St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-03-30
9liiserllanu.
THE WORK OF THE FIFTY-SECOND
CONGRESS-.


excellent summary of the work OF
the last congress. The things done
are referred to as we'll as the things
passed over or left undone. 1t APP
pears that, approximately, 425
house and 235 senate bills became
laws, as the result Of the congress.
Two hundred house bills failed Of
passage in the senate, while no less
than 625 senate bills failed in the
house, including long list of public
building bills, private pension bills,
and other measures carrying appro-
priations.
The record of the congress on the
most important bills with which it
has had to deal is in no way re-
markable. Early in the first session,
the democratic majority in the house
decided to make no attempt at pass
ing general tariff revision bill, in
view of the hostility OF the republican
senate. Special tariff bills were in
troduced, passed and duly sent to
the senate, with the result that one
bill, continuing fine linen at 80 per
cent ad valorem, is now a law, while
the following tariff measures, passed
by the house, were never considered
in the senate: for free wool and re-
duction OF duties on wooden manu-
features; for free cotton bagging
ties, and Gotten bagging machinery;
for free binding Irvine; for free silver
lead ores, where the value mot the
weight Of silver exceeds that of
lead; for free tin plate, ternc plate,
and taggcrs' tin; and the limitation
to 500 of the amount Of personal
baggage returning tourists may
bring.
On the "silyer question a good
deal Of time was wasted. The house
coinage committee reported free
silver bill, which was ilibustered to
death. The senate passed a free
coinage bill gifts own, which was
rejected by the house. The efforts to
repeal the Sherman silver law failed.
The ant-option bill passed both
houses, but was subsequently de-
feated by the refusal of the house to
suspend the rules and agree to GER
tain senate amendments. An auto
matte car-coupler bill was passed
but one far less Objectionable than
the original measure.
The immigration law passed i'm
poses additional restrictions and
adds three classes to the list of those
excluded under the previous law.
The quarantine bill passed is a com
promise measure increasing the pow
ers of federal officers.
The congress has not kept it's
promises in the matter of economy.
1t did not go below the billion-dol-
lar limit, and but for the condition
of the treasury, the appropriations
would have been even more extrava-
CANT.
The Indian bill contains a pro.
vision for the opening of the Chero.
kee outlet, SIS, 295, 900 being appro-
priatcd, 295,000 to be paid in cash
and $S,000,000 in FIVE annual in.
stallments.
The senate ratified a Behring Sea
arbitration treaty, and extraditior
treaties with Russia and other coun
tries. The Hawaii annexation
treaty was not considered.
The Nicaragua canal bill failed.
Among the important bills which
have become laws are the Chimes,
exclusion act, including the provision
for the registering and ticketing o
Chinese residents; to grant an Amer
lean registry to two lnman Lin
steamships; to pension the surviv
ors of the Black Hawk and Semi
mole Indian wars; to increase tn
pensions of veterans OF the Mexica,
war; the intermediate pension bill
to pension army nurses; the eight
hour bill for the adjustment of aC
counts OF employees who have work
ed overtime; to amend theinterstat
law, so as to meet the Gresham an
Counselman decisions; for the CON
pletion OF allotments OF lands to tn
Cheyennes and Arapahoes; to max
the secretary of agriculture eligible t
the presidential succession; to at
thorize the secretary of the treasur
to obtain designs for public building
from local architects, who NAV ais
be employed to Superntend COZ
struction; to amend the genera
land grant forfeiture act, so tha
persons entitled to purchase forfeite
lands may have four years from II
date of the passage of the act
establish standard gauge for she,
and plate iron and steel; closing IL
Worlds Fair on Sunday, and gran
ing the Fair So, 100000 on souven
halfdolars; authorizing the CO..
struction Of one new cruiser OF
hne-of-battle ship, and three GU
boats, appropriating 100000 {,
expenses Of the International nav
review; for the collection of railwf
export statistics; for the replac
ment of civilian Indian agents
army officers; extending the co
tract system to number of riv
and harbor projects.
Among the senate bills which fail
in the house are: Authorizing t
secretary of the navy to transpo
contributions to the Russian fami
sufferers; extending the free delive