The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-10-01
WORK OF CONGRESS.
What Has Been Done During
This Session.
A Number Of Important Changes In
the Laws, Especially Those Re-
lating to Customs Duties.

Anti-Lottsry Law
WASHINGTON, Sept 30. The record
of the business OF the first session OF
the Fifty-first Congress is an important
one. In the Senate debate on the tariff
bill was bought TO amend by an agree
ment on the part OF members OF the
majority that the Federal Elections Dill
would not be called up during this ses-
sion. The bill therefore goes over.
The actual work accomplished by this
Congress Is OF especial interest because
1t is the first Congress in many years In
which one OF the two great political
parties has had control Of both the leg
islatiye and executive branches OF the
Government A change In rates OF GUS
toms duties has practically been brought
about, number Of very important
changes in existing laws having been
agreed 10 In conference and approved by
the House. They need now only the
approval OF the Senate and OF the Pres
| ident ~ rs
The feature Of the new tariff law
which has attracted wide attention and
which bore greater Significance from the
fact that II threatened for time to Gre
ate a division In the Republican party,
was the provision for the establishment
OF reciprocal relations between the
United States and the Latin-American
countries, This idea, which had been
suggestedin past years by Senator AID
rich and other statesmen, was brought
yery prominently to the notice OF Con-
Qress and the country by letter OF the
Secretary Of State transmitted 70 Con-
gress by the President, urging the me-
cessity OF requiring some concessions
from Latin.American countries for the
free admission to the United States oil
sugar and other OF their products. The
recommendation was ignored by the
House OF Representatives, but was later
adopted in . modified form by the SEN
ate and agreed t. in conference between
the two houses
Next In importance to the new tariff
law. is the silver legislation enacted by
Congress. On tho 14th OF July, 1890, q
new law went into effect providing for
the issue OF coin certificates based on
gold or silver bullion, with require
ment that the Secretary Of the Treasury
, should purchase 100000 ounces oi
silver bullion each month. Tho bill as
It passed the Senate was practical free
coinage bill. but the conferees on the
part Of the two Houses agreed upon
compromise, the general impression be-
: ing that while the majority In both
: houses favored free coinage, the com
promise was rendered necessary by the
fear of an Executive veto. The effect
of the new silver law was an immediate
advance In the price Of silver, culminat
ing at q figure higher than any know
y in history.
o The promise OF the Republican part.
Q that more liberal pension Legislation
k would be enacted was fulfilled In tn
= passage Of the disability pension act
> under which q pension OF sls month
given 10 any soldier who Is now disable'
from Whatever cause. The application
received under this law since Its enact
" ment 80 increased the work OF the ePensiol
: once that IL was necessary for Congress
y 10 vote an additional appropriation fc
n the employment OF noarly 5o0clerks l
= that Office and in the war records divi
- sion OF the Department OF War. Th
addition OF four new stars to the nag
a made by the last Congress, has bee
,n supplemented at this sesson by the ad
" mission into the Union Of Wyoming an
Idaho.
A general land grant forfeiture &C
ne tho result OF many years discussion
IS has passed and will go to the Presiden
tn to-day. It's very comprehensive an
y. in brief provides for the forfeiture
be all unearned lands granted TO aid in tn
nd construction OF railroads opposite po
lc- lions of the road unGompleted at th
time OF the passage Of the law.
The question OF lotteries having bee
brought to public attention by tt
10 10 efforts otthe Louisiana Lottery Compan
'io 10 obtain charter in North Dakota al
-. later 70 obtain q renewal Of It's chart
~ In Louisians, the President made u
~, matter a sub bject Of special message
i Congress In which he transmitted b
mo prepared by the Postmaster General
" prohibit the transmission through y
mails OF letters and circulars rslah
III to lotteries and Of newspapers contai
mis- ing lottery adsertlssnentS Tbs b
rn, was passed peompAiy By both hous
,0,- without modification and was signed
co the President
OK, After q lively con roversy over :
ali. lausstion OF selecting 4 Bite, In which
cities OF New York, Chicago, st. Lo'
and Washingtou were concerned, O
!, rress passed law creating natioi
me commission and esta ablishing the Wori
sea Fulr st ouic ,go. q gENEsS n
~ JAS Afssplt principally ctsthe, prohi
sst ton whioh shuts American meat out
lty' certain markets abroad, a'lsw was
ell, acted 10 provide for the inspecti
DO under the direction Of tho Secretary
Agricultures Of ,meati intended for
port; prohibiting the, expectation
.. Nd sdulterated 4 srtielesa Of food ana al
. ve and enabling the President to prev
- the importatloR oftmpure or adultera
~ articles Of food.
iicn An important feature OF the pres
That session was the defeat Of tho Blair \
cational bill In the Senate. "
passed that body In several other {
crosses and It's rejection was quite
W expected.j ~ {
4 OF Disastrsus Collision.