The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-03-06
FFIT-FIRST CONGRESS-
Review Of the Work Accom-
pfishcd I'm the Past Two
Years.
a Remarkable Number Of In
pgrtant Measures Become
Laws.
The -Dtal Appropriations Made Foot
UP Nearly BiIlea Of
Dollars.

WARRINGTON. March 5.-ExtraOrdin-
airy Conditions governing the compost
10n Of the Fifffy-ffrst congress, drew to
It's leeisla4iOn the attention of the whole
country. The Republican party had, on
the day congress convened, once more
obtained control Of the executive and
Legislative branches of the federal gov.
erum4ut, but SO small was the majority
ID the h0use Of representatives that II
was obvious that the success OF party
measures would be greatly imperled
unless radical methods were adopted.
Realizing this, the Republican leaders
II the house made every preparation TO
place their party II that body on a
stronger footing, and hardly had the
congress convened when II became evi-
dent hat vigorous and unprecedented
police was 30 be pursued.
The lCng struggle Of the Democrats u
the house TO prevent the unse aring of
ore CT their number and the seaIing of
Republican, n ms place, while the house
was proceeding under general parha-
mentary law, and the more Otter Oppo-
Simon 10 the adoption of a new code
making radical changes N the rules
winch had heretofore governed the house
IN The lower body, had the erect OF
keeping On tine alert the interest ID the
Legislative proceedings. which, prior TO
these occurrences, had been deemed by
many prosy and unInIeresIng.
Three Great Measures
considered by the congress just ended
VIII take prominent place N the MS
tory Of Legislation. These are the tariff
act OF 1890. the federal elections bill and
the silver bill. By the tariff act I'M
porran1 changes IN the customs laws
were brought about, and the first prac-
tical opportunity of testing the theories
of the advocates of commercial reci-
prOc1Ty were made certain
Early IN the second session Of the
congress. agitation on the silver CUES
tion was resumed. A bill introduced
by Senator Sherman, providing for GER
tain changes IN the nali0nal banking
system was agreed TO IN the finance
committee and reported back TO the
senate II the shape of a general financial
measure.
-
of free coinage amendment to the bill,
and when the senate finally passed ON
the measure, Senator Vest, after ex-
pressing his dissatisfaction with the
bill, offered as a substitute the free
coinage biIl-pure and simple-that had
been passed by the senate during the
first session of the congress. The sub
stiIube was adopted. It was sent TO the
house, and after hearing many delega-
mons. The hc,--4,v osuIn1rrae -s.<.i-saxrH
weights and measures. ten DAYS previous
TO the end of the congress, agreed to re-
port It adversely II was never called
I'D IN the house
The Elections Bill
The vaciIlating career of the federal
elections bill, giving the control of cleo
tions of members Of the house Of repre-
ssntat1ves to the government, was
watched with intense interest through
out the country and particularly IN the
South. After a limited but bITIer de-
bate, the house passed the measure IN
first session. 1t was called I'D IN the
senate but the seemingly endless debate
caused by the opposition of the Demo
Gratis, brought about the caucus agree
men1 by which the elections bill was
with the understanding that the cleo
tions bill should be pushed 10 final
vote during the second session. But the
discussion Of the measure was never
completed, an agreement by which the
Republicans were 10 give up the cleo
1ions bill If the Democrats would not
oppose other Legislation having been
arranged. the senate devoted the re-
Of he IN c-,T-1
through measures of importance.
Notable for Important Measures.
The first or long session Is notable for
| the number of other important measures
that became lnws. Wyoming and Idaho
were admitted TO statehood. making the
number of states f0rty-f0ur A general
| land grant forfeiture bill. providing for
| the forfeiture to the government OF al
Unearned lands opened new lands TO set
clement. The PROM bIlion of American
meat from certain foreign markets
brought about the passage Of The law tl
provide for the inspection Of meats IL
| tended for export The bills 10 prohibit
| the exporbalon of adulBHraBed articles
/ of food and drink and TO enable the
president 10 prevent the Importation OF
/ impure or adElIaratRd articles Of food
! and drink are worthy of special mention
! while among the less important but gen
orally interesting laws enacted were the
following:
] Less Important Laws.
Providing for an additional asslstan,
secretary of the navy and an assistant
secretary Of war; increasing TO 81 q
month the pensions Of those perman.
emily disabled: directing the supern
! tendenI Of the census TO collect staIistic:
OF farm and mortgage Indebtedness
! granting certificates Of discharge TX
those VINO enlisted under assumed
names IN the war Of the rebellion, tx
prevent the importation from one sIaIt
INTO another of goods prohibited by thu
latter state except N original packages
10 apply a portion of the proceeds OF 1hi
sale of public lands to the endowment
and support of agricultural colleges
transferring the weather bureau IRON
| the signal corps To the agricultural de
par1ment; providing for naval arma
meuf experiments with nickel and on
and matte; authorizing the post
I master general TO test the ne.
i delivery system N small towns
1 providing for the settlement Of the In
Z dian depredations claims by the court O.
claims; creating court for the Judlcla
investigation and settlement OF pr1vaa
land claims; repeating the timber cul
ture law; providing for the inspection
Of 1--we cattle, hogs and the c2rcasses and
+},ororxf ov-, 4},ka cY1 f17efyz