The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-04
THE NICARAGUA BILL IGNORED.
Railroad Pooling Bill and Railroad
Funding Bill Beaten.
The Bankruptcy Bili. the Anticipation
Bill and the sugar Differential Bfli
FaiI-Ahsoiutely No Financial Lesis-
lation Adopted.

tEat WHICH was accomplished SINCE most
of the important business considered has
been regulated TO the first class The
term has been particularly marked by
the inability of the senate ard house 20
agree Upon any OF the most important
problems presented so them.
Congress met on December last with
oHe imperative aud perennial task, 10
frame ana enact the various appropria-
ton bills. Next I'm Importance was the
financial question. for which ne definite
plan OF settlement, beyond many free
silver bills and various individual
schemes was then in view. Several ius-
portaat bills came over as a heritage from
the preceding session. Foremost among
them were. in the house. the Nicaragua
canal biil the railroad pooling bin. and
the bill for the settlement of the indeht-
esinsss of the Union Pacific, known as the
Reilly bill.
The Nicaragua canal project has not
been able 10 secure a hearing in the
house. Largely through the enthusiasts
efforts of Senator Morgan. OF Aiahmas.
the senate bill was pushed to \ vote In
that body. after protracted debate, and
was sent TO the house where the con-
ference committee substituted its own
bill. which had heen oE the calendar
throughout the session, and which differed
in several points from the Morgan bill
The pooling bill was passed by the house
carly in the session. bat the senate re-
fused 10 consider il by a negative vote or
AZ TO "a on the question OF consideration
Strong opposition to the Reilly bill was
developed In the house. and after very
sharp debate IL was recommitted 10 the
committee without instructions.
Several important bills were placed on
the calendar OF the senate at the beStn-
ming of the term. handed down from tfe
long session when they had been passed
by the house. Prominent among tnen
was the bill to establish a uniform sys-
tenn of bankruptcy. which Was debaiea
internationally. but finally sidetrached.
Another unsuccessful measure was the
anfi-option bill. There was also on the
senate calendar the four bills which the
house had sent over TO place on the Tree
list. sugar, coal, iron and barbed wire.
but the attempt to secure considerauoh q
the free sugar bill was negatived ey a
small majority, and the oppositioh 10 the
three others was so apparent tnat thts
have been allowed 20 pass into oblivion.
The most interesting chapter OF the AIS
tory of the session Is made by the at
tempt at financial legislation IN oo'h
houses. These are too we'll known TO re-
auire recapituIation. No financial iegisia-
tien has yet resulted from the host OF biils
introduced during the session Win more
nr less weIkht of authority behind ihem-
The nriucipai class OF legislation accom-
nlishad by the short session was that
making appropriations Tor the support
~ the government. Not little generai
legislation was Incorporated INTO the APP
propriatton bills These bills, IN the ofuef
in which they were passed by the henso.
were: For the military academy west
point, army pension. fprtificasions, dipio-
u,atie and consular, District OF Columbia.
nostal agricultural, Indian. sundry civh.
LEGISLATIVE. executive and judiciary, navy
and general deficiency.
when the last week OF congress began
ths. house had passed all except the gen,
ersl deficiency bill. and the senate naa
the last four yet TO CONSIDER. Ihe p.
s,on bilI. as enacted. contains provisions
,hat nensious shall not be paid to nom
rsstaants who are not citizens OF the
Jrnltea States, except for actual disabiii-
t,ea Incurred In the service directing ex-
a,,,rips surgeons to state the ratings TO
which they say the applicants are en-
titled. and fixing the lowest rate or pen
sion at Sc per month. The dfpionatfc anu
consular bill increased the salaries or
sa,,.rai foreign representatives. and the
senate nlared In IL an amendment author
,zlng the president 20 contract for laying
a nahle hetwseen the Hawaiian Islands
and the United States, and TO Use $Doun
IN che work. an amendment which the
house refused to accept. Tne agricui
,ural bill empowered the secretanry or ag-
ricultuFe to enforce rules Tor inspection
az live cattle. whose meat Is Intended for
shipment abroad In any form. and regn-
lafions 20 prevent the shipment of con-
s.,rued carrasses abroad. or from one
state To another, and fixed heavy penal
ties for violation of such regulations
Consideratle legislation was included
IN tho sundry civil bin, and much more
was attempted in the senate by proposed
amendments. The completion OF severai
r,1hlie- buildings was provided for In the
nm as /, passed the house. and sums were
a5ssea in the senate for new buildings
Anothsr senate amendment proviaed for
.he purchase for sisA.nsa Of the site OF the
giaina mansion Provision was also in
nl,sded for the transfer Of the military
prsson at Fort I.eavenworth. Kan. to the
aersartulent OF Justice. 10 be known as
fha United states penitentiary. and 20 ue
maintained for keeping United States
prisoners who have heretofore been held
in state prisons under contract.
The rayai bill was notable because OF
tie new navy provision for two battle
ships and six torTseeio boats. and the m
crease of the enlisted force hy the aaiis-
fton Of eco men.
The general deficiency bin reported IN
the house amounted to Ss.Is.@s An
amendment requested hy the secretary OF
state TO pay the Siasns os Great Britain
for s4zs. .0sa damages for seizures OF seal
ers in BerinE sea was voted down BY the
house.
The most conspicuous personal iegsSia-
ton passsst was The revival of the grade
Of uen,enaat general OF the army. that
Mai ssafs. Sehofseld might be promoter
n that rmnk. while the art of greatest
lFarSaTtance 70 the governslent depart
y7tssts ard congress wss the printing bail,
1.steh practically places the control Of
an government printing In the hands Of
= kair. committee of three rsssrsers from
Aarh of shs tao houses. Laws affecting
sh3ssrsng Sere parsed. 10 establish rules
IA nrsvert collisions on the Great Lakes;
another Of fhc same esert applying 10
harsors rivers and inland waters, sup
ssl4yuertary so the aer OF August -. lsts,
gar preventing collisions az sea The
ttyve for making rhe report OF the hssar ~
az engineers surveying canal routes from
Yaxe Erie 70 tire Ohio river WAS extended
ta the next session Of congress. Sufsef~
s,sss bridge bills were enacted
-rs. commercial travellers organization
secured an amendment 20 tse interstate
commerce iax. permitting the Issuance
~ 3asy.t interchangeable a.fssAnsfie tickets
s-s,ssf eyer rrse.ss than one ruad. TIE asSssse
asopfees a kcsrt resolution for an amend
ynsrst 10 the Constitution providing for
tks egsetsoa es United States senators of
sssrss~f vote of the people Of tue stats.
ss4ss sss resolution w8s rsF=orsess adversely y
~ she senate corg. g.rntftsr o1 privileges
ara eFsrtloaS Tsaa rxaasf important of TIE
~sna4e hzfls which failed 20 pass the
p.ats~s vxar. a soinf y.sosgtkcs far iTausry
svs.s, the x.rse4gc@ sasIssy 81 deep waterway 4
hyfve~s, ire oeeaa AMI tie Great Lakes.