, 1885-03-04
A Resume of the Work of the
Last Congress.
The Important Measures Acted
Upon by that Body.
Texas Pacific Railroad En-
plOyes on Strike.

bills and 345 JOINT resolutions. The fol-
lowing named measures ofgeneral import
ance have been enacted into laws: a bill to
establish n bureau of labor; to establish a
bureau of animal industry, tn prevent the
expectation of diseased cattle and to pro.
vide for the suppression and extirpation
of pleuro pneumonia and other contagious
diseases among domestic animals; to re-
peal the test oath act of 1862; to limit to |
three years the time in which prosecutions
may be begun against persons for viola
ton of internal revenue laws; t. establish
a bureau of navigation in the treasury
department; to grant letter carriers at
free delivery Offices fifteen days
leave of absence with pay in each year; to
provide a retired list for soldiers and
marines who served continuously for thirty
years OF upwards. To reduce the rate of
postage on newspapers and other periodi-
Gals second class when sent by others than
publisher or news agent, to one cent for
each four ounces; to remove certain bur
dens from the American merchant marine
(the dingy shipping bilD; to provide a civil
government for Alaska; to prevent and
punish counterfeiting in United States Of
bonds or other securities of foreign govern
ments; to extend the duration Of the court
commissioners of the Alabama claims; to
make all public roads and highways post
roads; to make it felony for n person to
falsely personate an officer or employee of
the United States, or any department
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 and then left their commands without
leave; to provide for the location Of a
branch home for disabled volunteer SOL
diers of the Mexican war and the war Of
1872, whose disabilities were not incurred
in service against the United States; to-
to reorganize the corps Of advocates Of
the army; TO declare forfeited certain
lands granted to aid in the construction Of
a railroad and telegraph line from Port
land to Astoria, Ore; to r%eorganize the
inspector generals department of the
army; to provide for the ascertainment of
claims of American citizens for spoila-
tons committed by the French prior to
July 81, 1901, by referring them to the
court of claims.
The following important bills have been
sent to the president for his approval and
will doubtless be signed by him before
the adjournment Of congress tomorrow,
hence may be considered as enacted A
bill to prohibit the importation and mi
grafton of foreigners and aliens
under contract or agreement to
perform labor in this country: to
declare forfeited lands granted to
aid construction of the Texas Pacific rail-
road and to prevent unlawful occupation
of public lands.
Among important measures yet remain
ing in conference committees upon points
of difference between the houses are the
house bill to repeal the pre-. emption and
timber culture laws; house bill to forfeit
lands granted Atlantic & Pacific Railroad
company, and house bill to provide for
settlement of claims Of officers and enlisted
men of the army for private property de-
stroyed in the service Of the United
States.
The most important measures which
have come before this congress for action
and failed to pass are as follows. The
Morrison tariff bill, to reduce import du-
ties and war taxes; MePherson's bill to
provide for the issue OF circulating notes
to national banks; Blair's bill to provide
for the establishment and temporary sup
port of common schools; a bill to provide
for the collection of statistics relating to
marriage and divorce; bill to provide for
the performance of the duties of the presi-
dent of the United States in case Of death;
removal, resignation or inability of both
the president and vice president; a propo-
sition to suspend the coinage of standard
silver dollars; a bill to provide for the
IcolOIttiou VI Iitl JOuu IpIltT ~ lnc
army passed both houses, but was vetoed;
the house bill to authorize the purchase
by citizens of the United States and Of
admission free of duty Of foreign built
ships for use in the foreign carrying trade;
the house joint resolution 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 shall be limited to persons who
have been residents of such territories for
at least two years; the senate Joint resolu-
ton proposing an amendment to the con-
stitution to provide that right of citizens
to vote shall not be denied or abridged on
account of nativity; a bill to provide for
the establishment of an uniform system
of bankruptcy throughout the United
States; the 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 alco-
holic liquor traffic. A bill to establish a
hoard of commissioners of inter state