The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-08-27
Resume Of the Work Done During
the LAST Month Of tho Ses-
sion.
Many Bills OF Importnnos, othor
Than tho Tariff Measure,
Wore Passed.
Why DynAmiis Ouus Are Not suitsd for
warAbips-Lehd Production for the
Past siE Months.

WAuNGToN. Aug. 26.-The last month
Of tho presen. session Of congress. sIespt-
ing the ten days during which tho tariff
bill has been In the presidents hands, have
been feitly productive OF general leoisln-
tion, and there IL q short list Of billa which
have become lava 10 add TO the review OF
the sessions work previously published
th ouRh tho Associated press. All Of the
appropriation bills have nov become laws.
The general deficiency and sundiy civil
bills we're both aiQnsd late In tha session.
aud the latter measure embraces twJ im.
po'taHt pieces Of fleglslatlon-the appropris.
iion Of $2O0. 900 for the COVE exhibit
NJ the cotton states exposition. TO be held
al Atlanta. and the ceSsion to each OF the
arid land states, and states which may be
formed from the territories, OF l,00100O
acrea each OF desert lands for reclamation,
q plan which Ia intended 10 advance the
movement for irrigation In the west and TO
partially take the place OF the scheme for
iriigating BY the general government which
had been fostafed by western membera
The only financial measure which has
been enacted by the Fifty-thi'd congress
except the repeal o. the purchasing clause
Of the She man ACT. became law on the 18th
instant Tbs bill introduced by Rspreseu-
tative Cooper, OF Indiana, 10 subject 10
state and municipal taxation the national
bank notes and United statss treasury
notea under the same provision that oil
gold. silver and all other money ia taxed.
IL 10 loft optional with tho sta,es, however,
10 tax those heretofore exempted forms OF
money.
Among the acts Of the session relating to
the military, NOT one was more important
than the plan fathered by Representative
Curtis. OF New York. which recently be-
came law. regulating the enlistmsnss In
the regular slmY upon new principles. the
most important OF which are that recruits
IN time of peaoe 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 lan-
Ruage. aud be under 80 years of age.
To promote the efiioisncy OF the naval
militia. a comparatively new branch OF the
volunteer service, congress authorized the
Temporary loan TO any state making appli-
\ cation for H. of any vessel OF the navy
which vas not fitted for the regulnr service
An act was pissed construiog aus law rs-
latilq to ths retirement and pay OF mates
in the navy. 80 that twenty-eieht warrant
officers, now serving as matoa. ehall be ell
gble TO the retired list. and shall be sala.
risd at 81. 900 when at sen and 500 while
on lease or waiting orders.
Two important lAws relating to the life
| saying service were enacted, one providing
| that stations on the Atlantic and Calf
coasts shall be manned from Aug. 10 June
l. or those on the lakes from the opening
until the close OF navigation. the other ex-
tending the benefits of the Marine hospitals
20 crews of those stations. On the suQgss.
tion OF the secretary Of tho treasusry, quar-
antine laws were amended TO exempt yos-
sells plying between nearby rorts OF the
United states and Canada and MEXICO.
The act of March, 1885. relating to iiRhts
on fishing vessels. was continued In TO- cs
by such enactment that IL should not be
rePealed by recent regulations to prevent
collision az sea, which, IN some respects.
would have overrulod u. A revenue cutter
was provided for service In the harbor OF
San Francisco; q fog signal was esta ablished
NJ Kewsnee. Wis. aud range lights as we'll
as ligh,ships with fog signal. In Boston
harbor.
An net WAS passed extending from four to
five years the limit Of time within which
final proof may bs made by settlers who
have declared their intention of taking up
desert lands. Another Law, In the interest
Of western settlers. was one enabling those
who desire TO locate in other than mineral
lands 10 secure a survey by depositing with
the government a sum sufficient 10 cover
the cost Of the survey. Atiidgvls In land
entrT ceses made before United States
commissioners, instead OF United States
circuit court commissioners ~ provided BY
Law. we're made valid by special enactment
Other legislation OF importance relating
| TO public lands includes tue ACT 10 enable
the state OF Montana TO select as part OF
the land granted TO her In becoming state
any of tho lAnds Ia the Bitter Root valley
above the Lolo 10 K OF the Bitter Root
fiyer; an act extending the time OF pay
ment TO purchasers OF lands OF the Omaha
tribe of Indians in Nebraska 10 Dec. l,
1897, an act authorizing theseetetarY OF the
interior to lease for periods OF ten Yeas
twenty mere trRata In Yellowstone park for
hotel purposes; and an ACT for the Tosutvey
OF Grant and Hooker counties in kobrssks,
Two important Investigations desired by
the houls committee on labor have been
authorised. one for investigation into the
effects OF machinery on labor. with refer
ence 90 its productive power and effects
upon wages. houis Of work. and the en-
ploymsnt Of women and children; the seo-
ond for invosti CATION OF the extent Of the
ON ployment OF wonisn aud chilaten, and
conditions under which they work. Both
Inquiries will be conducted by the commits
aioner OF labor.