The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-03-13

[CONTINUKD FROM FIFTH PAdh.J
inaugural ceremonies was unable to find 1t.
The gavel was made of an elephants tusk,
and it's loss is regretted much by Mr.. Car
Isle. The gavel used on the desk of the
presiding officer of the senate has been
there for twenty-five years, and at the end
OF every session is zealously guarded by an
official who makes it his business to look
after it,
THE statement made by Chairman Ran
dali of the house committee on appropria-
lions shows that the total estimates submit
ted during the session just closed amounted
to S297 2S5,09O, the sum appropriated to
1881 1913, $685. and the sum carried in the laws
for the current year to S3O6, 9S5,544. The
bills make appropriations as follows Agri-
culture, 81 ,G69770; army, S2i, 300 49, diplo-
matte and consular, 81 $780, Ops District of
Columbia, S56S7 ,406; fertilization, S1,2O5,-
594; Indian, SS,03j ,724; legislative, etc,
$40, Si0,535; military academy, S9O2,766;
navy, S21 ,602 80; pension SS1 ,15S,20O; post
office, S66 COS, 3i4; sundry civil, S25,277 341;
miscellaneous acts (estimated), S55O0,OO0;
deficiency, l6,423,360.
THE most noteworthy legislative act of the
fiftieth congress was the passage of the act by
which there will be an addition of four new
stars on the field of blue of the American
national coors. The congress in its length
has exceeded that of any previous congress-
More bills have been introduced and more
enacted than during any other congress.
In the matter of vetoes, the heretofore un-
surpassed record of the forty-ninth congress
has been beaten, President Cleveland hav-
ing disapproved more bills during the last
two years of his administration than dur
ing the first two. The frequent exercise
of the veto power has been, perhaps, the
most distinguishing feature of President
Cleveland's administration. He has vetoed
directly 27S bills, 157 more than all his
predecessors, from Washington down. Be-
ginning on the first Monday in December,
1887 congress continued practically unin-
terruptedly in session until October 90 1885,
when it adjourned, to meet for the second
session in December and to continue until
March 4, 1889, as required by law. During
the two sessions there have been introduced
in the house - $50 bills, and 26S joint reso-
buttons. Committee reports have been
made to the number of 4,154. In the sem
ate 1898 bills and IA joint resolutions have
been introduced. There were 9, 706 written
reports made. OF all these bills and Joint
resolutions, 1871 became laws, of which
number 100 originated in the house and
601 in the senate The president also sent
veto messages in the case of 80 house and
AZ senate bills. In all these respects the
record of the fiftieth congress beats that of
all its predecessors.
OF the house bills which became laws,
$50 were private bills and 1858 measures of a
public character. All of the 90 house bills
vetoed, except eight, were either private
pension or relief bills. Some of the more
important house enactments are as follows:
For a conference of South and Central
American nations in Washington in May
next; to divide the great Sioux Reservation
in Dakota; the Scott Chinese exclusion act;
providing for the taking of the eleventh
census; to limit the hours of labor of letter
carriers creating department of agricul-
ture, the head of the department to be a
cabinet officer; TO increase the maximum
amount Of international money-orders from
$50 to 500, and providing for an appraiser s
warehouse in New York. Bills originating
in the senate became laws to the number of
COL, of which 400 were of private Charac-
ter. Forty-seven senate bills were vetoed,
the most important being those for the cree
ton of public buildings at Youngstown,
Ohio. and Sioux City, Iowa, and the direct
tax bill. BY far the most important of the
senate bills enacted into law has been the
omnibus admission bill, by which North
and South Dakota, Washington and Mon
tana territories may acquire statehood.
Other senate bills placed on the statute
books are as follows: To increase the pen
sion for the loss of both hands and also
for deafness; to prevent deposits of garbage
within New York harbor to incorporate
the Nicaragua Canal Company to provide
for marine conference; to provide aid to
state homes for the support Of disabled SOL
diers: to perfect the quarantine service re-
lating to anchorage of vessels in the port of
New York; to prohibit the coming of
Chinese lahorers into the United States
to change the time of meeting of the
electoral college; to enable the presi-
dent to protect the interests of the
United States at Panama Ga similar meas
IRE with reference to Samoa was in
cluded in the naval appropriation bilD; to
protect the Alaska fur, seal and salmon fish
cries; directing the secretary of the interior
to investigate the practicability of con-
structing water storage reservoirs in the
arid region; appropriating 100000 to sup
press infection in the interstate commerce
of the United States; and in aid of suffer
ers from yellow fever Congress also passed
bills to pension Mrs. Sheridan, Mrs. Logan,
Mrs. Frank A Blair, and to retire General
Rosecrans. Three hundred and thirty three
bills which passed the house failed in the
senate or in conference. By far the most
notable of these is the Mills tariff bill, and
with the fight over this measure the public
is familiar. Another important house bill
which failed is the Oklahoma bill.-Nep
York Tribune.