The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-27
RECORD OF CONGRESS.
Summary of the Laws Enacted
i'm the Past Month.
ALL MONEY NOW TAXABLE.
Only Cftlxsns 20 BE Eecrnitsd In the
Army-Thres Measures for the re-
lief of Public Land Settlers

W.sarzsros err. Aug. T.-The last
month Of the present session OF congress,
excepting the ten days daring which the
tariff blii has been IN the presidents
hands, have been fairly productive o. gen
erai legislation. and there 10 short ilst OF
bills which have become laws 10 add 70
the review Of the sessions work previously
published through the Associated Press
All Of the appropriations have now De-
come laws. The general deficiency ana
the sundry civil balls we're both signed iste
In the session. and the latter measure EN-
braces two important pieces Of legislation
the appropriation Of $1,000 for q govern
ment exhibit 81 the Cotton states exposi-
ton. TO be held st Atlanta. and the cession
70 each Of the arid lands states and the
states which may be formed from the ter
rlfories of i,900, 90 acres each OF desert
lands for reclamation. plan which j. IN
tended TO advance the movement for irfi-
cation in the West and TO partially take
the place Of the scheme for irrigation oy
the general government which has been
fostersd by the Western members
The only financial measure which has
been enacted by the Fifty-tbird congress.
except the repeal Of the purchasing clause
of the Sherman act became a Law on the
Both alt Ii wAs the bill introduced By
Representative Cooper, OF Indiana. 70 sub
lect 20 state and municipal taxation ma
tional bank notes and United States treas
ury notes under the same provision that
all gold. silver and other money are taxed
Ia left optional with the states. however.
90 tar those heretofore exempted forms OF
money.
Among the acts Of the session relating
TO the military. none was more important
than the plan fsthefed By Representative
Curtis. Of Kentucky, which recently be-
came a Law, regulating eniistments IN the
regular army upon new principles. the
most important Of which are that recruits
in time of peEcs must be citizens OF the
United States or have declared their In
tention 10 become citizens; must be able
to'read, write and speak the English Ian
guage and be under IS years OF age. To
promote tho efficiency of the naval militia,
q comparatively new branch OF the volun-
teer service, congress authorized the tenn
porary loan. 10 any state making appiiea-
ton for it, Of any vessel of the navy not
fitted for regular service. An act was
passed constituting the law relating to the
retirement and pay of mates In the navy.
so that twenty eight warrant officers now
serving Is mates shall be eligible TO the
retired list and shall be salaried at l,20
when ut sea and 800 while on leave or
waiting orders.
Two important laws relating TO the life
saving service were enacted. one providing
that the stations on the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts shall be manned from August TO
June l, and those on the lakes from the
opening until the close OF navigation. the
other extending the benefits OF the marine
hospitals to the crews of those stations.
On suggestion of the secretary of the treas
ury tie quarantine laws were amended TO
exempt vessels plying between nearby
ports Of the United States and Canada and
Mexico. The act of March 3, 1855, relating
to lights on fishing vessels, was continued
IN force by enactment. so that il should
not be repealed by the recent regulations
TO prevent collision at sea. which In some
respects would have overruled it. The
Law relating to barratry on the high seas
was amended to make Imprisonment for
life or for term OF years the punishment
In certain cases.
The most important acts emanating
from the committee on Judiciary were:
An act for the protection of persons fur
nishing materials and labor for the con-
strnction Of public works, by allowing
them TO bring suit against contractors in
the name OF the government. and an act
permitting certain classes of corporations
10 furnish bonds for government officials.
An act was passed extending from four
60 i've years the limit of time within
which final proof may be made by settlers
who have declared their intention of TAX
Ing up desert lands. Another Law in the
interest of Western settlers was one
enabling those who desire 90 locate on
other than mineral lands TO secure sur
vey by deposlting with the government a
sum sufficient to cover the cost of the sur
yey. Ahidayits in land entry cases made
before United States commissioners in
stead Of a United states circuit court COM
missioner, as provided by law. were made
valid by a specinl enactment.
OF the mere important Investigations
desired by tie house committee on labor
that have been authorized. one Is for an
investigation into the elects OF machinery
on labor. with reference 90 TIA productive
power and effect upon wages. hours Of
work and the employment of women and
children: = second for an Investigation OF
the extent Of the employment OF women
and children and the conditions under
which they work. Both inquiries will he
conducted by the commissioners OF labor