Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-03-12
CONGRESS- LABORS.
summary Of the Doings of the
Fifty-First Congress.
important Legislation Enacted-Attention
Drawn to the Work of the BODY
by the Extraordinary Condi-
tons Surrounding 1t.

WASHINGTON, March 5.-Exrraordinary
<"HaItions governing the composition of
tiie Hfty nrst congress drew to its legislation
the attention of the whole country The re-
publican party had on the day the co ngress
convened, once more obtained control of
the legislative branches of the federal gov
eminent, but so small was the majority in
INC mouse OF representatives that it was OBJ
Nious the success of party measures would
DE greatly imperiled unless radical methods
We're adopted. Realizing this the republican
managers in the house made every prepare
ton 10 place their party in that body on
stronger footing, and hardly had
the congress convened when it be-
came evident that vigorous and I'M
precedented policy was to be pursued The
long struggle of the democrats in the house
10 prevent the unseating of one of their
number and the seating of a republican con-
testee in his place, while the house was pro-
ceed!nS under general parliamentary law"
and the more bitter opposition TO the a,lon-
ton of a new code making radical changes
IN the ruleS which had heretofore governed
the house, had the effect of keeping on the
alert the interest in legislative proceedings
which, prior to these occurrences had been
eeemed, by many, prosy and uninteresting.
ihree great measures considered by the
congress just ended will take a prominent
place in the history of it's legislation. These
are the tariff act of 1890, the federal elections
OH and the silver bill. By the tariff act i'm
portant changes in the customs laws were
brought about, and the first practical oppor-
tunity of testing the theories of the advo-
Gates OF commercial reciprocity were made
certain. The reciprocity matter was
brought to the attention of congress
by Secretary Blaine. 1t did not find
enthusiastic advocacy in the house; but
senator Aldrich (who had previously
espoused its doctrine) succeeded, with the
assistance of several of his colleagues in
persuading the senate to attach a clause to
ehe tariH bill providing for a commercial
trade agreement by which the United States
could secure the free admission to this
country from the Latin American countries
OF sugar and other products 4 modified
form of the reciprocity amendment was in
serted in the bill while 1t was in conference,
ana a practical opportunity of testing it's
benefits has been afforded by the recent
agreement with Brazil.
On July IA, 1890, after prntracted struggle
between the advocates of free silver and the
conservatives on the silver question, a bill
was enacted providing for the issue of coin
certificates based on gold or silver bullion,
with a proviso that the secretary of the
treasury should purchase 1850, 900 ounces of
SILVER bullion each month. This bill was the
result of a compromise, in conference, be-
tween the two houSes-the senate having
passed free coinage bill.
Early IN the second session of the con-
gress, agitation on the silver question was
resumed. bill introduced by Senator Sher-
man, providing for certain changes in the
national banking system, was amended in
the finance committee and reported back
to the senate in the shape of q general finan-
cial measure. y long debate resulted in the
adoption of free cOinage amendment to
the bill, and late one night when the senate
completed and finally passed on the meas
ure, senator Vest, after expressing his dis
satisfaction with the bill. offered as a sub
stitute the free coinage bill-pure and SIM
ple-that had been passed by the senate dur
ing the first session of the congress. The
substitute was adopted. 1t was sent to the
house. and after hearing many delegations
the house committee coinage, weights
and measures, ten days previous to the end
of the congress, agreed to report it adj
Tersely. 1t was never called up in the house.
The vacillating career of the federal cleo
lions bill. giving the control of elections
of members of the house of repre-
sentatives to the government was
watched with intense interest through
out the country and particularly in
the south. After a limited but bitter debate
the house passed the measure in the first
session. 1t was called up in the senate, but
the seemingly endless debate caused by the
opposition of the democrats. brought about
the caucus agreement by which the cleo
tions bill was laid aside and the tariff bill
taken up with the understanding that the
elections bill should be pushed to a final
vote during the second session. But the
discussion of the measure was never
completed. 1t taken up, according
to the agreement. in the second session,
-ously referred to. by yea and nay vote
most of the republican free silver men and
several other republicans voting with the
democrats. Again lie Ne t'Eeu up, but the
republican managers, reanzIng that they
could not pass it under the existing code of
procedure, brought in a rule to close debate.
A very determined battle ensued, and the
opponents of the election bill (inclUding a
number of republicans) succeeded i'll side
tracking the rule for the apportionment
bill. This killed the measure. An agree
ment by which the republicans were to give
up the elections bill if the democrats would
not oppose other legislation was arranged,
and the senate devoted the remainder of the
session to pushing through measures of i'm
0ortance.
In pursuance of it's promise, in the cam
paign of 1883, that more liberal pension
legislation would be enacted, the republican
party's representatives in congress secured
the passage of a disability pension act Civ
ing disabled soldiers Sl2 a month.
President HarrisOn's opposition to lot
teries (Which he made the subject of a mes
sage to congreSs) brought about the enact
ment of law prohibiting the sending
through the mails of letters and circulars
relating to lotteries and of newspapers con
Gaining lottery advertisements. Somewhat
similar to this legislation was the passage of
bill to restrain trusts and combinations.
The retirement of Mr.. Blair from the SEN
ate probably marks the end of legislative
proceedings on his famous educational bill
Previous to the nfty-nrSt congress the bull
had twice passed the senate but in the first
session of the congress just ended it was de-
fcated in that body.
International interest was aroused during
the first session of the congress by the con
tention between the cities of New York, Chi
cago. St Louis and Washington to secure
the Worlds Columbian exposition, and after
an exciting struggle a national commission
appointed and Chicago was selected as
the site.
The first or long session is notable for the
number of important measures that be-
came laws. Wyoming and Idaho were adj
United to statehood, making the number of
states forty four. a general land grant for
feiture bill providing for the forfeiture to
the government of all unearned lands
granted to aid in the construction of rail
roads opposite portions of roads uncom-
pIeted at the time of the passage of the law,
opened new lands to settlement. The pro-
hibtion of American meat from certain for
the law to provide for the inspection of
prohibit the expectation of adulterated ar
enable the president to prevent the
Importation of impure or adulterated
articles of food and drink worthy of
special mention, while among the less inn
portant but generally interesting laws en-
acted were the following: Providing for an
additional assistant secretary of the navy
and an assistant secretary of war; provid-
ing for the expectation of fermented liquor
In bond without payment OF Internal revenue
tax; extending the criminal jurisdiction of
che federal courts to the great lakes; in