The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-10-15

Naat Our Con8reSs HAS Done.
The session VI Congress recently close
was Republican IN both branches, and Ii
Republican party is entitled 20 the credit Il
the great measures which it has adcpte,
These are summarized below
From the nidst Of The great mass Of biz
enscied at this session there are sewers
Whose Importance and value 10 the copntr
brines Them into marked prominence Firs
Of shess, slthough ihe last to become a Law
is the new tariff, by which the party ha
redeemed its promise made in the Chicag
platform. and OF whose expected benefcen
results il would consume space needlessly Il
make catalogue. In connection with th'
new tariff law tso other bills ofimporsancs
have been enacted. The new customs ad
minissrsiiye law, designed 10 prevent under
valuation aud to make duties uniform at all
ports and the bill providing for the classii
cation Of vorsted clothes As woolens which
has rescued the WOODEN Industry from tn.
impending disaster. 19nis go
Nexf would probably occur to every ,,ne
the bill providing for The monthly purchas,
Of 100000 ounces Of silver, which wa.
needed to provide The in GREASE ef currency
necessary TO meet the growth Of population
and trade, aud The loss of circulation of the
national banks. This bill also meets the
promise Of the Chicago platform.
The dependent and disability pension law
is the next star in the constellation. This
measure IN in the nature of compromise
and while itlargely increases the expendi-
tunes of the Government on account of pen
sions, il is regarded by the party leaders as q
long step In the direction of justice TO the
defenders of the nation. Over eigh, hundred
bills have been enacted for pensions 10 indi-
viduals. An important bill, which has be-
come law, provides for the employment OF
over six hundred CLERKS in the Pension or
flee TO adjudicate cases arising under the new
pension law. No one knows as yet exactly
how much the expenditure for pensions will
be increased under the new law, estimates
varying from $4,000. go to 81, ,0o0, coo.
The new States, Idaho and Wyoming,
have been added to the Union, and provision
has been msde for the organization of the
Territory Of Oklahoma. There is now an
unbroken line of States from ocean to
ocean.
The other measures Of primary impor.
tance passed by the Congress are The anti
lottery bill. the anti trust bill, the original
package bill, the meat inspection bill, the
land grant forfeiture bill, the bill TO prevent
collisions at sea, and the Chicago Worlds
Fair bill.
This Congress has also provided for CON
tinuing the policy of developing the new
Navy by making appropriations to add to
it three line-cf. battle ships, one protected
cruiser. one torpedo cruiser, and one torpedo
boat e
A number Of measures of the first impor-
tance cannot unfortunately be as yet ranked
in the above category Of enactments. Most
of these are bills which have passed the
House but which failed TO get through the
Senate on account of the enormous waste Of
time in that body, because of the absence of
any Limitation upon debate. One of these
is the Federal elections bill. A determined
effort win be made by Republicans to pass
this measure during the short session begin
ming next December. Among other impor-
iant bills which passed the House but not
the Senate are the national bankruptcy bill,
the compound lard bill. to compel the man
ufacturers to sell lard for lard and imitation
for such imitation; TO prevent the product
Of convict labor being furnished to or for
the use OF any department or upon public
works or buildings F; to transfer the Revenue
Marine Service TO the Navy Department
constituting eight hours days work for
employees Of Government contractors and
the eight-hour back pay bill For the fail
ure to pass these labor bills the Democratic
Senators made themselves openly respon-
sible.
The most important of the bills whicl
have passed the Senate and upon which the
House has failed to act, are the shipping and
subsidy bills.
Among the most important bills defeated
this session rre the Bleir educational Liii,
which met its fate in the Senate, and the
international copyrigh; bill, which was de-
feated in the House. Motions to reconsider
the defeat of these measures are pending and
will be discussed at the next session.
Congress has passed bills providing that
in time of peace no person shall be tried for
desertion after lapse Of two years to pre-
vent desertions by allowing recruits to buy
out granting permission TO officers and
men to wear military badges.
Some other important measures which
this Congress had made laws are Setting
apart as a public park the tract containing
the mammoth trees of California establish
ing national park on the battle field of
Chickamaugua; TO ascertain the cost and
praciicability OF tunnelling Detroit River
to provide for new designs of United States
coins TO discontinue the coinage of the
lhree and one dollar gold and three-cent
nickle pieces.