Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-10-09
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Bills Passed and Some That Are
Still Pending. = - = 2.


Bills That Have Not Become
Laws.
business of the first session OF the Fifty first
Congress IL an Important one. In the FEN
ate debate on the Tariff bi was brought to
an end only by an agreement on the part of
the members ofothe majority that the Fed
eraI Elections bill would not be called up
at this session Tn. bill. therefore, goes over.
The actual work accomplished - of es-
pecial interest because IL IL the first Com
gress in many years In which one of the two
great political parties had control OF both
the legislative and executive branches OF
the Government change in rates OF Gus
toms duties has practically been brought
In the existing law having been agreed to
In conference and approved by the House.
They need n w only the approval of the
Senate and the President
The feature of the new Tariff law which
has attracted vide attention and which bore
greater Significance, from the fact that 1t
threatened for a time TO Great. a division in
the Republican party was tho provision for
the establishment OF reciprocal rotations
between the United States and the Latin
been suggested in past years by Senator
Ald9jch and other Statesmen, was brought
very prominently to the notice OF Congress
and the country by letter of the Secretary
OF State, transmitted to Congress bv the
President, urging the cessity OF requiring
some concessions from Latin American
countries for the free admission to the
United States OF sugar and other of their
products. The recommendation was ie nored
by the House Of Representatives, but was
later adopted In modified form b. the Sem
ate and agreed to in conference between the
two houses. T..
is the silver legislation enacted by Congress.
July IA, $780, new law went into effect pro
vding for the issue of coin certificates based
on gold or silver bullion, with requirement
purchase $500. 0OJ ounces of silver bullion
each month. The bill as 1t passed the Sem
ate was practical free coinage bill. but the
cOnferrees on the part of the two hOus es
agreed upon compromise, the general i'm
preston being that while the majority in
both houses favored free coinage, the com
promise was rendered necessary by the fe ar
of an executive vote. The effect of the new
Silver law was an immediate advance in the
price OF silver, eliminating at figure higher
than any known in history. ~
The promise of the Republican party made
In the last campaign that more liberal pen
sion legislation would be enacted was par
TALLY fulfilled in the passage of the Dis
ability Pension act under which pension
of $12 a month Is given to any soldier who is
now disabled from whatever cause The
applications received since its enactment SO
Increased the work of the Pension Office
an additional appropriation for the employ
ment of nearly 500 clerks in that Office and
in the war records division of the Depart
ment Of War.
The addition of four new stars to the flag
made by the last Congress has been supple
mented at this session by the admission in
to the Union of the States of Wyoming and
Idaho.
Early In the session a law in restraint OF
trusts and combinations was enacted. No
tn rRd
and, as It was generally regarded as but q
tentative me asure, its value can not be esti-
mated at this time.
A General Land Grant Forfeiture act. the
result of many years discussion in the two
houses of Congress, has been passed 1t in
brief provides for the forfeiture of all I'M
earned lands granted to aid in the construc
tion of railroads opposite portions OF the
road uncOmpieted at the time of the pas
sage of the Jaw.
The question of lotteries having been
brought to public attention by the Louisi-
ana Lottery company to obtain a charter in
North DAKOTA, and later to obtain renewal
of its charter in L 'uisana. the President
HkSde the matter a subject of a special mes
sage to Congress in which he transmitted a
bill prepared by the Postmaster General to
prohibit the trans misSiou through the mails
OF letters and circulars relating to lotteries
and of newspapers containing lottery ad-
vertisements. This bill was passed prompt
iy by both houses without modification and
without material opp Dsition, and was igned
Uy the Pres ident. ,.+ - -
After a lively controversy ov- the cues
ton of sell citing a site, in which the cities Of
New York, Chicago, ST. Louis and Washing
ton Were concerned. Congress pa ssed q law
creating National Commiss ion and estab.
iisheu the Fair at Chicago. ia
AS result principally of the prohibition
which shuts American meat ont of certain
maj kets abroad, a law was enacted to pro
vile for the inspection, under the direction
- r.
tended fer export, prohib ting the exporta
tion of adulterated articles of food and
drink and enabling the President to prevent
he importation OF adulterated articles Of
food.
An important feature of the present Sos
sion was the defeat Of the Blair Educationa
TN in the Senate. 1t had passed that body
In several other Ccngres Ses and its rejection
was quite unexpected
Among the less important laws enacted
by this Congress are the following: Increas
Ing the pension OF those totally and perma
nently helpless to s12 per month; providing
for one Assistant Secretary of Var and one
of the Navy; authorizing the President ts
rause the promu cation of regulations nee
essary to prevent the spread of contagious
diseases from one State to another; grant
Ing certificates OF discharge to persons who
enlisted under assume names in the war o
the army by retaining temporarily part o
the soldiers pay, and providing for the ex
portation of fermcnted liquor in bond with
out payment Of Internal revenue tax.
A number OF important measures ar.
hanging fire, which may , to the Presiden
he orc adjournment, although the chances
are greatly in favor OF their rostponemen
until the next session
Nearly 600 bills and resolutions that wer,
reported to the House from committees dur
ing this session of Congress. failed of pas
cage and remain on the House calendar
Among the important measures are: T,
create court of patent appeals; grantin,
pensions to female hospital nurses of tn
rebellion; TO increase the salaries Of Unite
States indgcsi to promote the efficiency o
the militia; tr' nsferring the weather ser
vice 10 the Agricultural Department; tn
Service Pension bill; TO prov de a commits
sion on the aacoholic liquor traffic; the But
terworth anti Option and Anti-Future bin
to encourage the construction of a CONT
mental railway to connect North and Sout
America; to prevent the importation o
adu.teratcd and spurious tea; the Paofi
Railroad bill; to increase the number G
regiments in the army; the Butterwort
resolution for reciprocity with Canada;
resolution for the adjustments of question
between the United States and Mexico
granting the right of suffrage to women