Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-04
WORK OF CONGRESS.
A Review Of the Business of the Past
SessiOn-The Important Meas
ures Which
Have Become Laws-A Fair Amount Of
General Legislation Accom-
plished.

The appropriation bills for the current
| fiscal year contained a number of important
| items in the nature of general legislation
/ The Senate quietly disposed of the whole
| controversy relating TO the Garfield funeral
| expenses in an amendment to the general de-
| ficiency bill. This amendment made a total
| appropriation of S57 800, and limited the
| amount to be paid to the physicians to $685.
| 600. All the bills must go before a Board
| Of Audit and be proved up in a regular
manner. The legislative bill changes the
distribution of the clerical force OF the
several departments, and makes the appro-
| priations for each class OF service more
| specific than ever before. The army bill and
the Indian bill each introduces a number of
useful amendments 10 the laws. The COM
pulsory retirement clause OF the army bill
was--in fact, though not in form-one OF the
most important laws enacted at this session.
The naval bill will cause needed reductions
both in the staff and the line OF the navy.
A large number OF bills authorizing the
construction of public buildings have passed
both Houses this session. The total expen-
ditures on this account will scarcely be less
than SIS, 100000. There have been special
appropriations for the relief of sufferers by
the Mississippi floods. An effort by the Sem
ate to add the franking privilege to the post
Office appropriation bill was defeated.
Among the important measures before
following: The apportionment bill, fixing
the membership of the House for the next
ten years at 325; the Chinese restriction bill,
which prohibits the importation of cody
labor into the United States; the bill author
izing national banks to extend their charters
for twenty years, which includes riders a
provision for the issue of three per cent
bonds, and for the granting of certificates on
the deposit of gold coin; a bill creating
mil nf a
establishing Board of Election Commits
sioners for the Territory of Utah; bill pro-
viding for the distribution of the remainder
of the Geneva award, first, among the suffer-
ers through the depreda ions of the excul-
pated cruisers, and, second, among mer-
chants who paid war-preuiums.
Both Houses have passed bill for the re-
payment of the Japanese indemnity, but at
last accounts 1t was still in conference COM
mittee, with a prospect that an agreement
would be reached on the basis of returning
the principal (S7S5 ,000) and simple interest
at the rate OF five per cent. for seventeen
years. Both Houses have also agreed 10
bills regulating the transportation of pas
sengers by sea, and imposing tax OF fifty
cents for each immigrant on the steamship
companies.
Inc House has sent to the Senate a bill
creating department of agriculture, bill
revising the duty on knit goods, and bill
providing for reduction OF taxation. A
House bill extending the period during
which distilled spirits may be held in bond
has been indefinitely postponed in the Sem
ate. The Senate has sent to the House a
bill creating Court of Appeals; bill put
ting General Grant on the retired list of the
army; bill granting 100000 in prize |
money to the officers and crew OF the Mopi- |
tor; bill regulating the mode of counting |
the electoral votes, and many other impor- |
tant measures, none of which will be favor |
ably acted upon at this session, if at all. A |
Senate bill distributing FIVE per cent. of the |
proceeds of lands taken up on military |
bounty land warrants was passed by the |
Senate, but aflerward recons;dered, and has
not since been acted upon.
Among the bills of public importance
which have not been touched by either house,
though considered in committees, are the
postal savings, bankruptcy, educational, in
erstate commerce and Hawaiian reciprocity |
bills. Generally speaking, the bills which
Dave not personal or sectional interests be-
hind them have been neglected, while others
nave been promoted.
The effort to cause forfeiture of the
Northern Pacific and ether Immigrants has
,ome to nothing. The bill for the admission
II Dakota has been postponed for political
easons. The House refused to suspend the
ules in order to authorize the appointment
u commission 10 investigate the alcoholic
liquor trafice. The Shipherd investigation
" the House Foreign Affairs Committee has
,een abortive. Six Southern Democrats,
whose seats were contested, have been turned
ut of the House. Five contesting Republi-
ans have been admitted, and one seat has
'een declared vacant. Pensions of $4,000 per
nnum were granted to Mrs. Garfield, Mrs.
lincoln, and two other wives o. ex-presi-
ents. The salary of President Garfield for
ne year, less the amount drawn by him, was
to his widow.
1t will be seen that Congress has accom-
lished fair average amount of general
egislation in addition to passing the appro-
riation bills. But it has done nothing of
Importance since July LIST. Its record would
e better if adjournment had taken place
hen. The introduction of tax bill SO late
n the session was blunder. 1t followed
he appointment of the Tariff Commission.
he commission should not have been pro-
ided for, or it should have been permitted
D do its work without interference. The
fort to supersede it was sure to be failure,
lore or less complete.
/