The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-03-09
What the Fifty Third Session Has
and Has Not Done.
A REVIEW CE THE WORK
The Entire Term Marked by the Ia
abiiity ~ the House aud sen
ate to Agree.


view of the work of this last session of
the Fifty-third congress must necessar-
lily deal more with what was attempted
to be done than that which was ac-
complished. since most of the important
business considered has been regulated
to the first class. The term mas been
particularly marked by the inability
of the senate and the house to agree
upon any Of the most important prob
lens presented by them
Congress met on the 4th of December
last, with one imperative and perennial
task-to frame and enact the various
appropriation bills Next in Importance
was the financial question, for which
| no definite plan of settlement beyond
many free silver bills and various in
| dividual schemes were then in view.
| Several important bills came over as a
| heritage from the preceding session.
Foremost among them were: In the
house the Nicaragua canal bill, the
railroad pooling bill and the bill for the
settlement of the indebtedness of the
Union Pacific railroad, known as the
Reilly bill.
The Nicaragua canal project has not
been able to secure a hearing in the
house. Largely through the enthusi-
astic efforts of Senator Morgan of Ala
bama the senate bill was pushed to a
vote in that body after protracted de-
bate, and was sent to the house, where
the conference committee substituted
it's own bill, which had been on the cal
endar throughout the session and which
differed in several points from the Nor
gan bill. The pooling bill was passed
by the house early in the session but
the senate refused to consider il by a
negative vote of AZ to "a. On the ques-
| Of 81 Il ara CTR
ton to the Reilly bill was developed in
the house and after a sharp debate 1t
was recommitted to the committee with
out instruction. Several important bills
were placed on the calendar of the SEN
ate at the beginning of the term, hand
a ed down from the long session when
they had been passed by the house.
: Prominent among them was the bill to
establish a uniform system of bank
ruptcy, which was debated intermit-
! | tently but finally sdetracked. Another
unsuccessful measure was the anti
option bill. There were also on the sen
ate calendar the four bills which the
house had sent over. to place on the free
o list sugar, coal, iron and barbed wire.
but the attempt to secure consideration
l. of the free sugar bill was negatived by
u a small majority and the opposition to
u the three others was so apparent that
they have been allowed to pass into
= oblivion
= The most interesting chapter of the
n history of the session is made by the
IS attempt at financial legislation in both
e houses. These are too well known to
2. require recapitulation. No financial
IT legislation has yet resulted from the
d host of bills introduced during this ses-
u sion, with more or less weight of author
y ity behind them. The principal class
y, of legislation accomplished by the short
- session was that making appropriations
"a for the support of the government.
o. When the last week of congress be-
III gan the house had passed all appropria-
n ton bills, the general deficiency bill and
e. the senate had four appropriation bills
t yet to consider. Considerable legislation
rs was included in the sundry civil bill
and much more was attempted in the
$, senate by proposed amendments. The
: completion of several of the public
al buildings was provided for in the bill
as IL passed the house and sums were
added in the senate for new buildings
IS Another senate amendment provided
for the purchase for $150,000 of the site
re of the Blaine mansion. Provision was
also included for the transfer of the
s. military prison at Fort Leavenworth
nd Kansas, to the department of justice
&c to be known as the United States pen
Al itentiary and maintained for keepins
5 prisoners who have heretofore beer
~ held in state prisons, under contract
rr The naval bill was notable because o.
" the new navy" provision for two bat
en- tleships and six torpedo boats and thu
ct increase of the enlisted force by the ad
nd dition of 1000 men,
es The general deficiency bill reported [,
IL the house amounted TO $6.159. 539. Al
IN amendment requested by the secretar,
Us of state to pay the claims of Grea
III Britain for S425,OOO damages for seiz
of ures of sealers in Boring sea was vote,
60 down by the house
mt Laws affecting shipping were passes
to establish rules to prevent collision
on the great lakes and tributary waters
another of the same effect applying I
ely harbors, rivers and inland waters sup
al Elementary to the act of August 1.
lc- 1890, for preventing collisions at sea.
les The commercial travellers organiza
us ton secured an amendment to the in
~ terstate commerce law, permitting tn
e. issuance of joint interchangeable 500
Ter mile tickets good over more than on
is road.
The most important of the senat
bills which failed to pass the hous
was joint resolution for inquiry int
Ice the practicability of deep waterway
INC between the ocean and the great lake
and laws for the regulation OF steal
"a vessels.
NE Among important house bills whic