St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-07
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Bills Passed Into Laws During the
Present Session.

WASHINGTON, July 6.-The first session Of the
Forty-eighth congress is expected to close to
morrow. 1t has extended over period of seven
menths and four days, although the actual work
ing time will not exceed 1865 days In that time
there has been introduced in the senate 1857
bills and ninety joint resolutions, and in
the house 1907 bills and 2S4 resolutions. OF
these, sixty-siX senate bills and ten senate
lutions have passed both houses and become
laws by executive approval, aud sixty-two house
bills and forty-two house resolutions bave be-
come laws in the same manner. Three house
bills also became laws without action of the pres
ident, and one returned to the house with
his veto. OF the measures introduced in the
senate 1868 bills and seventeen joint resolutions
were indefinitely postponed, and six bills laid up
on the table, In the house fourteen bills and
three joint resolutions postponed
indefinitely. majority of the measures
introduced in both houses related to matters not
of general Importance, such as bills for private
relief and pensions, for erection of public build
ings. the bridging of rivers, and other improve
ments only of local Importance. The following
measures passed both houses and were signed by
the president, in addition to the regular annual
appropriation bills and river and harbor bills:
bill to reduce the rate of postage news
papers and periodical publications of the second
class, when sent by others than the publisher or
news agent, to one cent for each four ounces.
A bill to provide civil government fer Alaska.
bill to extend the duration of court COM
missioners of Alabama claims until December
1885,
A bill to prevent and punish counterfeiting in
the United States of bonds or other securities of
foreign governments.
A 70 q, 1aau Of ahc
with pay, in each year to letter carriers.
bill to authorize the Sc cfetary of war to offer
reward of $4,000 for the rescue of the Greedy
Arctic exploration party.
A bill to establish bureau of labor statistics.
A bill to make all public roads and highways
post roads.
A bill to authorize the legislatures of the states
of Illinois, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee
to sell or lease certain lands appropriated for
school purposes.
A bill to remove certain burdens from Ameri-
can merchant marine, commonly known the
Dingley shipping bill.
A bill to establish a bureau of animal industry
to prevent the xportatian of deceased cattle and
provide for the suppression and extirpation of
peuro- pneumonia and other contagious diseases
among domestic animals.
A bill TO make it felony for any person to per-
senate any officer employe of the United States
acting under authority of the United States or
any department thereof.
A bill to repeal the test oath act of 1859.
A bill to authorize the fitting out of an expedi-
ton for the relief of Lieut.. Greedy and party in
arctic seas.
A bill to limit the time in which prosecutions
may be begun against persons for violation of in
ternal revenue laws to three years.
A bill to relieve from charge Of desertion GER
tain soldiers of the late war, who having served
faithfully until the close of the war, left their
commands without leave.
A bill to provide for the location in a state west
of the Mississippi river branch home for volun-
teer soldiers of the late war; and for soldiers of
the Mexican war and the war of 1912, whose dis
abilities were not incurred in service against the
the United States.
A bill to provide for the disposal of abandoned
and useless military reservations.
A bill to reorganize the corps of the judge ad-
vocates army.
A bill to establish bureau of navigation in
the treasury department.
The following measures have been Incorporated
in the regular appropriation bill and become
laws:
TO appoint commission to visit the several
countries of central and South America, to col
lect information to the best mode of securing
more intimate international and commercial re-
lations between these countries and the United
States.
To provide that hereafter all estimates of ap-
preparations and estimates DEFICIENCIES in appro-
priations extended for the consideration of con-
gress shall be transmitted to congress through
the secretary of the treasury and in no other
manner.
To provide that the number of deputy collec-
tors internal revenue gaugers, storekeepers and
clerks employed in the internal revenue service
shall not be increased.
To create a board Of pension appeals to be an.
pointed by the secretary of the interior
To provide for the appointment Of a scientific
commission which may in the name of the United
State government conduct a national conference
Of electricians in Philadelphia in the autumn of
1884.
To authorize the president, in case of threat
ened or actual epidemic, to use the unexpended
balance of the appropriation not to exceed
100000 in aid of state and local boards or
otherwise in his discretion, in preventing and
suppressing spread of the same and maintaining
quarantine at points of danger
To permit admission to the government hospital
for insane of inmates of Soldiers Home who are
now or may hereafter become insane.
To provide it shall not be lawful for the head
of an executive department of any bureau,
branch or offices of the government to cause to
be printed, nor for the public printer to print
any document ormatter of any character what
ever, except that which is authorized by law and
necessary to administer public business; nor for
any bureau officer to embrace in his annual or
other report to be printed any matter not directly
pertaining 70 The duties Of bis office as presented
by law.