Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-08-27

4bOSA0bO4 oO2O2Os
WASHINGTON, August 26.-The last
month Of the present session of Con-
gress, excepting the ten days during
which the tariff bill has been In the
Presidents hands, have been fairly pro-
ductive of general legislation and there
is short list of bills which have be-
come laws to add TO the review OF the
sessions work previously published
through the Associated Press. All
Of the appropriation bills have.
now become laws. The general
deficiency aud the sundry civil
bills were both signed late in the
session and the latter measure embraces
two i'm portant pieces Of legislation, the
appropriation OF 5000, 900 for a govern
ment exhibit at the Cotton States Expo
sition to be held at Atlanta, and the
cession to each OF the arid land States
and the States which may be formed
from the territories, of one million acres
each, Of desert lands for reciamation; a
plan which is intended to advance the
movement for irrigation In the west and
TO partially take the place OF the scheme
for irrigating by the general govern
ment which has been fostered by West
ern members.
THE ONLY FINANCIAL MEASURE
which has been enacted by the Fifty
third Congress, except the repeal OF the
purchasing clause Of the Sherman act,
became law on the thirteenth. 1t was
the bill introduced by Representative
Cooper, OF Indiana, to subject To State
and municipal taxation national bank
notes and United States treasury 10 es
under the same provisions by whl,n
gold, silver and other money Is taxed. IL
Is left optional with the States, how
ever, to tax these heretofore exempted
forms OF money.
Among the acts Of the session relat-
ing TO the military, none was more i'm
portant than the plan fathered by Rep
resentative Curtis, OF New York, which
recently became a law, regulating en-
hstments in the regular army upon new
principles, most i'm portant Of which are
that recruits in time OF peace must be
ciLizens Of the United States, or have.
declared their Intention to become clti-
zens, must be able TO read, write and
speak the English language, and be un-
der thirty years OF age. To promote the
efficiency OF
THE NAVAL MILITIA,
4 com paratively new branch OF the vol
unteer service, Congress authorized the
temporary loan TO any State making
application for it of any vessel OF the
navy which was not fitted for regular
service.
The most important acts emanating
from the Committee on judiciary were:
One authorizing the compromise
and settlement OF the diff
ferences between the government
and the State Of Arkansas and OF cer-
tain States OF bends held by the gov
eminent; an act for the protection OF
persons furnishing materials and labor
for the construction OF public works by
allowing them to bring suit against con-
tractors In the name OF the government;
an act permitting certain classes OF cor
porations 10 furnish bonds for govern
ment officials.
On the recommendation of the Ways
and Means Committee, the articles Of
foreign exhibitors az the Tacoma Inter-
State Fair were exempted from the
payment OF duties, and from the For
eiEn Affairs Committee was reported an
act for the disposal Of the accretions OF
the Virginins indemnity fund, la Inter
est and premiums of the bonds 10 which
1t was invested, to the original bench
Charles of the fund.
The contest between the Interior De-
partment and the railroads
OPERATING IN OKLAHOMA,
which has teen 3 stubborn one, has
finally been settled by the enactment OF
q law compelling the roads to maintain
depOts and stations al all town sites on
the lines established by the department.
An act was passed extending from four
to FIVE years the limit OF time within
which final proof may be made by
settlers who have declared their
Intention Of taking up desert
lands. Another law in the in-
terest OF Western settlers was one
enabling those who desire to locate on
other than mineral lands to secure a
survey by depositing with the govern
ment a sum sufficient TO cover the costs
Of the survey. AfidAvits in land entry
cases may be made before United
States com missioner instead Of United
States Circuit Court commissioner, as
provided by law, were made valid By
. special enactment.
The bridge bills have been recently
added to the list, one for q wagon and
foot bridge across the ChattAhooche
river al Colum bia. Ala; one for bridge
across the Perdido river between the
States OF Florida and Alabama. and one
authorizing the Purcell Bridge and
Transfer Company 10 construct bridge
across the South Canadian River al
Lexington, Oklahoma.
TWO IMPORTANT INVESTIGATIONS
desired by the house committey on labor
have bedn authorized. One is Tor an in
vestigatt tbn into the effects Of mAchiaery
on labor, with reference 10 its pToduc-
rive power and effects upon wages,
hours. OF work and employment Of
women and children; the second Tor az
Investigation OF the extent Of the ent
ployment of women aud children and,
the conditions under which they work.
,Hsth inquiries will be conducted b7 tho
Of labor.
10 addition there were few laws a
minor Importance relating 20 the DIu(
triet OF Columbia enacted.