The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-04
One OF Che Most Noteworthy Sos
sions of Congress- Ever Held.
Its Striking Feature is the Addition
of Four New Stars to the Flag.
1t Has Been characterized by Sharp
and Acrimonious Debates.
Last But Not Least is the Number OF
vetoes by the President. Which Ex-
ceeds the vetoes of ali Presi-
dents Combined by i57.


the most noteworthy Legislative act of the
Fiftieth Congress- which closes at noon to-
morrow, has been the passage OF the act
by which there will be an addition of four
new stars on the field OF blue OF the Amer
icap national colors. The Congress has
been in many respects a remarkable one,
and in its length has exceeded that OF any
previous Congress. II has been charac-
terized by some sharp and acrimonious
debates. and on several occasions person.
alities have been exchanged OF a character
more bitter and exasperating than polite.
The first session was made unusually in
teresting by the fact that a national cleo
tion was near at hand and that the lines Of
both parties were closely drawn with the
leaders watching eagerly for every oppor-
tunity that might give them an advan-
tage, however slight, in the approaching
contest Although the measure which
ca;:sca :hc p:c!cns:.:cn ci the Grs!
session well into the autumn and
TO time beyond all precedent,
failed Of enactment and resulted in
nothing save mighty torrent Of debate, the
Congress has, nevertheless, achieved
considerable amount Of work.. More bills
have been introduced and more enacted
into laws than during any other Congress
In the matter Of vetoes. the heretofore un-
surpassed record Of the Foriy-ninth Con-
gress has been beaten, President Cleveland
disappearing more bills during the last
two years OF his Administration than dur
ing the first two. He has vetoed directly
21S bills-l57 more than all his predeces-
sors combined from Washington down,
while number OF measures have been
subjected to what is called the pocket
veto-that is, they failed TO become laws
because the President did not sign them,
and because the sessions OF Congress ex-
pircd before the constitutional limitation
OF ten days was no, when the President is
required TO express his disapproval. Four.
teen bills failed to become laws in this
manner at the close Of tho first session OF
the present Congress,
Beginning on the first Monday in De-
cembcr, 1887. the Fiiiieth Congress con-
tinued practically uninierruplcdly in ses-
= sion until the 20ih OF October, 1883, when
II adjourned 10 meet forth secoud session
in December, and 20 continue until March
4, 1889, as required by law. During the
two sessions there have been introduced
In the House 1860 bills, or LOO moro
than In the preceding Congress, aud PCS
joint resolutions, or five more than In the
Foriy-ninth Congress. Committee reports
have been made 10 the number OF 4, l5i
In the Senate 3,99S bills and IA joint res.
oluiions have been introduced, against
1857 bills and llS resolutions during the
Foriy-ninth Congress, which broke all
previous records In this respect There
were 2,705 written reports made, or over
200 In excess Of the preceding Congress.
OF all these billsand joint resolutions !, ,7gl
became laws, Of which number 100 orig.
mated In the lilo use and COL In the Senate.
The President also sent veto messages In
the case OF ninely-nine House and forty.
seven Senate bills, or fourteen more We
toes than were made during the previous
Congress.
Olihe House bills, which became laws,
S32 were private bills and 35S measures OF
public character. All OF the nineiy-ninc
House bills vetoed except eight, were either
private pension or relief bills Tho eight
public bills are rs follows
To quiet title Of settlers on tho Dcs
Moincs River lands in Iowa; for the sale OF
Indian lands in Kansas; for the disposal
OF the Fort Wallace Military Reservation
IN Kansas; authorizing the Improvement
OF Castle Island, Boston iiarbor; for the
!, certilcation Of lands 10 tho State Of
Kansas for the benefit OF agriculture aud
the mechanic aris;ior the erection OF public
buildings Mt Columbus, Ca; Allentown,
Pa; Council Bluas, Ia, and Bar Har-
Dor, Me.
Some Of the more important House bills
which have become laws, are as follows
For conference ci South and Central
American nations In Washington In May
next; 10 divide the great Sioux reservation
In Dakota; tho Scott Chinese exclusion
act; providing for the taking OF the
eleventh census TO limit the hours Of let
ter carriers; 10 provide q building for the
Chief Signal Officer In Washington; for
the protection OF United States officials In
the Indian Territory; 10 authorize the con-
demnation Of land for sites Of public
buildings; 10 require United States Circuit
and District Judges 10 instruct juries IN
writing In certain cases; creating Depart
mcnt OF Agriculture, the head OF the dc.
partment TO be Cabinet officer; 10 author
lie the location of branch home for vol
untecr disabled soldiers In Grant County,
Ind. 10 protect lands belonging 10
Indians from unlawful grazing; Ia
establish Department of Labor "a
create boards Of arbitration or com
mission for settling controversies OF
differences between Interstate common
carriers aud their employees; to enable the
executive departments 10 participate Ia
the Ohio exposition; 10 increase the maxi
mum amount OF international money or
ders from $50 10 $780, TO punish robbery
and burglary In the Indian Territory, pro
yiding for an appraisers warehouse Ia New
York; providing for deposits Of The saw.
ings Of seaman in the United States navy
accepting an invitation 10 participate In thu
Paris exposition; for the erection, exicn
sion or repair Of public buildings or ma
rinc hospitals at Evansville, Ind; Wichita
kanh; Monroe, La; Sedalia. Springfield
Buffalo, Asheyile, statesville, n q.
Portsmouth. o.; Lancaster, Pa; Green
vile, Charleston, :. G.. Charleston, w
Va; Helena. Ark. Arsenal Columbia
Tenn; Birmingham, Ala; lowell Mass.
Duluth, MINI; Chattanooga, Tenn; Tex