The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-05
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4 RECORD;
Partial Resume Of the Work Accom-
plished by tho Fifty-frst
Congress.
Three Great Measures That serva
to Make tho Proceedings
Memorable.
The Mckinley Bill Passed, the Free silver
and Force Bills Defeated-Other
Measures.

any OF which in intrinsic Importance and
popular interest would be sufficient for a
national issue, stand forth pre- eminent
among all others. First, the Mckinley
tariff bill, which became law; second, the
silver bill, on which first session COM
promise was effected, based on
the monthly purchase of 4,5OO, 900 ounces of
silver, which, in turn, was followed
by more radical measures that failed of
passage; and, third, the federal elections
bill, which. after protracted struggle,
failed in the senate to reach decisive
vote. The radical innovations in the rules
of the house added interest to its
proceedings, and tho determined but
frutless efforts to adopt the most
vital Of these innovations formed past of
the history of the latter part of the sessions
OF the senate. Even in its mortuary record
the congress was remarkable, the call of
death having summoned no fewer than
twelve of its representatives and three of
its senators.
The total appropriations for this congress
will probably reach billion dollars. Dur
ing the Fiftieth congress 161 bills were
vetoed and during the Fifty first congress
fourteen. Among the bills which became
laws are these: The copyright bill; private
land court; postal subsidy; Indian repeal;
customs administrative; general land for
feiture; the bill to relieve the supreme court
by the establishment of an intermediate
court of appeals; the United States
judges salaries bill; Worlds fair; Wyomin q
and Idaho admission; anti-lottery and anti
trust; reapportionment; immigration; the
bill to ratify the agreements with various
Indian tribes and friendly Sioux 800, 1000;
to reduce fees of pension agents; to pay
French spoliation claims; the meat inspec-
ti tion bill; the bill to prevent the importa-
cattle and hog inspection bill; the bill ap-
propriatinC one million dollars for the i'm
provsment of the Mississippi river; to ger
init sorghum sugar manufacturers to use
alcohol without payment OF tax; to limit
TO bO per cent. OF rates charged private par
ties the rates land grant railroads shall
charge TOR the transportation Of government
troops and gupplies; for the relief
OF settlers on Northern Pacific railroad in
demnity lands; to permit the export of fer
mented liquors to a foreign country with
out the payment of tax; to apply the pro-
ceeds of sales of public lands and receipts
from certain land grant railroads to the
support of agricultural and industrial COL
leges; to extend the time of payment of
public lands in cases of failure of crops; to
set aside the big tree tract in California as
q public park; for the inspection of cattle
steamers, to secure more humane treatment
Of cattle. The Blair educational bill, the
bill for the appointment of an alcoholic
liquor commission and an eight hours
claims bill were defeated on test votes.
Among those which, after passing one
house, failed of action in the other, are
the bankruptcy, Conger lard, and army re-
organization bills. The Paddock pure
food. Nicaragua canal. Pacific railroad
funding. and the interstate commerce bill
to permit limited pooling, are among the
which failed to reach vote in
either house.
The following are some of the senate
bills which failed to pass the houses To
provide for the free coinage of silver; en-
larginR the rights Of homesteaders and pre-
emptors ON public lands; 1eviving the grade
of lieutenant general of the army; for ex-
ploration and survey of the interior Of
Alaska.
The following house bills failed to pass
the senate: 10 transfer the revenue ma
rine service to the navy; for the relief of
telegraph operators during the war. Among
the measures on which neither house acted.
except, in some cases, by committees, were
the sub-treasury and farm mortgages and
service pension bills; the Canadian reci-
prooity resolution; the bill to encourage the
construction OF an inter-continentai rail
way; postal savings bank and
postal telegraph bills; Buffers bill to aid
negroes to emigrate to Africa; the woman
suffrage and prohibition constitution
the income tax bill and vari-
GUS other radical financial and political
In The Fifty-frst congress IA, 1888 bills
were Introduced in the house and s. 129 in
the senate. In the Fiftieth congress 1864
were introduced in the house and 1900 in
297 joint resolutions, or twenty eight more
than in the Fiftieth. were introduced in
the house. In the senate 169 joint resolu-
tions, twentyfour more than in the Fiftieth,
were introduced. The bills that became
laws during the congress just ended, num-
bered 2lS6 In the Fiftieth congress 1924
bills were enacted.