Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-06

unQer the sun that they see NJ, anu tnen III
quick succession, under the spur OF speclai
orders concocted by the common rules, and
by power OF the new code which placed un-
heard OF rights in the hands of the Speaker
the following legislation was transacted:
THE MEASURES PASSED.
First, the Mckinley tariff bill was passad.
Then the bill forfeIting all unearned ran,
road land grants. the antitrust bill, the bill
relieving the overworked Supreme Court
the silver bill. the gigantic dependent pen
sion bill, the bill admitting the Territories
of Idaho and Wyoming into the Union, the
naval appropriation bill, containing huge
grant of money for the construction OF the
new modern navy, and last, the feoerai
election bill.
This is the record of the work upon which
Speaker Reed and his assistants In the
House depend for the Endorsement OF the
people, and they are now calling upon the
Senate to give effectiveness to their laDors
BY placing some of these measures upon the
statute books. So far the Senate has been
rather Iaggard in meeting the wishes OF the
House, although some of the bills ABOVE
mentioned have finally passed that BODY.
Among these are the silver, lana grant
forfeiture antitrust, pensions and Territory
admission bills.
The two latter, however, are the only
ones that have become laws, all the others
being at present juggled with in the secrecy
of conference committees. There seems falr
prospects, however, that agreements Will
be reached upon them all before the close of
the session.
WORK OF THE SENATE.
In addition to this work the Senate has
passed bills looking to the breaking up of
the combine by transportation companies
who handle the shipments OF dressed meat
and authorizing a commission for their in
spection and the regulation of their traffic.
On Monday the Senate will take up the
tariff bill, and it will be pushed to vote,
if possible, although it is said that the
Democrats have determined to attempt the
feat o. talking it to death.
Some of the Democratic Senators argue
that it would be very good policy to begin
their talk against time on the tariff bill In
stead of waiting till the Federal election bill
is called up, as thus they would escape
the necessity of forcing sectional issue
upon the Senate and make it impossible for
the election bill to come up at all, at least
at this session.
Several Senators are still little skeptical
as to an agreement upon the silver bill,
although daily sessions are being held and
d
to come to a conclusive agreement.
KEPT IN THE REAR.
Among the important matters of legisla-
tion which many members of both Houses
are anxious to have brought mp, considered
and voted upon, but which so far have been
kept in the rear by the cast iron policy of
the House triumvirate, are the bills pro-
viding for a settlement of the debt of the
Pacific Railroads, the irrigation of the arid
lands, the restriction of immigration, and
the adoption of a national bankruptcy law.
1t is said for the remainder of the session in
the intervals of considering appropriation
bills and other necessary and pressing
measures that efforts will be made to have
action upon all OF the above mentioned bills.
1t is possible that the friends of the bank
ruptcv bill will be successful in getting
some legislation, but it is not at all likely
that the other measure will ever see the
light OF day. A day had been set apart for
the consideration of the bankruptcy bill,
but it was swallowed up in the long and
unexpected struggle that arose over the re-
ception of the Senate silver bill. Whether
another day will be given is uncertain, but
the chances are that 1t will be, as the
Speaker is inclined to favor the passage OF
bankruptcy law.
POWERFUL PERSONAL INFLUENCE.
The powerful personal influence which
Speaker Reed exercises over all classes Of
legislation is in no wise better exemplihed
by the condition in which certain bills to
which he is opposed are found at this late
date. Since the beginning of the session
members have had occasion to know that
Mr.. Reed is no friend of public building
bills or extravacant appropriations for rivers
and harbors. He attempted some months
ago to spike the guns OF the men who are
most active in bringing forward schemes of
improving their districts by erecting pub
lie buildings and spending large sums for
the alleged river and harbor improvements.
The Speaker was forced to yield to the
pressure of the river and harbor men, how
ever, and allowed the bill to go through after
seeing to it that several very questionable
schemes calling for vast expenditures were
ignored. The friends of the river and har-
Dor bill thought best not to brook the direct
opposition o. the Speaker, and so they took
what they could get, trusting to the Senate.
with its well-known ibelality, to make all
things even.
The public building enthusiasts enjoyed q
short season OF pleasure, but under orders
from Mr.. Reed, seconded by Benjamin Har-
rison, the festivities were cut short and the
great mass u pun on the HOOKS
where they have remained, and where they
are likely to remain to the end of this Com
gress.
A HOPEFUL CREW.
The river and harbor men hope to be
more successful. Senator Frye, of Maine,
is the Chairman of the Senate Committee,
and is an outspoEen advocate of liberal ap-
propriations. He tackled on everything
that his brother Senators proposed until the
aggregate of the bill reached beyond S24,-
OOO. 900, when he received an intimation
from the White House that if it were not
scaled down the bill might run afoul of the
Presidential veto. The committee are now
engaged in the work of fixing up the bill so
that it can be navigated through the shoals
An attempt will be made to cali it up in
the Senate next week, but it is more likely
to 60 over until the tariff bill is disposed Of
1t is the very general opinion that the Sem
ate will not be able to pass the elections
bill, but will be compelled to adjourn sitter
settling the silver and tariff questions The
Republicans will then announce to the
country that they abandoned the election
bill because the Democrats had sworn to
talk it to death. Mr.. Reed and his friends
will claim it as the crowning work of their
management in the House, and depend upon
il to give the Republicans majority in the