Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-03-12
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
THURSDAY. MARCH 5. 1885.
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
Summary of Measures, Successful and 9th
erwiss, in the Forty eighth Congress.

Summary of Measures, successiul ana Ooh-
erwiss, in the Forty-eighth Congress.
WASHINGTON, March 4.-During the
two sessions Of the F0rty-eighth Con-
gress there have been introduced in the
House 1926 bills and 345 joint resOlu-
tons. The following named measures
of general importance have been enact
ed into laws: Bills to establish bu-
reau of labor; to establish a bureau OF
animal industry, to prevent the expOrta-
tion of diseased cattle and provide for
the suppression and extirpatiOn OF pleu-
70 pneumonia and other contagious dis
eases among domestic animals; to repeal
the test oath act of 1862; to limit to three
years the time in which prosecution may
be begun against persons for violation
Of internal revenue laws; to establish q
bureau of navigation in the Treasury
Department; to grant letter carriers IT
free delivery offices fifteen days leave OF
absence with pay each year; to provide a
retired list for soldiers and mariners
who served continuously fer thirty years
and upwards; to reduce the rates Of post
age on newspapers and other periodical
publications Of the second class when
sent by others than publishers or news
agents to l cent for each four ounces; to
remove certain burdens from American
merchant marine Qhe Dingley shipping
bilD; to provide civil government for
Alaska; to prevent and punish counter
feiting in the United States of bonds or
other securities of foreign governments;
to extend ths duration Of the court of
commissioners OF Alabama claims; to
make all public roads and highways post
roads; to make it felony for any person
to falsely pers0nate an officer or empl0ye
of the United States acting under au-
thOrity of the United States, or any de-
partment thereof to relieve from the
charge of desertiOn certain soldiers of
the late war who, after having served
faithfully until the close Of the war. left
their command without leave; to provide
for the location OF branch home for
disabled volunteer soldiers of the Mexi-
can war and war of 1912, whose disabili-
ties were not incurred in service against
the United States; to recognize the corps
of Judge advocates Of the army; to de-
clare forfeited lands granted to aid in
the construction Of a railroad and tsle-
graph line from Portland to Astoria,
Ore; to re0rganizs the inspectors gensr
al department of the army; to provide
for the ascertainment Of claims of Amer
lean citizens for spOliatiOns committed
II
referring them to the court Of claims.
IMPORTANT MEASURES WHICH FAILED.
The most important measures which
have come before the Congress for action
and failed was as follows; The Morris
on tariff bill ito reduce import duties
and war taxss;' the Mcpherson bill to
provide for the issue of circulating notes
to national banks; the Blair bill to pro-
vide for the establishment and temper
airy support Of common schools; the bill
TO provide for collection Of statistics re-
lating to marriage ard divorce; the bill
to provide for the performance of the du-
ties of President Of the United States in
case Of death, removal, resignation or
inability of both the President and Vice
President; proposition to suspend the |
coinage of standard silver dollars; the |
substance Of the House bill to provide an |
appropriation for the commencement of |
work on the Hennepin canal; the House |
bill to provide for the restoration Of Fitz |
John Porter to the army passed both |
Houses but was vetoed; the House bill to |
authorize the purchase by citizens OF the |
United States and admission free of duty |
of foreign built ships for use in the for
eign carrying trade; the House joint res |
elution, proposing an amendment to the |
constitution, to provide that the right of |
citizens of the United States to vote shall |
not be denied or abridged by the United |
States or any state on account of sex; |
the Senate bill to provide for a copyright |
for newspaper articles; the House bill to |
provide that hereafter appointments of |
governors Of territories should be limit |
ed to persons who have been residents of |
said territories for at least two years;
the Senate joint resolution proposing an |
amendment to the constitution to pre-
vide that the right Of citizens to vote
shall not be denied or abridged on &C
count Of nativity; the bill 10 provide for |
the establishment Of a uniform system |
of bankruptcy throughout the United |
States; tho House bill to provide pensions
for veterans of the Mexican war; the |
House joint resolution to provide for the |
appointment Of a commission on the al |
cOholic liquor traffic; the bill to establish |
board of commissioners of interstate |
commerce, and the bill to provide for |
counting the electoral vote.
FAILED OF FINAL ACTION.
OF measures OF general interest intro
dused during the lifetime Of this Con-
gress whieh will fail of final action, a |
large number passed one House but did |
not pass the ether. and many hundreds
never got further than tho calendars Of |
the House in which they originated and
died there, while great many have new
or even been reported from the commit
tees to which they were referred. The
bill to punish bigamy (the Hoar anti
polygamy bilD passed the Senate but
failed in the House. Among bills which
passed the House but failed to pass the
Senate are the following: To declare
forfeited unearned railroad land grants;
to amend the Thurman act. and provide
for Investment Of the sinking fund of