The morning call., 1890-09-29
THE NEW LAWS.
Record Of the Fifty-frst Con-
SreSS.
Some Of the Important Measures That Re-
ceiVed Approval.
The Closing HOurS-BlllS to Be Disposed
Of Before the Final Ad-
journment.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

days the long session of the ffty-frst Con-
gress will come 10 an end. 1t has been almost
the longest ever held Although the first
session of the fftieth Congress lasted
until October Goth, the present session, by
reason of longer daily sessions, has far ex-
ceeded it in working time, and the amount
of legislative work actually accomplished
has been extraordinary, viewed in the light
of previous Congresses.
The record SO far is: Bills and joint resolu-
tions introduced in the House, 12,402; with
Senate, 4750; total, 1922, against II, 596 in
the first session of last Congress, which in
this matter far excelled all previous records.
Reports made in the House, 3215; Senate,
1917 (no account being taken in the Senate
Of other than written reports). Bills passed
by the House, 1899, of which the Senate has
passed $40, all except three Of these $40 be-
came laws, or are awaiting the Presidents
approval; by the Senate, HOO, of which 1856
were sent to the President. making the
total number about 1885 acts or laws,
against 1890 for the whole of last Congress.
OF these acts, COG House and 275 Senate
bills were pensions to individuals
IMPORTANT MEASURES.
In the completed work of the session,
aside from the Tariff Bill, the following are
some of the. many important measures
enacted into law: The Silver Bill, the
Customs Administrative Bill, Dependent and
Disability Pension Bill, Antitrust Bill,
Anti-L lottery Bill, Worlds Fair Bill, admis-
sion of Idaho and Wyoming. Meat Inspec-
tion Bill. Land Grant Forfeiture Bill,
Original Package Bill, additions to the
Navy. Also, bills repeating the act Of 1888,
which withdrew practically all the Western
public lands from settlement, and providing
that hereafter only actual reservoir sites
shall be Withdrawn. and that no one person
shall enter more than 320 acres, for the re-
lief of Mississippi Valley flood sufferers,
Portage Lake and HeDnepin Canal and
Galveston Hartor projects, for a large addi-
tion to the clerical force of the Pension
Office to adiudicnte cases under the new acts.
providing for the classification of worsted
cloths and woolens. that no person in time
of peace shall be tried for deSertion after the
lapse Of two years, to prevent desertions in
the army by enabling recruits to "buy out"
extending the act for the relief Of railroad
land settlers. several bills concerning Indian
reservations and treaties, for census of
farm mortgages, etc.; also, census of
Chinese, increasing the pension for total
helpleSSness, for an Assistant Secretary in
the War and Navy Departments.
CONTESTED ELECTIONS.
There were eighteen contested election
cases before the House, and Sc en- of the
Republican contestants have been seated.
The Senate seated the Republican Sena-
tors from Montana. Seven bills have been
vetoed by the President, three Of them pub
lie building bills, two bills authorizing the
increase Of Indebtedness of certain cities
or counties, one changing the boundaries Of
the Uncompahgre Indian reservation, and
the otner extending the time for payment
of lands purchased from the Omaha tribe
of Indians.
Among the bills v ich passed the House
but have not YET passed the Senate are:
The Federal Election Bill, National Bank
rup,cy Bill, bill for the relief of the Su-
preme Court, Compound Lard Bill, bill to
prevent the product of convict labor
being furnished upon public buildings or
works.. the Eight-honr Back-pay Bill, to
repeal the Timber Culture Law, and tho
Eight-hour-day Bill.
HELD IN THE HOUSE.
Among the bills which have not passed
the House are: Shipping and Subsidy bills,
the bill granting California per cent of the
proceeds of the sale Of public lands, to en-
large Yellowstone Park, to grant the right
of way through public lands for irrigation
purposes. for compulsory education of 1n-
dian children, for the inspection of live cat
tie and beef products for export.
The Blair Educational Bill and the Inter-
national Copyright Bill were defeated in
the Senate and House respectively. Many
other bills of prominence have not yet been
acted upon by either House,