The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1893-03-11
WORK OF CONGRESS-
WHAT WAS DONE AT THE LAST
SESSION


Silver. the Tariff and Anti-OptiOns,
the Leading Topics Discussed-Re.
trenchment In Expenditures Did
Not Cut Much of a Figure.
WASHINGTON. March 6.-The silver
and tariff question, the anti-option bill
and the reduction Of appropriations
were the leading topics of consideration
by the Fifty-second congress. which ex-
pired by constitutional limitation at
noon Saturday. Secondary only in i'm.
portance to these matters were meas
ures relating to the worlds fair, equip.
ment of railroads with automatic car
couplers, national quarantine and i'm.
migration, Behring sea and Hawaiian
annexation. Nothing of an affirmative
nature except to prevent two items in
the Mckinley bill taking effect was ac-
tually accomplished so far as respects
silver, the tariff or anti-options.
Retrenchment Of Expenditures
- not apparent in any considerable
change in the aggregate appropriation
bills for they amount to about as much
In the Fifty-first congress. laws on the
statute books preventing some large
reductions which otherwise would have
been made, while the decrease which it
was possible to effect was offset by in.
creased appropriations for pensions and
rivers and harbors.
The silver question was kept steadily
before the attention of congress by the
alternate efforts of the advocates of
free coinage and of the repeal of the
Sherman law. The coinage committee
of the house in the first session reported
free silver bill, which after an excit.
ing debate was saved from defeat by
the casting vote of the speaker, but
was afterwards
Filljbustered to Death.
the friends of the bill failing to secure
the signatures of majority of the
Democrats to petition asking for a
cloture rule in its behalf The senate
then passed free coinage bill, but
when the silver men renewed their
fight in the house they were outnum.
bered by IA votes and of course failed.
The anti-silver men met similar fate
In their efforts to secure appeal of the
law.
+ On the tariff the dominant party in
the house adopted policy of attack
ing the Mckinley bill in detail largely
for political reasons, and partly for the
reason that in view of the political COM
plexion of the senate it was practically
out of the question to pass
General Revision of the Tariff Rill
while special measures might stand
some show of pessage. The result Was
the enactment into law of two bills
continuing block tin on the free list and
fine linen at 35 per cent. ad valorem.
Under the Mckinley bill large duties
were to take effect on these items
in the near future Other separate
bills were passed through the house
only to be pigeonholed in the senate.
The anti-option bill passed both
houses, but was killed by the refusal of
the house to suspend the rules and
agree by two-thirds vote to the amend
ments put on the bill by the senate. The
pure food bill. the running mate of the
anti-options bill, passed the senate, but
was never able to get consideration in
the house.
The automatic car coupler bill, shorn
of its drastic features, was enacted into
law, as was also national quarantine
bill increasing the powers of the marine
hospital service to meet the threatened
dangers from cholera and an immigra.
tion law imposing additional reduction
on immigration. but not suspending it
entirely.
The Behring Sea Trouble.
The senate averted trouble over the
Behring sea fisheries by ratifying a
treaty of arbitration 1t also ratified
extradition treaties with Russia and
other countries, but still has before it
treaty of annexation of the Hawaiian
islands.
The opening of the Cherokee outlet
was provided for in the Indian bill un-
der clause appropriations $s, 295, 900
for its purchase from the Indians. $685.
600 to be paid in cash.an ~. 900. 900 in
five equal annual installments.
Approximately 425 house and 235 sen.
ate bills and joint resolutions became
laws, making $50 acts
Put on the Statute Books
as the result Of the work of congress. A
majority of these measures were of in
terest only 20 individuals or localities,
being for the relief of citizens for the
bridging of streams. etc. Three bills
were vetoed by the president. All were
Of comparatively small importance.
The pension and census Offices, the
whisky trust. Panama Canal and Pacific
Mail companies. the Watson. Cobb
charges. the Pinkerton system and
Homestead troubles and the Maverick
and Spring Garden bank failures and
the Ellis island immigration station
were Investigated by congressional com.
mites, but nothing came out of the re-
ports submitted.
MONTANA'S SENATOR.