The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-03-05
PALTRY RESULTS.
Waste of Time by the Fif-
tieth Congress.
80 CHANGE IN REVENUE LAWS.
The ornnsbus Bin the Most Import
ant worS-Land Bills and
Oklahoma hin Fan.


oklahoma hin Fan.
WASHINGTON, March A. Cridoubted-
edly the most noteworthy legislative
act OF the 50th congress, which closed
st noon to-day, was the passage OF an
act by which there viii be an addition
of four new stars to the national col
ors. The first session was made I'M
usually interesting by the national
election, which was near st hand. and
the lines OF both parties we're closely
! drawn. with the leaders watching
eagerly Tor every opportunity that
might give them an advantage, how
ever slight. in the approaching contest
/ Although the measure which caused
prolongation OF The first session TO 3
time beyond all precedent failed of en-
aetnenf and resulted in nothing save
a mighty torrent of debate. congress
nevertheless achieved a considerable
amount OF work. More bills have been
/ introduced and more enacted into
| laws than during any other congress.
In the matter OF vetoss the hereto
fore unsurpassed record of the 10Th
congress has been beaten, President
Cleveland disappearing more bills dur
! ing the last twa years OF his admins
tration than in the first two. He has
vetoed directly 2TS bills, 157 more than
all his predecessors combined. from
/ Washington down, while Number OF
measures have been objected TO by
| pocket veto"
During the two sessions there have
been introduced in the house 1869
bills, or 400 moro than in the proceed
ing congress, and PSI joint resolu-
tons, or more than in the Forty
ninth congress. Committee reports
have been made to the number of
4,i54.
In the senate 1898 bills and l4i joint
resolutions have been introduced,
against 5 1857 bills and lis resolutions
during the Forty-ninth congress,
which broke all previous records IN
this respect. There were 2.706 Written
reports made, or over 100sin excess Of
the preceding congress.
Or all these bills and joint resolu-
tons. 1,T9i became laws, of which
number 1,190 originated in the house
and COL in the senate The president
also sent veto messages in the case of
80 house and AZ senate bills, or Is
more vetoes than were made during
the previous congress. Bills originate
ing in the senate became laws To the
number oil col, of which 400 were of
private character. Forty-seven senate
bills were vetoed, the most important
being those for the erection OF public
buildings at Youngstown, o.. and
Sioux City, Ia, and the direct tax
bill.
By far the most important senate
bills enacted into law have been the
omnibus territorial admission bill, by
which North and South Dakota,
Washington and Montana Territories
may acquire statehood. Among other
senate bills placed on the statute book
are: To provide for wareaousing fruit
brandy; to increase the pension for
loss of both hands, aud also for deaf
ness; to incorporate the Nicaragua
Canal Company and to provide aid to
state homes for the support of dis
abled soldiers.
OF the house bills which became |
laws, $50 were private bills and 3oS /
measures of a public character. Ill |
of the 90 house bills vetoed except /
were either private pension or relief |
bills. The eight public bills were as fol- /
the Des Moines river lands, iowa; for /
the sale of Indian lands in Kansas. |
for the disposal of the Fort Wallace |
military reservation in Kansas; au- |
thorizing the Improvement of Castle |
island, Boston harbor; for the certifi- /
cation OF lands to the state of Kansas:
for the benefit OF agriculture and the |
mechanical arts; for the erection of |
public buildings at Columbus, Ca, /
Allentown, Pa, Council Bluffs. Ia.
and Bar Harbor, Me.
Some OF the more important house |
bills which became laws are as follows |
For conference OF South and Central |
American nations in Washington in |
May next; TO divide the great Sioux /
reservation, Dakota; the Chinese ex- /
clusion act, for protection of United |
states officials in Indian Territory; TO |
authorize the condemnation of land |
for sites OF public buildings; creating
the department of agriculture, the |
head of the department. TO be cabinet /
officer; to establish the department OF /
labor: TO create boards of arbitration /
or commission for the settlement OF |
controversies and differences between |
Interstate common carriers and their /
employes; 70 prohibit the coming of /
To allow any honorabiy discharged I
soldier or sailor who has abandoned or /
relinquished a homestead entry To /
make another; to change the time OF 1
meeting of the electoral college: rati |
tying the Creek Indian agreement: TO |
enable the president 20 protect the /
interests OF the United States in Pana- |
ma, 10 protect the Alaska fur seal and /
salmon fisheries; directing the secre- /
tary OF the interior 10 investigate the /
practicability OF constructing water /
storage reservoirs in the arid regions. /
and Tor the erection of public build- /
ings or the enlargement or change of 4
existing buildings at several cities.
Congress also passed bills to pen /
sion Mrs. Sheridan, Mrs. Logan. Mrs. |
Frank r. Blair, and 10 retire Gen. /
Rosecrans.
Three hundred and thirty-three /
bills which passed the house failed i'm /
the senate IN conference. The most /
notable OF these were the Mills tariff /
bill aud the Oklahoma bill. Other inn /
portant house measures which failed /
are as follows: The general land bill /
and the general forfeiture bill: TO pre-
vent product convict labor from being I
used IN any government department. /
Va 1fStt FAb3N bAttditlEH Ut pubic
works; 70 amend the internal /
revenue laws by relaxing The rigors OF /
the laws; authorizing the five civil
he'd Indian tribes 10 lease their lands /
subject TO the approval ST the secFe-
tary of the interior, authorizing the !
issue OF fractional silver certificates:
to prevent the employment OF alien /
labor upon public buildings or in the
various departments OF the govern
meut; TO forfeit the Northern Pacific
land grant; to provide for revocation
and withdrawal of land grants made
for the benefit of certain railroads
the fisheries retaliation bill RECON-
mended by the president.
Six hundred and eighty-four bills
after passing the senate failedl through
one cause or another 10 reach the
president The most important are
as follows: Declaring the sense OF the
United States government with refer /
ence 20 foreign control Of the Panama
canal: the Blair educational bill: the
dependent pension till; providing for
inspection of meats and prohibiting I