Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-08-19
10, 1880.
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
What cds Done and Left Undone at the
Recent Session.

What ,cas Done and Left Undone at the
Recent Session.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 3.-The first ses-
sion of the Forty-ninth Congress, which
ended to day, began on Monday, Decem-
Der Z, 1885, and covered period of sew
en- months and twenty-eight days, or 24l
days, exclusive of Sundays. OF this
time the Senate was in session 164 days
and the House 1S5 days. During that
time there were introduced in the two
houses 13,202 measures, of which 1904
were House bills and 214 House joint res
olutions, and 1891 bills and S3 joint res
olutions of the Senate. The measures
proposed for enactment into laws exceed
ed in number by 2,949 those introduced
at the first session of the Forty-eighth
Congress, which sat for seven months and
four days, or 165 days of actual working
time.
The total number of measures that
passed both houses was 1,101, being 24l
Senate bills and $50 bills which origina-
ted in the House. 1905 of these were re-
ceived by the President, and of that num-
Der S14 were approved, 157 became laws
without the Presidents signature, 10
were vetoed, and 8 failed for want Of sig
nature at the time of adjournment, ten
days not having expired since they reach
ed the President. The number of meas.
ures vetoed during the session was four
more than have been vetoed from the
foundation of the government to the be-
ginning of the session just closed. While
nearly all of the vetoed bills of the SEN
ate were reported back from committees
with the recommendation that they pass,
Notwithstanding the Presidents objection,
and while similar action was taken on
some of the House bills, only one (that
granting a pension to Joseph Romiser)
was passed by the two houses over the
veto The consideration Of the other We
to messages has been postponed until the
next session.
The measures of general importance
that have been enacted into laws during
the session in addition to the regular ap-
preparation bills are as follows: The
presidential succession bill, providing for
the succession TO the Office of President
of the members of the cabinet, in case Of
the removal, death, resignation or inabil-
ity Of both the President and Vice-Presi-
dent to provide for the study Of the ma
ture and effect Of alcoholic drinks and
narcotics; to legalize the incorporation OF
national trades-unions the oleomargarine
bill Ut provides for tax of two cents a
pound on imitation butter, and requires
that the packages containing it shall be
branded and stamped y the bill for the
increase of the navy (it provides for the
construction Of two seagoing double-bot-
toned armOred vessels Of about SIX thou
sand tons displacement, one protected
double-bottomed cruiser Of from 5000 TO
5000 tons displacement, one first-clasa
torpedo boat, and for the completion OF
the four double-turreted monitors now be-
ing constructed. Itappropriates $780,
900 for the construction Of these vessels
and 81 600, 900 for armament > to reduce
the fees on domestic money orders for
sums not exceeding five dollars from
eight to five cents for the relief of Fitz-
John Porter; providing that after July
l. 1886. no fees shall be charged To
American vessels for measurement Of
tonnage, issuing Of license, granting Of
certificate of registry, ETC., and amending
the laws relative to the shipping and dis
charging of crews, the liability of Own
ers Of vessels, the licensing Of vessels
etc; to forfeit the lands granted to the
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company
and restore the same to settlement; to in
crease to s12 a month the pensions 0
widows and dependant relatives Of deceas
ed soldiers and sailors; to amend section
1886 of the Revised Statutes 50 as TO re