The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-08-12
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
Tho Work Accomplished by the Two Houses
Summarized and Analysed.


The first session of the Forty ninth
Congress, which ended on the 9Th inst,
began on Monday, December z, 1885,
and covered period of seven months
and twenty eight days, or two hundred
and fOrty-one days, exclusive of Sun
days. Of this time the Senate was in
session one hundred and sixty-four days
and the House one hundred and eighty
tive days. During that time there were
introduced in the two houses thirteen
thousand two hundred and two meas
urcs, OF which ten thousand and four
tcen were House bills and two hundred
and fourteen House Joint resolutions,
ana two thousand eight hundred and
nlnety-onc bills and eighty three Joint
resolutions of the Senate.
Inc measures proposed for enactment
into laws exceeded in number by two
hundred and fQrty-nine those introduced
ut the first session of the Forty-eighth
congress, which sat for seven months
ana TOUR days, or one hundred and sixty-
five actual working days. They covered all
sorts OF subjects, from payment at tho
Capltol tor extra services to complex
questions of Legislation with respect to
national finances.
|
few were of what may be termed nation
al Importance. Tho greater number
were measures Of private nature or of
merely local Importance, such as relief
| and pension bills, bills for the erection
| of public buildings, for bridging rivers,
for granting tho right of way to rail
roads through military or Indian reser-
vations, for removal of political disabili-
ties, for changing judicial districts, for
establishing new land offices, for chang
ing names or location or increasing tho
capital stock of national banks and for
printing public documents.
a very small percentage of the whole
number Of bills introduced, of either o
general or private nature, became laws.
comparatively small number succeeded
In getting through the committees to
Witch they were referred, and reaching
the calendars of their respective houses;
some secured passage in the house in
which they originated, but failed of
tctlon i'll the other branch, and q very
large number still remain unconsidered
by the committees to which they were
referred.
The total number of measures that
passed both houses was one thousand
one hundred and one, being two hundred
hundred and sixty bills which originated
in the House. OF this total eight hun
drcd and six became laws with the Presi-
dents approval, one hundred and eighty
ono became laws by limitation, tho
President failing either to approve or
dlsapprove them within ten days after
Their presentation to him; one hundred
and thirteen were vetoed, and one failed
by reason of adjournment without action
by the President. Of the new laws
seven hundred and forty-six were House
measures and two hundred and forty-one
Senate measures. The laws that became
such by limitation were, with two excep-
tlons, private pension and relief bills
The exceptions wcro the bill to authorize
the kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf
hallway to construct n railway through
Indian Territory, and that to retire
Lieutenant Randall.
The appended summary shows tho
present condition of the moro important
matters submitted for the action of Con-
8rcss upon which further action is neces-
sary before they can become laws
Mr.. CullOm's inter State commorco
bill was passed by the Sc late and amend
ca IN the House by substituting the
Reagan or House bill. It is now in con-
ference.
The Mexican pension bill passed the
House and was amended in the Senate
and sent to conference committee.
where it is still pending.
Bills to repeal the timber culture, pre-
cmptlOn and desert land laws and to for.
felt tho Northern Pacific land grant also
remain pending i'll conference commit
tees.
Tho Morrison tariff bill, which pro-
posed In addition to tho reduction of
duties tho modification of the existing
system OF administration Of customs
laws, was reported favorably from tho
Ways and Means Committee, but its
consideration was objected to in the
House, and it remains OH the House
calendar.
Tho Randall tariff bill was reported
adversely from the Ways and Means
Committee, but was placed on the calen-
dnr, whcrO it remains.
Tho House bill to prevent aliens from
acquiring or owning lands in any of the
Territories has passed both houses, but
was sent back to the Public Lands Com
mlttcc of tho House to consider the
Senate amendments, and remains there.
The "Blair" educational bill passed tho
Senate carly In the session, was roforred
to the House Committee on Edu cation.
but has not yet been reported frola that
committee. A similar bill, introduced
in tho House by Representative Willis,
was referred to the Committee On Labor
which reported measure formulated by
itself rs substitute, and it is now on the
House calendar.
Bills to establish uniform system of
bankruptcy wero introduced in both
houses. That introduced in the Senate
by Senator Hoar was reported favorably,
and 1s on tho Senate Calendar, and that
introduced IN the House by Collins was
also favorably reported and is on the
calendar.
The bill to prohibit members of Con-
grcss acting as attorneys for railroads
passed tho Senate, but that action vas
afterwards rcconsidercd and the measure
sent to the Judiciary Committee, from
which substitute measure was reported,
which is now on the Senate Calendar.
The Edmmds bill to give the Presi-
don't nOwor to onDOint rostInasterS and n