Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-10-11
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
A Review of What Eas Been Accom-
plished During the Session.


Among the Mass Of Bills Passed arr
Several whose Importance Brings
them into Marked Prominence.
The total number Of acts passed during the
hrst session of the Fifty first Congress does
not fall far short of the 1890 passed by the last
Congress including both of its sessions, the
Arst of which did not end until October IS
From the midst of the great mass of bills en-.
acted at this session there are several whose
importance brings them into marked promin.
ence. First of these, although the last to be-
come law, is the new tariff. In connection
with the new tariff law two other bills Of i'm
portance have been enacted. The new customs
administrative law, designed 10 prevent under
valuation and to make duties uniform az all
ports, and the bill providing for the classitica-
ton OF worSted cloths or woollens. Next
would probably occur TO every one the bill
providil g for the monthly purchase of 4 500
OO0 ounces of silver, which was needed to
provide the increase of currency necessary to
meet the growth OF population and trade, and
the loss OF circulation Of the national banks
The dependent and disability pension law is
the next. This measure is in the nature of a
compromise, and while it largely increases the
expenditures Of the Government on account
" pNhAitiiS II 10 it-tiital long STEP III lne
direction of justice Over eight hundred bills
have been enacted for pensions to individuals.
An important bill, which, has become law,
provides for the employment of over six hum
bred clerks in the Pension Office to adjudicate
cases arising under the new pension law. No
one knows as yet exactly how much the ex-
penditure for pensions will be increased under
the new law, estimates varying from S25, 0O0-
600 to $75, 000,0O0
This Congress has also passed bill, which
is now in conference for the relief Of the SUI
preme Court-a measure of the utmost i'm
portanee, since the Supreme Court is now so
blocked with cases that from three 10 four
years must pass before a decision eau be ex-
pected upon any appeal taken to il. Two new
States, Wyoming aud Idaho, have been added
to the Union ana provision has been made for
the organization ofthe Territory Of Oklahoma.
There is now an unbroken line of States from
ocean to ocean. The other measures of pri-
mary importance passed by the Congress are:
The anti-iottery bill, the antitrust bill. the
original package bill, the meat inspection
bill, the land grant forfeiture bill, the bill to
prevent collisions at sea, 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 ii three
line-ot- battle ships, one protected cruiser, one
torpedo cruiser, and one torpedo boat Within
the past few days Congress has also increased
the appropriations for the Navy by the sum
of 81 100000 for the purchase of the product of
a nickle mine in Cansda, which foreign
nations were eagerly seeking because of the
result Of the recent tests at Annapolis, which
showed that arInor made of STEEL alloyed with
nickle, has resistance to projeetiles superior
to any OF the armor with which foreign nayies
have been clad at enormous expense.
A number Of measures cannot be rs yet
Aala at..-w~
Nest of these are bills which have passed the
House but which failed TO get through he
Senate. One Of these is the Federal elections
bill. Among other important bills which
passed the II use but not the Senate are
The national bankruptcy bill; the compound
lard bill; to prevent the product OF convict
labor being furnished to or the use Of any de-
partment or upon public works or buildings;
to transfec the Revenue Marine Service to the
Navy Department; constituting eight hours
days work for employees of Government CON
tractors and the eight-hour back pay bill.
The most important OF the bills which have
passed the Senate and upon which the House
has tailed to act are the shipping and subsidy
bills; for the iproyement of st. Mary's River
and Hay Lake Channel, which is measure
Of immense Importance to the commerce on
the lakes, and providing for monument TO
General Grant at Washington.
Among the most important bills defeated
this session are the Blair educational bill,
which met its fate in the Senate, and the in-
ternational copyright bill, which was defeated
in the House. Motions to reconsider the de-
feat of these measures are pending and will
be DISCUSSED at the next session.
The session has been remarkably fertile in
investigations by the House. First, there
came the investigation Of the Ohio ballot box
forgeries. Another investigation is Of charges
made by Representative Cooper, Of Indiana,
that the Pension Commissioner. Gen. Raum,
had promoted clerks who bought stock ia a
refrigerator company, of which be was presi.
dent. A report viii be made at the pext ses.
sion.
The murder of Colonel John NJ. Clayton,
of the Second District Of Arkansas, caused an
investigation which resulted in the unseaing
of Breckenridge.
The whole evil service system is under in.
vestigation, and a report will probably be
made at the next session. The committee
have report d, censuring Civil Service Com
missioner Lyman upon the charge that he had
promoted a relative who had stolen examine
ton papers, but no action has been taken by
the House. The defalcation Of Silcott caused
another investigation, which resulted in a
rule making the Sergeaut-at-A Arms the dis.
bursting officer of the House A sub-commit-
tee Of the Judiciary Committee is still pur.
suing a searching inqairy into corrupt prac-
tees among employees OF Federal Courts. A
Joint committee is studying abuses in the i'm.
nj grafton laws. The session closes with an
investigation into the conduct of the House