The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-03-13
CONGRESS- LABORS.
Summary OF tho Doings Of tho
Fifty-First Congress-
gnrort.nt Legislation Enseted Attention.
Drawn 90 the Work % the h"dy
- the Extraordinary Gssndi-
sions SURF sunding H.

WASHINGTON March 6-Ixtraordinary
conditions governing the compositton %
shr nifty fr~t congress drew ~ ~ ie.tsiAt'o" n
she attention Of the whole country. Inc r.
publ scan party had. on the day the conxfe~.
convened. once rfurc obtained controi 81
che Legislative. bra 4 hes ~ the federal gov
eminent. hut 80 ~fall the majority "
che house OF representatives that 4 ~as %.
viou< thr success ~ party measures ~Nu.n
b. greatly mprrliei unless RAD 81 Al mttnou~
we're adopted. Realizing thls tAr republican
Managers in the house made every prepare
zion 10 place their party 10 that body On
= stronger footing. and hardly haa
che congress convened when u DC
came evident that vigorous AM Nm
prtceientcd policy ~a~ a. be pursued Inc
hong struggle ~ the democrats an thr house
"a prevent the unScAtiug ~ une oi thri1
number and the seating 81 a republican con
sestce in his place. while the house a. pro-
cce1ing under general parliamentary law
and the more bitter opposition q" TINS aapp'
tsOn OF a new code makin< radical cnAhk's
In the rnles which had heretofore governed
On. house. had the effect of Keeping on the
alert the interest IN legislative proeeed.n1s.
whtch. prior 20 these occurrences had pesh
deemed. by many. pro~y and unlnt'rr~t'hS-
Three great measures considered BY the
congress just ended viii take prominent
place in the history OF IL legislation lnese
Ar the tariff act OF l<s,. the federal elections
bill and the silver bill By the tarlu act I'M
porrant changes in the customs laws we're
brought about and the first practical oppor-
sunlty 81 testing the theories 81 the auvo-
Gates of commercial. rec procity we're made
certain. The reciprocity matter Vas
brought 60 the attention OF congress
by secretary Blaine. II did not nnu
enthusiastic advocacy In the house, but
senator Aldrlch who had previously
s<pouscs it, doctr.ne) succeeded, With me
assistance 81 several OF his colleagues, IN
..aIa. .I an IL. 4
che tariff bill providing Tor a cuininrrcAI
trade agreement by which the United states
could secure the free adm sion - tbs
country from the Latin american countries
Of sugar and ether produces n"d'nei
for.n ~ the reciprocity amendment VA IN 4
serted III the bill whi'e X WA ia conference.
aud practical opportunity 81 testing -
benefits has Teen afforded by the recent
agreement with Brazil
On July IA. 800. after a prntrAcfcd struggle
bct cen the advocates of free silver ana tne
conservatives on the silver question piil
49, enacted PROV itin1 for the i>~sc ~ coin
certificates based gold or silver bullion
xlth rroxfso that rhe secrctAry 81 ths
treasury should purchase .5t0.p1 ounces 81
silver bullion each month This blil wA- ths
result 81 q compromise. ia conference. br
fueen the two hou-eS-tne senate hANsne
passed free coinage bill.
Enrlv IN the -econi session 81 the con
resumed Abni introduced by senator >her
man. providing for certain changes in IN
national banking system. VA am nded II
the finance committee and reported bari
10 the senate In thr shape Of q general nnan
rSat measure a long debate resulted ~ tn
adoption ~ free-eoinage amendment q
the bin. and late nne night when the senar
completed and finally passed On the meas
ur.. senator Vest after expressing nj d.
satisfaction With the bill. offered - sub
stffute the free coinage bill pure and I'm
pls~-thaf had been passed ~ the senate our
ing the first session OF the Congress Ih
substitute was adopted Il was sent - ~
house. and after hearing many delegation
the hon~. committee in coinage. weight
and measures. ten days prcvtousto the en-
OF the congress. agreed 20 report u A.
verSely II Vas never cAiiet upin the nous
The vacillatlng career 81 tne federal eles
lions bill. giving the control q election
or members OF the house OF repr'
~ensatives 10 the government. ~
watched with intense Interest Through
out the country and particularly
the south After limited bat bitter deba
the house passed the measure In the nr
session. II was called up 10 the senate Y
.he seemingly endless debate caused BY a
opposition II the democrats. brought abc
the caucus agreement by which the els.
fi0ns bill Was laid ASIDE and the tAril y
taken up with the understanding that y
xofe during the second session. But 9
discussion OF the measure wa- new
<rnmni.t..d II was taken up. accoriii
20 the agreement. IN the second ~e-sin
and laid aside for the financial bail. prev
onsly referred 20. by yea and nay so
most " the republican free silver men ~
several other republicans voting Win
democrats Again il was taken M. but Z
rrpubiicnn managers. realizing thAf N
could not pass Il under the EXISTING codr
procedure brought in a rule % close itDA
a very determined battle en-ued- and
opponents 81 the election bill tincindlnl
number ~ rrpnblican-i succeeded ~ -
traekinr the rule for the apportonms
MIN Ihi- Killed the measure. An ayr
sn.nt b, which tile republican werr ~ =
np The elections biil the democrats wo'
not oppose ether leg station va arranr
and tie senate devoted the remainder q
session 10 pushing through measures u
rouanrc-
In pursuance Of it, prom -. ia the ca
rsisu ~ isS-. that more liberal pens
Regis afiun would be enactct. the rerubli'
martyrs representatives IN congress secu
the passage ~ disability pension Aet =
ing disabled soldiers ST. A month
President Harri-on's opposition 90
seri.- (Which he made the subject ~ a y
rage 70 conxrr--l brought about the en-
u.nf OF Law prohibiting the send
1hrvugh the mails 81 letters and clrcn
relating 70 lotteries ana ~ nt"-r Apt'-
tanning lottery advertisements. -onev
-.u,iiar a. this legislation " Asthc pa-sa-
I'M 10 restrain trusts and combination
The retirement Of Mr. Blair from the :
ate probably marks the end ~ iegi-la
proceedings on his famous edncAtinnai
Previous 10 the ifty-nrst congress the
mad twice passed the senate, bnt "a the
session ~ the congress just ended = ~a'
feated Ia that body.
International intere-, was aroused "a
xhe flr~t session Of the con xrcs~ by the
sentlon between the elites ~ New lork-
caxo. 81 Louis and Washington 20 Sc
sbe worlds Columbian ~ position ani
IN exciting struggle national c"mni-
-. appointed and Chicago was sciecte
the site
The fr~t or long session i notable 10
number ~ important measures tna'
came laws wyoming and ldano wef
mitfed 20 statehood. maxi the numD'
st.t.- forty -four. A general land gran
fr.turc bill providing Tor the f"rfftu
tbe government Of all uneArnei
granted % aid la the conjunction ~
roads opposite portions ~ roads un
olesss al the time ~ the passage ~ inc
op.nsAi new lands 20 settlement rms
hlDitlon 81 American meAt rom ccr'aA
.ivn markets brought about the pas~A
the Law q provide Tor the in-pccti
s..m rM4tFf