic
committee, and passed in the House by Democratic
votes. In the Senate II received the almost unanI-
mons support of the Democratic members OF that
body. The refusal of Mr.. Bayard and MI. herman
to allow il to be reported has come nearer causing
split in the Democratic ranks than anything tuat
has occurred for several years. Or course no such
measure rs the Silver bill can become law as long
as Mr. HAYES is President but that it will be agreed
to by the Senate next Winter Is about as certain as
anything in the future can well be.
measure of great interest to all the states Dor
derIng on the Mississippi River is the creation of tho
commission report plans for the improvement OF inc
navigation of that stream from the passes near IT'S
mouth TO its headwatcrs. This Is III every sense Il
National work, like the construction of the lettles
at the mouth of the Mississippi, and the commits
sion which President Hayes has appointed Is one
whose report vail command respectful attention from
the best men III Congress-
The only important change in the revenue laws Is
the removal of the duty on quInlne
Provision was made for the purchase OF the
stereotype plates of the final reports of the Cenen-
nal Commission, and for the printing of 5,UOO
copies of those reports An appropriation OF 80
600 was made to pay the expenses OF the
representation of the United States, at the
sydney and Melbourne Exhibitions this year
and next, and $1,000 for tine erection OF "a
monument to mark the birthplace of George Wash
lngtOn. These, with the Appropriation bills com
plete the list of all acts that are of general public
interest The Army Appropriation bill as IT became
a law contained an important section authorizing
railroad companies TO do commercial business on
telegraph wires belonging to them.
If Congress did not accomplish much important
legislation during the fifteen weeks 1t was in SEES
sion, the number of mIschievous acts was smaller
than usual. Il l. W.