The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-04
WORK OF A CONGRESS.
List of Measures Which Either Failed or Be
came Laws-The Presidents vetoes.

List of Measures Which Either Failed or Be
came Laws-The Presidents Vetoes.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-Undoubtedly
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 American
national colors. The Congress has been, in
many respects, a remarkable one, and in
its length has exceeded any previous Con-
gress 1t has been characterized by some
sharp and acrimonious debates and on sew
eral occasions personalities have been ex-
changed of character more bitter and ex-
asperating 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 advantage,
however slight, in the approaching contest.
Although the measure which caused the
prolongation of the first session well INTO the
autumn, and to time beyond all prece-
dent, failed of enactment and resulted in
nothing save mighty torrent of de-
bate, 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 unsurpassed record of the Forty
ninth Congress has been beaten, President
Cleveland disapproving more bills during
the last two years of his administration
than during the first two. He has vetoed
directly 278 bills-157 more than all his
predecessors 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-
pired before the constitutional limitation
of ten days was up within which the Presi-
dent is required to express his disapproval.
Fourteen bills failed to become laws in this
matter at the close Of the first session OF
the present Congress.
Beginning on the first Monday in Decem-
ber 1887 the Fiftieth Congress continued
practically uninterruptediy in session until
the Goth OF October, 1888, when 1t adjourned
to meet for the second session in December,
and to continue until March 4, 1889, as re-
quired by law. During the two sessions
there have been introduced in the House
1859 bills, or 400 more than in the pre-
ceding Congress, and 2'iS joint resolutions,
or five more than in the Forty ninth Con-
gress. Committee reports have been made
| to the number of 4,154.
| In the Senate, 399S bills and IA joint res
| olufions have been introduced, against
| 1851 bills and 11S resolutions during the
| Forty-nnth Congress, which broke all pre-
vious records in this respect There were
! 2.s05 written reports made. or over seven
gress OF all these bills ard joint resolu-
! tions 1.791 became laws OF which number
| 1,19O originated in the House, and Col IN the
| Senate.
! The President also sent veto messages in
the cases of ninety-nine House, and forty
| seven Senate bills, or fourteen more vetoes
than were made during the previous Con.
| gress. OF the House bills which became
! laws. 632 were private bills. and as mese-