The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-27
BILLS OF IMPORTANCE.
n Few Peculiar Iucidents--No More
Business to BE Done During This
Session.


ing the 10 days during which the tariff bill
has been in the president = hands, has beer
fairly productive of general legislation
All Of the appropriation bills have -
come laws. The general deficiency anc
sundry civil bills were both signed late ir
the session. The latter measure embraces
two important pieces of legislation--the
appropriation OF 500, 900 for government
exhibit at the cotton states exposition tc
be held at Atlanta, and the cession to each
OF the aris land states and the states which
may be formed from the territories OF
l,OOo,0O0 acres each of desert lands for
reclamation.
The bill to subject to state and mu-
nlcipal taxation national bank notes and
United States treasury notes, under the
same provisions by which gold, silver and
other money Is taxed, became law on the
lSth. IL Is left optional with the states,
however, TO tax those exempted forms OF
money.
Among the acts OF the session relating
10 the military was law regulating en-
hstments In the regular army upon new
principles most important Of which are
that recruits In time OF peace must be
citizens or the United States, or have do
ciared their intention to become citizens:
must be able TO read. write and speak the
English language and be under 10 years of
age
10 promote the efficiency of the naval
militia congress authorized the temporary
loan to any state making application for
II OF any vessel of the navy which was not
htted for regular service
For the Benefit OF Mariners.
law was enacted providing that the
stations on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
shall DO manned from Aug. TO June
Following, and those ON the lakes from tho
opening 10 the close of navigation; also
extending the benefits of the marine hos
pitals TO the crews of these stations.
The quarantine laws were amended to
exempt vessels plying between nearby
ports oil the United States and Canada and
Mexico. The act relating To lights on fish
ing vessels was continued in force by spe.
cial enactment. Range lights, as well as a
hghtship with fog signal, were established
In Boston harbor
The towns of Manchester and Vernon.
Conn, were annexed to the customs dIs.
trict of Hartford, and the city of Rock
VILE, Conn, was made port of delivery.
The laws relating To barratry ON the
nigh seas were SO amended as to make i'm
prisonment for life or for term of years
the punishment in certain cases.
The most important act emanating from
the comaon judiciary were: An act for the |
protection of persons furnishing materials
ana labor for the construction of public
works by allowing them TO bring suit
against contractors in the name of the
government; one changing the lines be- !!
tween the judicial districts of North |
Carolina, and an act amending the fund. /
Ing act of Arizona
The Judiciary.
The contest between the interior d.
rartment and the railroads operating in
Oklahoma was settled by the enactment
Of law compelling the roads to maintain
1epots and stations at all town sites ON
The lines established by the department.
An act was passed extending from four
70 fiyc years the limit OF time within which
Ina proof may be made by settlers who
have declared their intention of taking nm
iesert lands. Aflidatits i'm land entry
'ascs made before a United States commits.
loner, instead of United States circuit
'ourt commissioners, were made valid by "A
pecial enactment. Other legislation re-
ating to public lands includes an act 10
nable the state OF Montana to select ms a
'art OF the lands granted to her on becom-
ng state any of the lands in the Bitter
loot valley above the To 10 fork of tbs
SITTER Root river; an act extending the
lmc of payment to purchasers OF lands of
he Omaha tribe of Indians In Nebraska 10
,ec. /, 1897, and grant of public land I'm
,astine, Ne, for use rs park.
Flhe mousse committee on labor has
uthorlzeu an investigation into the effects
machinery on labor with reference to Its
rodactlVe power and effect upon wages.
ours OF work and employment OF women
hd chllureni also an investigation of the {
Stent OF the employment of women and
lildren and the conditions under which
ley work Both inquiries will be con- I
ucted by the commissioners of labor.
The Closing Days of the Session
ave been marked by number of peculiar
lcidents. s
One of these incidents has been the
OF legislative business behind !
osed doors. Senators of both parties
I'VE number of measures that require {
lly the final action of the senate TO enact s
en-, but the Republicans were not will. a
& to provide the quorum, nor would {
ey permit business To proceed i'm omen G
ssion by unanimous consent, for fear the b
would, by some means. find d
g opportunity to make the campaign
eechcs they have prepared. e
For this reason the legislative business. 81
ainst which no objection was made, was Il
behind closed doors by general A
nsent Thursday and Friday. Under m
Is arrangement no speeches could be
,de, and the Record was prevented from dl
coming the vehicle for the dissemination to
alleged campaign literature. nj
republicans werc not, however, the only ty
es who offered objections to the consid.
'tion OF contested matters. Mr.. Blan. le
ard has effectually blocked, for this scs. 70
n at least, any effort 10 change the rules &C
as to provide for closure. b
ir' Blackburn wanted to have his com.
ttce SIT dnring S~ccss and consider the
my amendments TO the rules that have
N referred 10 his committee. He asked IN
lsent to this arrangement Friday. but Of
blanchard, who sees In closure the fr
slbiiity OF lrce sugar, entered an on. th