Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-08-04
WHAT CONGRESS- DID.

Congress.
WAsnINaroN, Aug IA review Of tho
work of the Fifty-second congress,
which was Ia session eight months, may
prove of interest at this time.
The house devoted the first two
months Of It's session TO the discussion
and adoption OF a code of rules, after
which the regular business was taken
up Bills 20 the number Of 0,6f7 have
been introduced in the house and re-
ferred to committees OF this number
2.115 have been reported and placed on
the calendar, about 430 Of which have
pussed the house. The most important
measure considered by the house, ex-
cepting the general appropriation BILLS,
were the silver bill, the tariff measures
reported from the ways and means
committee the Chinese exclusion act,
the intermediate and army nurse
pension bills, the bill to enforce recip-
rocal commercial relations with Canada,
the bill increasing the pay of life
saving crews, TO establish lineal promo
tion in the army, for the better control
Of national banks in regard to loaning
money TO directors and officers, aud TO
add the name of the secretary of agri-
culture TO the cabinet officers who may
act as president in certain contingent
cies. This bill and the silver bill failed
In the house, as did also the free coin
age bill which passed the senate. Tho
several tariff bills passed by the house
failed in the senate, as did also the bills
providing for the admission of New
Mexico and Arizona as states
OF the 8, 492 bills introduced in the
senate 1,102 were reported upon by
Among the most important measures
passed by the senate and not acted upon
by the house were the following: To
facilitate the claims for arrears of pay
and bounty for the construction of
revenue cutters, two each; the pure
food" bill; the bill TO increase the
ate of pension for certain cases
of deafness; TO fix the price of lands en-
tered under the desert land laws; to au-
thorize the secretary of war to cause a
survey to be made for n ship canal from
Philadelphia across New Jersey to New
York bay and the bill for the immigra-
tion laws A large number of public
building and claim bills passed by
the senate also failed in the house.
One hundred and three bills have
passed both houses and been sent
to the president for his sigma
ture. There are twenty of these
bills still under consideration by tho
executive. One has been returned to
the house by its request without sign
ing; two have been vetoed-the bill to
amend the organizing of the circuit
courts of appeals SO as to give it juris-
diction of certain Indian cases and the
bill referring the McGarrahan claim to
the court of private land claims. Three
have become laws without the presi-
dents approval
Investigations were a feature of this
congress, especially in the house, and
committees devoted much time to them
The pension office received the atten-
tion of special committee, which re-
ported mismanagement of the bureau
under the administration of Commits
sioner Raum, and reported to the
house that the president be or
dered to dismiss that official at an
carly day They also criticised Russell
b. Harrison, the presidents son, for
his connection with securing leases
through the public parks. The com
mittee on judiciary looked into a matter
called to its attention by the attorney
general that marshals and clerks /
of United States courts in Boston were /
illegal fees in naturalization /
cases. They reported several bills to /
remedy the evil The committee on !
banking and currency was ordered to ,
keystone and Spring Garden |
National banks of Philadelphia and |
of the Maverick National bank Of Bos-
ton. The committee took q mass OF /
testimony but did not. complete their
inquiry. The committee appointed to |
investigate the census Office began their |
work late in the session and finally /
postponed it until next session. The /
on reform in the civil ser.
vice investigated the Baltimore post
office matter and filed a report /
severely criticising Postmaster-Gen.
eral Wanamaker, stating that he
knew that the employees were
the law, yet he still kept them
in office The investigation into the So
called sweating system" of contract
labor was conducted by n sub-commit-
tee Of the house manufactures commit
tee. 1t did not finish taking testimony
and will probably resume its session
during the recess of congress- Senator
Chandler and Representative Stump,
chairman Of the senate and house
on immigration, vigor-
ously investigated the expenditures
Of money at the Ellis Island
amigrant station and the construction
of the buildings there. This investiga-
tion was attended by several exciting
scenes between the two chairmen and
Assistant Secretary Nettleton and the
witnesses. Majority and MI
nority reports were made 10 the house,
but too late for action. No report was
made to the senate, Chairman Chandler
inding himself opposed by the other
republican members of the committee
n his conclusions from the evidence
md not inclined to join the democrats
n their directions.
Great Crons in nakofa