The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-10-27
WORK OF CONGRESS.
summary Of tho Bills Passed and Of
tbs Many Important Measures
That Have Failed.


IN the history OF the country--and for
Is yoluminous tariff debates. which
also exceed greatly any previous debate on
the tariff. OF the socalled public acts very
largo proportion are local or private in their
character. There is long list OF acts permit
ting railroad companies 10 bridge nsylgable
streams and extend their lines through In
dian reservations, and creating corporations
IN the District OF Columbia, and permitting
various things 20 be done la particular places
and authorizing terms OF court 10 be held
where they are not held now. The following
list comprises about all the general acts OF
much importance passed during the session
Of nearly eleven months;
The Chinese exclusion bill and bill spcci-
fcially forbidding the rc-cnlrance into tho
country OF Chinese laborcrs now here.
Authorizing the President To arrange a
conference between the nations OF Central
and South America and West Indies for the
establishment OF international arbitration and
The promotion OF commerce.
Rcyiying the grade OF general for the bcno-
Ct OF Gen. Sheridan.
Enabling certain volunteer soldiers who,
under treasury rnlirg, Were denied the
500 bounty under the at OF 1872 10 receive
the benefits OF that act.
Increasing the rate Of pension for total
deafness from S13 10 $50.
Making decorate on day holiday in the
District OF Columbia.
Paying stats and territorial homes for old
soldiers 600 year for each inmate.
Appropriating money for the erection Of a
gun factory and the purchase of steel fore-
ings 10 be made into heavy ordinance.
Providing In tho naval appropriation bill
fur several new ships OF war.
Establishing statute OF limitations for the
benefit OF The bondsmcn OF the Gi,bursing
officers.
lRcndeiing judgments and drrses IN federal
courts liens on property throughout tbs
State in which the court Is held.
Breaking mp the exclusive contracts OF the
Western Mon Telegraph company with the
Pacific railroads.
Limiting tho hours OF work for lcttrr-car-
ricrs to eight per day.
70 the division OF tho Sioux reservation
according to plan and on conditions which
the Indians have just rejected.
Amending the act excluding offensive mat
Ger from tn mails.
Amending the act authorizing the post
master general 10 adjust the claims Of post
masters Tor losses by lire, burgarly, et'.
establishing beacon lights on tho Illinois
river.
Providing for an International conference
10 secure greater safety for life and property
at sea.
Making changes IN the navigation laws re-
lating mainly 10 consular fees.
For the protection OF federal officials Ia In
dian Territory.
uh)rizing marshals to arrest offenders
and fugiuvcs from justice in Indian Terri
tory.
Furnishing robbery, burglary. and larceny
in Indian Territory.
Authorizing the condemnation OF land for
sites for public buildings.
Amending the law TO punish timber deprc-
dation.
OF private bills about 500 have become
laws a, this session, and OF these as were
private pension bills, 500 OF which became
laws by the Presidents signature aud 90 be-
came laws without IT, Among the private
pension bills OF this session are two granting
pensions u $4,000 "A year each 10 the widows
OF Gems. Logan and Blair. 1hs bill 10 give
Mrs. sheridan So, 800 has not passed the House
OF account OF the failure to get unanimous
consent 10 time when a quorum was alb
sent Several generals widows have had
their special pensions doubled az this session
Nancy Rains, the odc.t revolutionary pen
sioncr, has had her pension raised to $50 a
month. John w. January, the Illinois sol
dicr who ampuiatcd both OF his own feet at
Andcrsonvlle has had pension OF Si00 a
month given him. and several disabled sol
dierS have had their pensions raised TO So a
months.
This Congress he's tho distinction OF voting
more money for rivers AMI harbers and for
Tho aggregate appropriations for public
building amour 10 S1,2i9.5l0, but more than
a million OF thi, is contingent and may not
be required. Congress provided for twenty
seven new public buildings besides appro-
praiing money TO continue large number
now in process II erection and To repair and
enlarge another considerable number. Chi
gago gets S20)OOO In dliton b $4,000 ON
hand for the appraisers warehouse.
Among the Joint resolutions OF the session
were that directing the geological survey TO
investigate tho practica5ilty OF constructing
reservoirs for the storage 81 water In the arid
regions, approprlatlng 100000 % prevent
the Introduction OF yellow fever into the
United States or its transmission from one
State 10 another; making appropriations for
the representation OF the United sites at the
exposition 20 hc held In Paris, Brussels,
Barcelona. and Melbourne.
The bill to create a bureau OF labor be-
came law at this session, hut IL merely
changes tho organization OF the existing
BUREAU.
Among the measures that failed for this
session are the following: The tariff bill the
bill 10 qnict the title OF settlers ON the Dcs
Moines river lands; bill for the settlement OF
private land claims the postal telegraph bill I;
the interstate telegraph bill the bill 20 amend
the interstate commerce law; the dependent
pension bill bills 20 admit Dakota ana Wash
i -. h. s.f