The Dickinson press., 1891-03-07

I .s
the day congress convened, once more
obtained control of the executive and
legislative branches of the federal gov
eminent. hut so small Was the majority
in the house of representatives that it
was obvious that the success of party
measures would bc greatly imperiled
unless radical methods We're adopted.
Realizing this. the Republican leaders
in the house made every preparation to
place their party in that body OH a
stronger footing, and hardly had the
congress convened when it became evil
dent that Il vigorous and unprecedented
policy was to be pursued.
The long struggle of the Democrats in
the house to prevent the unseating Of
one of their number and the seating of a
Republican i'll his place. while the house
was proceeding under general parlia-
mrntary law. and the more bitter oppo-
sition to the adoption of IL new code
making radical changes in the rules
which had heretofore governed the house
in the lower body, had the effect of
htIiuIiS vi tllC ttlSIl tIlG llilNlNSt VI lllC
legislative proceedings. which, prior to
these occurrences, had been deemed by
many prosy and unintcresting.
Three Great Measures
considered by the congress just ended
will take Il prominent place in the his
tory of legislation. These are the tariff
act of 1880. the federal elections bill and
the silver bill. BY the tariff act i'm
portant changes in the customs laws
were brought about, and the first prac-
tical opportunity of testing the theories
of the advocates of commercial reci-
procity We're made certain.
Early i'll the second session of the
congress. agitation on the silver qlcs-
ton was resumed. A bill introduced
by Senator Sherman. providing for GER
tain changes i'll the national banking
system was agreed to i'll the finance
committee and reported back to the
senate i'll the shape of q; general financial
measure.
a long debate resulted in the adoption
OF Il free coinage amendment to the bill,
and when the senate finally passed on
the measure, Senator Vest. after en-
pressing his dissatisfaction with the
bill, offered as a substitute the free
coinage bill-pure and simplc-that had
been passed by the senate during the
first session of the congress. The sub
stitutc was adopted. 1t WAS sent to the
house, and after hearing many lclcga-
tions. the house committee on coinage,
weights and measures, ten days previous
to the end of the congress. agreed to re-
port it adversely. 1t WAS never called
UP i'll the house.
The Elections Bill.
The vacillating career of the federal
elections bill. giving the control of cleo
lions Of members of the house of repre-
sclltatlvcs to the government. was
watched with intense interest through
out the country and particularly in the
South. After Il limited but bitter de-
bate, the house passed the measure in
first session. 1t was called up in the
senate but the seemingly endless debate
caused by the opposition of the Demo-
Gratis. brought about the caucus agree
mcnt by which the elections bill was
laid aside, and the tariff bill taken up
with the understanding that the clec-
tons bill should be pushed to a final
vote during the second session. But the
discussion of the measure was never
completed, an agreement by which the
Republicans We're to give up the cleo
tions bill if the Democrats would not
oppos" other legislation having been
arranged. the senate devoted the re-
mainder of the session to pushing
through measures of Importance.
Notable for Important Measures.
The first or long session is notable TO,
the number of other important measures
fInf 1aco,,n 1uy-c NhT,.,,. ,-1 T1.1,z
were admitted to statehood. making the
number Of states forty-four. A general
land grant forfeiture bill, providing for
the forfeiture to the government Of ali
nnearned lands opened new lands to set.
meat from certain foreign markets
brought about the passage Of the law t.
provide for the inspection of meats in
tended for export. The bills to prohibit
the expectation of adulterated articles
of food and drink, and to enable the
president to prevent the importation Of
impure or adulterated articles of fooi
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 All additional assistant
secretary of the navy and an assistant
secretary of war: increasing to S72 {;
month the pensions of those perman.
emily disabled: directing the superin,
tendent of the census to collect statistics
of farm and mortgage indebtedness
granting certificates of discharge te
those who enlisted under assumed
names in the war of the rebellion; tc
prevent the importation from one state
into another of goods prohibited by the
latter state except i'll original packages
to apply a portion of the proceeds of til;
sale Of public lands to the endowment
and support of agricultural colleges
transferring the weather bureau from
the signal corps to the agricultural de
partment; providing for naval anna