Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-03-14
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
An Unusual Number of Important
Measures Were Past
appropriations Very Lsrge-rhey WIN
Aggregate Bnllon Dollars for Two
Ncars--AemOrabl BILE ln Many WAYS.

Aggregate a BnlIon Dollars for Two
Nrars--MemOrsblc la Many Ways.
From FIRST to last the sessions Of the Finv.
first Congress were interesting and eventful.
and for no lOug period were they ever char.
aeterizcd by the dullness wh:sh occasionally
for days at time marks the proceedings Of
nearly every Congress, and especially Of those
Congresses in which the irst session is usually
prolonged. The actual working.time OF tho
tilty-iirst Congress exceeded that Of any Of
its predecessor, and the nominal working
time Of all, except the Filieth Congress. and
in the number Of measures brought to its
attention, aud the number, variet, and i'm.
pertance Of those acted upon It likewise sur.
passed all previous Congresses. This work.
ing" or business" feature was perhaps the
most distinguishing characteristic Of the
tlity-trst Congress. IL seems the more re.
markable when the magnitude, character
aud long pendeuey Of many Of the topics
considered are taken into account. Three
measures, any one Of which, 10 intrinsic
lmportauce aud popular interest, would be
suihcien.tor a national issue, stand forth pre-
eminent among all others:
First, the Mckinley tariff bill, which be.
came law; second the silver bill on which
in the first session a compromise was effected,
based on monthly purchases Of 45QOOOd
ounces Of silver, which, ia turn. was followed
by more radical measure that failed of pas.
sage, and third, the federal elections Bill.
which, after protracted, bitter, hotly.fought
and intensely exciting preliminary struggle
failed in the Senate to leach decisive vote
on its merits
Radical innovations In the rules Of tho
House added interest 20 its proceedings and
determined but truitless efforts TO adopt the
most vital Of these innovations formed part
Of the history OF the latter part Of the sessions
q the Senate. Even In its mortuary record
the Congress was remarkable, the call OF death
having summoned no fewer than u Of its
Representatives and Of its Senators Tho
list contains the names Of Senators Beck Of
Kentucky. Wilson Of Maryland, and Hearst
o. California, and Representatives W. ID.
Kelley, samuel j. Randall and Lewis r.
Watson, Of Pennsylvania; :. s. Cox. David
Wilburand Newton limiting. Of New York;
kiehGrd Iownsheud, Of Illinois. '. NJ. Burncs
aud james r. Walker, Of Missouri, James
Laird, OF Nebraska; Edward j Gay, OF Louis.
lana, and James Fhelan, of Tennessee.
Many OF the bills enacted into laws appro.
priated an unusually large amount Of money,
and the expenditures authorized will exceed
those Of any peace" Congress since the
foundation Of the government The total
appropriations mede by the Fiftieth Congress
were; During the first session $685. S37, btd
an aggregate Of ssl7 ,9dS, 500, while the appro.
priHtl0ns for the iirt session Of the Flty-fist
Congress were sIG1,625, G97. and those Of the
second session viii probably bring the total ap-
preparations Tor the Congress 10 ~ ,0o0,ON0OO
A comparison Of the work Of the Congress
just closed with that OF It's immediate pre-
decessor makes the following exhibit
Biils iutroduced-ln the House in the
Fiity-hrst Congress 1908 against 10 the
fittieth Congress i2,654-au increase OF $40,
joint resolutions Z79-au increase Of 10, Senate
bills o,l29, against 1900, or an increase VI
i,l29; joint resolutions 90, au increase Of "a
Bills passed-By the House l. is Of which
LOIS became laws; and by the Senate 800
bills, OF which 6I3 became laws, making The
total number OF laws during the Flny.frst
Congress 81 s6, as against ,s24 10 the Filticth
COngress-an increase Of 362 The senate
also postponed indefinitely GIG senate aud rs
House bills, this being equivalent TO n defeat
During the tiflicth Congress l0t bills we're
vetoed and during the Fiity-hrst Congress II.
In addition to this work there were IS con
tested election cases. The House seated
eight Of tho Republican contestants, aud de-
clared the scat OF one Democrat Mr.. Brock.
inridge, Of Arkansas-yacanL Two Cases
Goodrich vs. Bullock, from Florida aud
MeGinnis vs. Anderson from West Virginia.
In which the committee recommended seating
Of the Republican contestants, we're not dis.
posed Of by the House; and the elections
committee Itself never acted on the Eaton W..
Phelau, Tennessee, case. The Senate dis
pose j OF its sole contested election case BY
seating the two Republican Senators from
Montana.
As as result Of the work Of the Congress a
great number Of measures which have for
years occupied more or less Of the attention Of
the legislative branch Of the government will
be transferred TO the executive aud judicial
departments Of the government, there, per-
haps, 70 become equally familiar acquaint-
anees Indeed, hardly n single measure Of
other than transient interest has failed 10 re-
ceive decisive action in one or the other
branch Of Congress. Contrary 10 previ0uacx
perience, the mere important Of the measures
which constitute the list Of legislative failures
found their tomb IN the Senate, the House
having throughout the two years taken tho
lead in legisation and passed definitely upon
every measure of general Interest on which
the leaders Of the majority desired action.
Among the 'Old stagers" which are now
laws are the copyright bill, the private land
court bill 10 settle disputes arising over
Mexican grants in the Western states aud
terrtorissl the postal subsidy bill, the Indian
depreciation claims bill, the timber aud pre-
enption Law repeal bill tmaking a general
revision Of the land lsws,) the customs ad-
ministratiye bill general land forfeiture
bill, the bill 10 relieve the Supreme Court By
the establishment Of intermediate circuit
courts Of appeal, the United States judges
salaries bill and the diriet tax refund bill.
The Blair educational bill, the bill for tho
appointment OF an alcoholic liquOr commits
sion ard the eight hour" claims bill are
measures which we're defeated on test votes;
while among those which, after passing one
house failed Of aetion IN the other, and
will be doubtless wrested With By succeeding
Congresses, are the bankruptcy bill, the
Conger lard bill and the army reorganization
bill.
The Paddock pure food bill, the Nicaragua
Canal bill, the Pacific Railroad refunding TIL
and the interstate commerce bill 90 permit
limited pooling Of earnings by railroad com
panics) aFe among the measures which failed
10 reach vote IN either house.