The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-08-06
Resume OF the More important
Work Done by the PreseSI
Session.
Tariff Has Taken Attention From
Matters OF More Than Cas-
ual Interest.
statehood fer Uiah-Iabor Day .
NatioDAi Holiday.

legislation which has been accomplished
by The second session OF the Fifty-thiTd
congress- snd including August 3, shows
that much has been done haida from The en-
crossing tarin struggle. which hha largely
diverted public attention from matters
which would. under other conditions, bs
considered Of great consequences. One
Of the most important acts Of the session
which passed the house by = strict party
vote Ia ful1ilmsnt Os the plank IN The
democratic platform. was Ihe 40, rspealing
,ho laws creating federal supervisors Of
elections, and defining their power. An
other important act was 10 enable the peo-
pie OF Utah 70 form n constitution aud
state government. and be admitted into the
union.
The act making the hrat Monday In Sep
tember legal holiday. 70 DO called labor
day. 10 also impo ortAnt.
Three bills passed give effect to the award
OF the tribunal Of arbitration at Paris
which ndiudioated the seal fisheries dis
pute.
Several measures wers enacted In accord
ance with the Recommendation OF tho Dock
cry commission for simplifying and i'm
proving the methods OF doing government.
business. The most important were those
changing the method Of auditing accounts
Ia the treasury department improving
methods OF accounting in the postofiios de-
partInent and changing the money order
system and regulating the making OF prop
eIty returns by government officials.
A n.
dsHt to fill vacancies in the grade Of en-
signs or assistant engineer bv selecting
from the graduating clans Of The naval
academy. where vacancies exceed the nuns
Der Of cadets In those divisions; also pro-
wiling that a vacancy In ths naval school
from q district which the secretary Of the
navy IL called upon 70 hll must be filed by
q resident In shat district OF two years
standing.
Three OF the appropriation bills have
not yet gone TO the president-the river
and batbor the general deficiency. and the
sundty civil incidental 10 the suudry
civil ID a provision granting 1000, 600 acres
of surveyed arid pablo lands 10 each OF
the states 70 which the desert land lav Ia
pplioAbis-Nebrasks. Kansas and the
tsi ritories OF Arizona. New Mexico Okla
homa and Utah. 70 be selected within tsn
years.
Pive deficiency bills have been necessary
this session. The principal items In the
first one were Sl27. 900 for the pay Of as
sistant janitors and eustodians under the
treasury department snd 100000 for
mileage for members, the regular mileage
appropriation for the frat session having
been used during the special session. Ihs
second bill tncluded 81, 74b. 900 for the treas-
ury depa tment. $500 90 of 10 for the Gus
toms service. S200.00O for the pension ser
vice. $500, 600 for the census. and 900. 900
for the treasury department., half Of 10 for
the enforcement of the Chinese exclusion
with $3l5, 900 for treasury printing. and
1000 for improvements 10 the eunboats
Castine and Machiss.
The fourth carried about S2i60O for the
treasury. most OF ID for she bureau OF
printing aud engraving. aud for the United
States eouits. The tfth bill. Approvsd
June Is. carried $lG6000 for the public
printing Office aud Sls5.009 for the customs
service. Two resolutions appTopriatina
$4,000 and $4,000 for enforcing the Chi
ness exclusion Aot we're approved Dec. IL.
1898, and April 4, 1884.
AZ most OF the appropriation bills had
not passed at tho beginning Of the fiscal
year, July l, ID was necessary 20 extend by
resolution all the appropriations for the
necessary expenses OF the governmsnt for
pensions. and for the District OF Columbia.
Two special appropriation bills for the sal
| aries OF smployes OF congress were necss-
sary, and one for the expenses Of an invss-
tigaliou ordered by the senate.
Among ,he aess pertaining TO the judiciary
OF the United States we're those 20 author
izs sho fourth assistant postmaster general
10 approve postrnastsrs bondsi to regulate
the inspection Of iron and steel
boiler plates and their stamping by
| Upitpd States inspeotora aud liking
penalties for the unauthorized use
OF stamps Among the territorial acts was
one fixing the limit Of Indebtedness which
may bo incurred by Salt Lake city al SIX
Dor cent OF the vhluO OF taxable property,
and one authorizing the oouuty OF Soco-
sieo, Arizona, 20 issue $4,000 In bonds 10
build u county building.
As measure OF relief OF the west during
business depression, the rsquirs mont tbas
on each mining claim not less than 500
worth OF labor or improvements be made
each year, under TsualtI OF forfeiture. was
Suspended Tor the year 1894. The time
for making hnal proof and payment
on ali lands located under the desert
land laws was extended for one year
and the time OF fnal payments under the
pra-emptlon act, whom eutrymsu arc pre-
vented from making payment by causes be-
yond their control. The Law was amsnded
SO that persons Who made proof Of eetils-
ment In Oregon, Washington and Idaho,
but failed 10 Ole proof OF their continued
residence and cultivation, are given until
jan 1. 1896 20 make hnal proof.
An act was passed authorizing the soote-
tary of the treasury 10 permit owners OF
cattle aud horses. transporting them into
Mexico tor grazing, 10 fo-import them
within twelve montha. and extending like
privileges to MenicAna