Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-03-23
Work of the Fiftieth Congress,

The first session Of the congress
that has just closed was the longest
in our history. 1t began the first
Monday in December, 1887, and was
in session continuously till Oct. 20,
1888. 1t adjourned then, pending the
Presidential lection. The second,
or short session, began the first Mon
day in December, 1888, and expired
by Limitation March 4, 1889.
Much time was spent during both
sessions over the tariff. First the
house passed the Mills bill, reducing
the revenues about $4O,OOO,OOO. The
bill then went to the senate. In the
senate all of it was stricken out after
the enacting clause and another bill
substituted.
The second bill also reduced the
tariff, but some millions less than
that of the house had done. The bill
was then returned to the house for
further action. The house raised the
point that by striking out all the
Mills bill after the enacting clause,
and substituting another, the senate
had trespassed that article Of the
United States constitution which
declares that bills for revenue must
originate in the house of representa-
tives. The senate bill was therefore
claimed by the Democratic majority
to be unconstitutional and the house
refused to concur. One or two tarifl
bills were introduced into the house
in the closing days of the session, but
no action was taken. The tariff
question is thus left by the Fiftieth
congress as it found it.
There were introduced into the
house during the congress just ex-
pired 1850 bills, resolutions and re
ports; into the senate 1852. OF al
this number, l,791 became laws.
Most of the acts are of local interest
OF those which have a general i'm
portance the principal ones are the
law admitting four new States to the
Union and that making the com
missioner of agriculture cabine
officer, with the title of secretary
Among others are the granting of thu
Nicaragua canal charter, the act au
thorizing government to condemn
sites for public buildings, reducing
the price Of passports from s. to 81
restricting Chinese immigration an(
raising the age of consent in thu
District of Columbia to .16 years
The fiftieth congress also strengthen
the interstate commerce law, appro
priated half o million to the lega
representatives of James B. Eads 70
work on the jetties, and $250,0O0 t
enable the president to protect tn
interests of the United States in Pan
anna.
An act from which important ia
vorable results for the United State
may flow was authorizing the presi
dent to arrange a conference with tn
South and Central America republic;
with view to closer commercial re
lations. Out of this authorizatio
has gaown the Three Americas cor
ferance, which meets in Washingto
in October.
A favorable concession to the liv
stock interests Of the country is tn
law passed by this congress admittin
free of duty animals imported fC
breeding purposes. Another law e
tablishes a government department {
labor. Pensions for utter deafne.
have been increase'to $40 a month
The maximum amount of internf
tional postal orders has been increa
from $50 to 500.
Gems. Rosecrans, A. j.. Smith an
w. f. Smith have been placed on II
retired list of the army. Mrs. Sher
dan, Mrs. Logan and Mrs. Frank ]
Blair have been pensioned.
The Oklahoma territorial bi
failed at last. -.-r