Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-24
THE ONGEST SESSION.
Work Done by Congress During Its Nee
ing of 321 Days.

Work Done by Congress During Its Meet
ing of 321 Days.
WASHINGTON, October 2O.-To-day the
frst session of the 50th congress ended. It
was the longest continuous session in the
history of nearly a century Of congresses,
having lasted 321 days. The longest pre-
vious session ran 302, ending September
80. Apart from the protracted discussion
of the tariff question in both houses and
the deadlock in the consideration of the
bill to refund the direct tax, the session
was remarkable in several ways, but in
nane more Than in the number
of measures introduced ia both branches of
congress-.
In the Senate 3,641 bills and 116 joint
resolutions were presented, and in the
figures of II 1913 bills and $50 Joint reso-
~lutions, making q grand total of 1855
measures introduced in n session. In the
Senate 1884 measures were reported back
from committees and placed on the calen-
der, a. much larger proportion than in the
House, where S,305 measures OF the total
number of IL, 1928 introduced still slumber
in the committee Dom
BILLS THAI BECAME LAWS.
Among the measures of public interest
that have become avs are the following:
Relating to permissible marks on mail
matter; for the division Of the Sioux res
ervation; for a conference with South and
Central American nations; for limiting the
$1,000 IL. l-NAo- n1--or1, g. -o1l.--
Lieutenant General Sheridan general OF the
army; to establish a department OF labor;
requiring Pacific railroad companies to
maintain telegraph lines; to prohibit the
coming of Chinese laboreIs to the United
States; for the establishment of rules in
| respect to st. Marie and other canals; to
establish boards OF arbitration to settle
controversies between common carriers
and their employees; to prevent the return
of Chinese laborers to this country; to aid
State homes for disabled soldiers, and
changing the date OF the meeting of the
electoral college.
In the next stage, that is, in the confer
ence between the two houses, are two bills
of first Importance, namely: Repeating the
pre-emption and timber culture laws and
| providing for a general homestead law and
declaring the forfeiture OF unearned rail-
road land grants.
Pending before the Senate is the House
tariff bill and the Senate substitute.
THE SENATE PASSED BILLS
! to divide Dakota and admit the southern
half us a state, and to aid common school
education blair billy, 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: Fisheries re-
| t~aliation bill, whose passage was recon-
mended by the President; authorizing the
issue of fractional silver certificates, and
| allowing regulation by states OF railways
| chartered by the United States.
Following are the most important bills
| acted upon on the Senate calendar: For the
| admission OF Montana Inc Washington
| Territories; to prohibit the alcoholic liquor
traffic; to declare trusts unlawful.
The following measures of Importance
were reported from House committee and
are still on the House calendar: To refund
the direct tax "a vote on which will be
taken early in December next under al
agreement by which the memorable dead
lock over this bill was broken\; for the pay
ment of Arrears of pensions; requiring the
investment of the national bank redemp-
ton fund in circulating notes; Pacific rail
road refunding bill debated, but never
reached the point of action); to include
telegraph companies under the Interstate
commerce act; to promote commercial
union with Canada; to incorporate the
Nicaragua Canal Company; for the organ
ization OF the Territory Of Oklahama (de-
bated but not finally voted on).
Following are the important Senate bills
which
IN COMMITTEES:
Requesting the President to open nego.
tiations with Great Britain with q view to
the annexation of Canada to the United