The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-03-11
The Fifty-first Congress.


The Fifty-flrst Congress.
That the session of congress which
adjourned last week succeeded in &C.
complishine more definite results than
any of those that preceded it in recent
y ars is due more to Speaker Reed
than to any other single cause, or, in
fact, to all other causes combined. He
made it possible to do business in
business-like way. Now that it is all
over, it is well to take an account of
stock and examine the books. What
can the Fifty-lirst congress show in the
way of tangible results? The first
measure that will come to mind as the
distinctive act of the session is the
Mckinley tariff law. This is no time
for discussion of that law. Its full
effect will not be seen quite yet, but it
is already becoming popular and sat
isfactory law. 1t is a higher tariff
measure than has ever before been en-
acted, and it is in accord with the drift
of sentiment throughout the country.
1t is also in accord with the best mod
ern political economy. This tendency
| may have occasional reverses in the
future, but we predict that it will hold
steadily on its way and will be its own
best advocate. The silver bill of last
summer, the pension bill, the Wilson
bill to give states authority to enact
liquor laws, the anti-lottery bill, the
worlds fair bill, the bill for the relief
of the supreme court, the customs adj
ministraton bill, the Indian depreda-
ton claims bill, and the bill to increase
the salaries of the district court judges
these are some of the other more no.
ticeable measures passed before the
last days of the session. The record is
one of which republicans may well be
proud.
But, as usual, large part of the
work fell upon the last weeklor ten
days, and in that short time some ex-
ceedingly important matters were dis
posed of. One of the most Important
was the postal subsidy bill. The house
refused to give direct encouragement
to ship-building through bounties, and
the bill as passed simply provides for
payments for carrying foreign mails.
The vessels must be built so as to be
suitable for use as armed cruisers,
at least four six-inch rifles,
and are to be subject to inspection and
approval by naval experts before the
mail contracts can be closed. They
must be subject to be taken for service
by the United States whenever wanted,
and may be commanded by officers of
he navy at the discretion of their own
ers. This measure is expected to assist
4 good deal in promoting the trade with
south American countries which the
treaties will make possible.
Another bill of importance was that
which returns to the states the direct
AK levied by congress in 1861. The
otal amount returned to the states is
Flo, 900 600, of which Vermont will re-
'eive Sl79,407. The original levy on
he state was $21l ,06S. No state, how
aver, can receive its share until the
legislature formally declares that by I
accepting il all claims of this nature on
he national government are Cancelled.
The French spoliation claims, after a
struggle of ninety years for recognition,
we're allowed at the last minute, the
measure being tackled on the general ,
deficiency bill. The appropriation is !
or 81 ,304 600. The international copy I
light bill is at last law, and this coun-
ry can no longer be branded as the
protector of literary pirates. This bill
vas defeated once in the senate, and ,
Is fate was uncertain until the last
lays. No measure of secondary i'm
'ortance has received more attention
It the hands of the newspapers, and,
although it is not an altogether satisfac- I
DRY law, ii is great deal better than I
10 law at all. t
A word or two on proposed leg J
station which failed to reach the presi- |
lent. The conspicuous examples of ,
UGH legislation were the federal cleo a
ion bill and the free silver coinage Il