The record-union., 1893-03-06
speeiaI to the REconp.ux1ox.

Presentation to the President.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoS.
WAsHINGToN, March ). - The silver
and tariff questions, anti-option bill and
reductIon in appropriations were the
leading topics under consideration by
the F'ifty-second Congress which ex-
pired yesterday. and secondary only in
Importance to these matters were meas
ures relating to the Worlds Fair, equip
ment of railroads with automatic car
couplers, national quarantine and immi-
grafton, Behring Sea and Hawaiian an
nexation. Nothing of an affirmative
nature, except two items in the McKin-
ley bill taking effect, were actually ac-
complished.
The result of the agitation for retrench-
ment Of expenditures was not apparent
III any considerable change in the aggre-
gate appropriations. The condition of
the public treasury undoubtedly pre-
vented the authorization of many pro-
posed new expenditures. \ notable in
stance is seen in the fact that not single
public building bill passed the House,
and it was only by putting a number of
them on the civil appropriation bill that
any authorizations whatever for public
buildings was secured.
The silver question was kept steadily
before the attention of Congress by al
ternate efforts of advocates of free coin
age and the repeal of the Sherman law,
both OF whom, however, failed in their
object.
On the tariff the dominant party in the
House adopted a policy attacking the
Mckinley bill in detail. Owing to the
political complexion of the Senate, it was
practically out of the question TO pass a
general tariff revision bill. 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.
Other separate bills passed through the
House, only to be pigeon-holed in the
Senate.
The anti-option bill passed both
Houses. but was killed by a refusal to
suspend the rules and agree by a two
thirds vote to amendments put in the bill
by the Senate.
The pure food bill, running mate of
the anti-option, passed the Senate, but
was never able to get consideration in
the House.
The Worlds Fair legislation COM
prised a grant of S2,500,00O in souvenir
half dollars in aid of the fair, closing its
gates on Sunday, an appropriation in
various amounts for different fair pur-
poses, and the passage OF sundry Acts of
special nature and minor Importance.
The automatic car-coupler bill. shorn
OF it's drastic features, was enacted into a
law, as was also the national quarantine
bill increasing the powers of the marine
hospital service to meet threatened dan
gers from cholera, and the immigration
law, imposing additional restrictions on
immigration, but not suspending it en-
tirely.
The Senate passed over the Behring
Sea seal fisheries by ratifying the treaty
OF arbitration. 1t also ratified extradition
treaties with Russia and other countries.
but still has before it the treaty of annex
alton of the Hawaiian Islands.
The opening OF the Cherokee outlet was
provided for in the Indian bill under
NAeNb9O SePpACE .'Cs--JO,OJt IOT Dur
chase from the Indians, S295,0O0 to be
paid in cash and SS,O0O,00O in five equal
annual installments.
approximately, 425 House and 235 Sem
ate bills and joint resolutions became
laws, making $50 Acts put Oh the statute
books as result of the work of Congress.
The House passed in round numbers
625 bills, of which 200 failed in the Senate.
and in the neighborhood of 625 bills
passed by the Senate failed in the House.
Three bills were vetoed by the President,
viz: To refer the McGarrahan claim to
the Court of Claims the second McGarra-
han bill falling action in the House,; to
amend the Court of Appeals Act. and in
relation to Marshals in the United States
Courts in Alabama. The last bill became
law by passage over the veto. The
President subjected three bills to the
"pocket'' veto, and two other bills failel
OF engrossment in time for presentation
to him. All were of comparatively small
importance.
The Pension and Census Offices.
whisky trust, Panama Canal and Pacific
Mail Companies, Watson Cobb charges.
4 li4IACt AOti y SUM anu AlOlIlGSlGdu IEOuD-
les, Maverick and Spring Garden Bank
failures and Ellis Island Immigration
Station were Investigated by Congress
sional committees, but nothing came of
the reports submitted.
In the closing hours of Congress Rep
reseptative Dockery's resolution was
adopted providing for an investigation
into the methods of doing business in
several departments of the Government.
The investigation will be carried on bv
a Joint committee of Congress under the
terms of the resolution. The committee
has power to appoint three experts. who
will do the technical work of the investi-
CATION and report to the committee. The
committee is authorized to report at any
time, and its existence was made con-
terminous with that of the Fifty-third
Congress. The scope of investigation in
cludes not only the methods of doing
business in the departments, but the
question of salaries as well. The COM
mittee expects to get three experts at
work within the next fortnight
FIFTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
The Special Session of the Senate
May be an Important One.