Crawford avalanche., 1893-03-16
Didn't Reduce Expenses.

tariff or antl-options, the action taken
on each of these questions in one branch
of Congress being negatived by the ac-
ton or non action of the other branch
The result OF the agitation OF the ne
cessity for a retrenchmenL of expendi-
lures is not apparent in any consider
able change in the aggregate appropri-
ations carried by the national supply
bills, for they amount to about as much
as in the List Congress, laws on the
statute books preventing some large
reductions which otherwise possibly
would have been made, while the de-
creases which ii was possible to effect
were Offset by increased appropriations
for pensions and rivers and harbors.
The condition of the public Treasury,
however, though it did not result In the
Lid Congress getting below the bill
ion-dollar limit, undoubtedly influenced
legislation to considerable extent,
and prevented the authorization of
many proposed new expenditures for
Improvement of the public service, for
public buildings, payment OF claims,
and for other purposes. A notable in
stance Of the operation Of this influence
is seen in the fact that not a single
public building bill passed the House,
and it was only by putting a number of
bill that any appropriations whatever
for public buildings were secured.
Struggle over silver.
The silver question was kept steadily
before the attention of Congress by the
alternate advocates OF free coinage and
of the repeal of the Sherman law. The
coinage committee of the House in the
first session reported a free-silver bill,
which after an exciting debate was
saved from defeat by the casting vote
of the Speaker. but was afterward fill
bustered to death, the friends of the
bill failing to secure the signatures OF
q majority Of the Democrats to petition
for cloture rule in its behalf. The
Senate then passed free-coinage bill,
but when the free-silVer men renewed
their fight in the House they were out
numbered by fourteen votes, and, of
course. failed. The anti-silver men met
a similar fate in their efforts to secure
a repeal of the present law, the Senate
refusing by q decisive vote to consider
it, and the House killing the Andrew
Cate bill by declining to vote so as 10
give its friends the parliamentary right
TO move cloture on 1T, without which 1t
concededly could never be forced to
vote in the closing hours OF the Con-
gress.
On the tariff, according to a Wash
ington correspondent, the dominant
party in the House adopted a policy of
attacking the Mckinley act in detail
largely for political reasons and partly
for the reason that in view of the
political complexion OF the Senate it
was practically out OF the question to
pass q general tariff-revision bill
through the Senate, while special
measures might stand some show Of
passage. The result was the enact
ment into law of two bills continuing
block tin OH the free list and fine linen
at 35 per cent ad valorem. Under the
Mckinley act large duties were to take
effect on those items in the near future.
Other separate bills were passed
through the House, only to be pigeon
holed in the Senate, as follows: Free
wool and reduction OF duties on wooden
manufactures, free cotton bagRing
silver-lead ores, where the value, not
the weight of the silver exceeds that of
the lead in any Importation; free tin
plate, terne-plate. taggers' tin, and the
limitation to 500 OF the amount of
personal baggage returning tourists
may bring into the United States.
The anti-option bill passed both
houses. but was killed by the refusal OF
the House to suspend the rules and
agree by q two-thirds vote to the
amendment put on the bill by the Sen
ate, the opponents OF the measure
maneuvering so as to prevent Mr.. Hatch
making effective his majority in favor of
the measure and forcing him at the last
moment to try suspension Of the rules.
The pure-food bill, the running mate of
hn hn 10
but was-never able to get consideration
in the House.
Worlds Fair Legislation.
Worlds Fair legislation comprised
the grant OF So, SOC, 900 in souvenir half
dollars in aid of the Fair, the closing of
its gates on Sunday, the appropriation
of various amounts for different Fair
purposes and the passage OF sundry
acts Of q special nature and minor i'm
portance.
An automatic car-coupler bill shorn
of its drastic features was enacted into
law, as was also a national quarantine
bill increaE ing the powers of the marine-
hospital service to meet the threatened
dangers from cho' era, and an immigra-
tion law imposing additional restrictions
on immigration, but not suspending it
entirely.
ne Oendle dNeIJtu the Dlll ONST the
Behring sea seal fisheries by ratifying
treaty of arbitration. 1t also ratined
extradition treaties with Russia and
other countries, but still has before 1t a
treaty of annexation OF the Hawaiian
islands. Tne opening OF the Cherokee
outlet was provided for in the Indian
bill under aclause appropriating So, 1885,
COO for its purchase from Indians.
1926, 900 to be puid in cash and SS, 900 900
in five equal annual installments.
Pat on the ST itute 30 oks.
Approximately 425 House and 235
Senate bills and JOINT resolutions be-
came laws, making $50 acts put on the
statute books as the result of the work
OF Congress. A majority of these
measures we're of interest only TO indl-
viduals or localities, being for the relief
OF citizens. for the bridging of streams.
for the District OF Columbia, for rights
OF way, etc. An unusual proportion of
tie claims bills we're for the relief OF
Southern men.
The House passed In round hunters
625 bills, OF which 300 faile l OF passage
In the Senate, and in the neighborhood
OF 625 bills passed by the Senate failed