Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-08-23

MRsEggTr- 'lFl o,s leaerai Of sIperS,ss e1apctions
,INNRT ''lh W. or defining their
Appropriation bills. which are of
first Importance, were no excepslJh in
that upon them has been engrafted
general legislation. The postofiice
department BILL the first to pass, au-
thorized the Postmaster General to
allow postmasters of the first and Sec
ond class to disburse at their discre-
tion the amount allowed their offices
and admitted to mails publications OF
benevolent and fraternal societies as
second class. The pension bill regu-
lated fees and methods Of examining
boards, the naval bill empowered the
President to fill certain vacancies and
prescribed the methods of appoint
ment to naval schools by the Secretary
of the Navy.
Several measures were enacted in ac-
cordance with recommendations OF the
DOckery commission lSo-Called) for i'm
proving and amplifying the methods of
doing government business Most i'm
portant were those changing the
method of auditing accounts in the
Treasury department, improving the
methods of accounting in the Postoffice
department and changing the money
order system, and that regulating the
making of property returns by o.Lcers
OF the government.
Appropriations.
The diplomatic and consular bills
changed several salaries. Nothing inn
portant was attached to the fortifica-
tions bill. The agricultural bill provid-
ed for distribution of seeds. The river
and harbor general deficiency and sun
dry civil bills have not gone to the
President. One deficiency bill contained
legislation relating to suspension of
pensioners W. thout thirty days notice
against them. Five deficiency bills
have been ncce sary during the ses-
sion. The first was for S127. .0J0 for
treasury janitors and custodians and
$200,00O for mileage for members.
The second, signed the same day,
ury 100000 for customs service,
100000 for pension service, $780,
600 for the census. and $780,
600 for public printing. The third
carried total of $770,00J, the fourth
Sl,45l, 900, and the fifth bill 1910, 600
for various departments. Two resolu-
tions appropriated $4,000 and $4,000
for enforcing the Chinese exclusion
act, approved Dec. ., 1893 and April 4,
1894. AS most of the appropriation
bills had not passed at the beginning
of the fiscal year, July /, it was neccs-
sary to extend by resolution all appro-
priation5 for the necessary operations
of the Government. for pensions, and
for the District of Columbia. They we're
twice extended for thirty days aud
once for fifteen. Two special appro-
priation bills for salaries of employees
nd
penses of estigation ordered by the
Senate.
Miscellaneous Enactments.
Provisions for the admission of Utah
and the making of the first Monday in
September (Labo, Day a national holi-
day-largely at the instance OF labor
societies-became laws, and at the ur-
gent request of scientific societies an
act to define and Q ,tablish the units of
electrical measure was passed. Three
bills were passed to give effect to the
Paris seal arbitration and another to
regulate seal fishing.
BY resolution the Secretary of the
Treasury was ordered to receive and
place t) the credit of the Cherokee ma
tion S., 14O,0L0 for the Cherokee outlet
and the Secretary of the Interior to
settle agents accounts with Delaware
Indians. Several special acts for print
ing reports were passed and do en-
laws OF benefit to merchant marine
were enacted.
The acts pertaining to the judiciary
OF the United States were: To provi o
for two add tional associate justices of
the Supreme Court of Oklahoma: for
the division of the Eastern District of
Michigan into two divisions: to pro-
vide that a term of the Circuit and
District Courts OF Vermont NAV be
held at Montpelier; that criminal
causes in the district of Minnesota
shall be brought and prosecuted in the
division of the district in which the
ofIenses were committed: to fix term
of the District and Circuit Courts of
the Southern District OF Mississippi.
to be held at Meridian; and four other
acts.
Bills of All Kinds.
Laws to require original receipts for
deposits of postma ters to be sent to
the Treasury Department., to authorize
the Fourth Assistant Postmaster to
approve bonds, to regulats inspection
OF boiler plates and their stamping, to
redress an injustice to certain gradu-
ates OF Annapolis to fill vacancies in the
grade of assistant paymasters and to
Roncador reef were passed. A vast
number of territorial and public lands
bills were adopted, one OF the latter
extending to January, 1897, the time
within which persons may purchase
raj road grant lands forfeited to the
government by the act of Sept. 20, 1890.
BY joint resolution, officers and men
of the army and navy were authorized
to wear the government badge on oc-
casions of ceremony: three members OF
the Board of Managers of the National
Soldiers Home were chosen, and the
Secretary OF War was authorized to
restore to Michigan and Iowa recap
tured flags.
Foremost in importance of the nu-
merous bills which became laws was
the act authorizing the New York and
New Jersey Bridge Company to bridge
the Hudson between New York City
and New Jersey. After its first Das-