Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-17
WASHINGTON.
FACTS. NEWS AND GOSSIP FROM THE
KATIoxA. CAPITAL.
The Work OF Congress Passea-A
Dimcpl; Problem for Congress
10 Solve. Sc.
rmm our Rcenl,r corrcspondent

irrom our Regular Corrcspondentl
WASHINGTON. ID. c., April To-
There are no good grounds for the COM
plants that have been published TO the
effect that Congress is behind with its
business. So far as the appropriation
bills are concerned the status is about
the same as prevailed in the first ses-
sion Of the forly-eigL,h Congress at the
corresponding date. Under the new
rules, however. legislative matters can
rot be attached 20 these measures. thus
doing away with the long political
hsraneucs that have heretofore charac-
teiised their consideration. The ad-
vantsgt is evidenced by the fact that
TIE agricultural bill passed the House
forty five minutes after being called up
for consideration. The delay, If any,
has BEEN occasioned by the committees
in 10, presenting the appropriation bills,
and in the further fact that too
much time was lost in stump
orstory on the silver-coinsge bill.
As as Offset to this 1t may
be tru,hfully said that in the mat
ter Of general legislation the Forty
ninth Congress stands preeninent with
its professors for many years. To
say nothing Of the passage Of upwards
Of 400 private pension bills, the House
has disposed Of tWeuty-four bills for
the construction OF bridges over nsvigs-
bic streams twenty establishing light
houses or light.ships on the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts; one amending the
revenue laws relating 10 port dues
four mes sures amending the internal
revenue laws one relating to evidence
IN election contests: the Mex
Jean pension bill; several mea-
SUES iorleiliDg land grants, increasing
pensions Of widows and dependent rela-
tjves OF soldiers. the fitz John Porter
bill. and the bills 10 pension Mrs.
Gran, and Mrs. Hancock. or the APP
rropriation bills, the pension. Indian,
posi.oifice. aud agricultural bills have
been PASSED. while the Indian bill has
passed the Senate and is back in the
House for concurrence in several
amendments. At the first session Of
the Forty. eighth Congress, on the cor
responding date, the military academy,
the naval. Indian, aud agricultural bills
had been passed by the House, but all
other legislation had been utterly ne
elected.
"The Committee on Commerce is at
present engaged upon the most difficult
problem before Congress, viewed from
3 political standpoint" is the verdict
OF Hon. Mr. Barnes. Of Georgis--" the
admission OF Dakota TO the Union.
Should the southern half be admitted
we would have two additional Republi-
can senator's, and then in very short
time two from the northern part, as
that has a very large population, and
cannot be kept out for any considerable
length Of time. In the present status
of the two great political parties the
four electoral votes, with the additional
number derived from popular repre-
stn,siion, makes it difficult question
70 deal with. The two additional votes
Incidental 10 the making of two States
might decide the presidential contest. y"
The only way out ofthe dilemma would
be 10 admit the Territory as whole,
and this is the opinion Of the Democratic
members Of the committee.