Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-10-26
CONGRESS- TAKES A REST.
The Longest Session In the History Of
the Government.
An Epitoms Of Work Done.


sion of the tariff question in both hous es,
and the unparalleled deadlock in the con-
sideration of the bill to refund the direct
tax, tho session has been remarkable in
many ways, but ia none more than the enor-
nous number OF measures introduced in
both branches Of congress. In the senate
3,64l bills and ll6 joint resolutions were
presented and in the house the record ran
up TO the unequGled figures OF II 1898 bills
and 230 joint resolutions, making grand
total Of IL, 5S5 measures introduced in one
session. In the senate 2,34 measures were
reported back from committees and placed
on the calendar, "a much larger proportion
than that in the house where :, 800 measures
of the total number of IL ,s2S still slumber in
the committee rooms Among the measures
of public interest that have become laws are
the following:
Relating TO permissible marks on mail
matter; for the division OF the Sioux reser-
walton; for conference with the South and
Central American nations; limiting the
hours ofletter carriers; making Lieut.. Gen.
Sheridan general of the army; to establish
a department Of labor; for an international
maritime conference; requiring the Pa
chic railroad companies TO maintain
telegraph lines; TO prohibit the com
ing of Chinese laborers To the United
States; for the establishment of rules in
respect to the Sault Ste. Marie and other
canals TO create boards of arbi tration 10
settle controversies between common car
riers and their employees; TO prevent the
return of Chinese labOrers TO this country;
10 aid state homes for disabled soldiers,
and changing the date for the meeting of
the electoral college.
In the next stage, that is In conference
between the two houses, are two bills OF
the first Importance, namely: Repeating
the pre- emption and timber culture laws
and providing general homestead law,
and declaring forfeiture of unearned rail
Nad lnn mrs a
ate is the house tariff bill aud the senate
substitute.
The senate passed bills to divide Dakota
and admit the southern half as state and
TO aid in common school education (the
Blair bill, but they never reached the
house for action. In the senate the same
thing can be said Of the following bills
which passed the house: The fisheries re-
taliation bill, whose passage was recon-
mended by the president; authorizing the
issue Of fractional silver certificates; allow
ing the regulation by states Of railways
chartered by the United States.
The following are the most important bills
Enacted upon on the senate calendar: For
the admission of Manitoba and Washington
territories; TO prohibit the alcoholic liquor
traffic; 20 declare trusts unlawful.
The following measures of Importance
were reported from house committees and
are still on the house calendar: To refund
the direct tax Ca vote on which will be
taken early in December next under an
agreement by which the memorable dead
lock over this bill was broken y for the pay
ment of arrears of pensions; requiring the
investment of the national bank redemp-
ton fund in circulating notes; the Pacific
railroad funding bill debated, but never
reached the point OF action > to include tele-
graph companies under the Interstate COM
merce act; TO promote commercial union
with Canada; to incorporate the Nicaragua
canal company; for the organization OF the
territory of Oklahoma debated, but never
finally voted upon.)
The following are important senate bills
which slumber in committees: Requesting
the president TO open negotiations with
Great Britain looking TO the annexation of
Canada TO the United States for the free
coinage of silver; to repeal the oleomargar-
inc act; TO provide naval reserve; the
Hennepin canal bill; to reduce letter post
age TO one cent; TO grant woman suffrage,
and measures proposing radical changes in
the governments financial policy.
The following are original house bills
which likewise never got out OF commit
tees: To repeal the internal revenue laws
and the tobacco tax; TO prohibit the mail
ing Of newspapers, contf ming lottery adver-
tisements; to lay gradual income tax; for
a bounty on sugar; to repeal the civil SER
vice law: for full reciprocity between the
United States and Canada; directing Judi
cial proceedings 10 be brought against the
Pacific railroads; TO provide more efficient
mail service between the United States
and South America; to break up trusts; ;
and various other measures proposing
changes in our pension, tariff and financial
laws.
The most important private bills of this
session were those pensiOning Mrs. Logan
and Mrs. Frank a. Blair, both of which
became law, and the bills to pension Mrs.
Waite and Mrs. Sheridan which passed the
senate but were never acted upon by the
house
Growth of Three Territories.
T. X. Church, governor of Dakota in his
annual report says there has been a gain in
the population of the territory during the
year of -, 1876 in atotal population Of $40, s23
The quantity of land newly filed on and
purchased for settlement during the year
was = ,5000 600 acres. The governor incloses
the report of +. X. Carpenter of the school
Of mines, which states that the mining in
dustry of the Black Hills is taking on new
life. AS TO the discovery of tin in the Black
Hills the governor remarks that there is not
TO day producing tin-mine nor pound of
Dakota tin in the markets. In conclusion,
he urges that Dakota be admitted as a state
into the union.
f. G.. Ross, governor Of New Mexico, in
his annual report says that the population
OF the territory has increased during the
year about 10000. The aggregate value OF
the taxable property IN the territory is given
as s43 Isl $40. OF this amount, 1870. $50 is
on live stock, 81 466, $50 on lands and S., S5S,
$50 on houses and improvements. Three
hundred and eighty-four thousand acres of
land have been entered during the year by
settlers. The progress made in agriculture
during the year, the report says, is very
marked; and substantial progress has been
made in educational interests.
Edward A. Stevenson, governor OF Idaho,
estimates the population of that territory at
is given at 81, 2SS, 39s, which his report says
| is les than one half of its actual value in
cash A report from the United States
assay office at Boes City shows the gold,
| silver and lead production of the territory
| for the year SS,905, 1876, of which the gold
was s., 522 200, the silver 81, 422, 657 and lead
| Sl,960,2i0
To Perpctuate His Memory.
The foundation stone OF the mausoleum