Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-06-08
TELEGRAPHIC.
CONGRESS REVIEW.
The Shortest Long SESSION SlGce that
Of The S6Ih Congress.
THE LEGISLATIVE WORK DONE.
Approprlstions--Ihc Navy and Army
Foreign Affairs-Bllls on
the Calendar.

wAsHINoToN, June I'LL, Rs now
teens probable, the firsi session Of the
Fifiyiourth Congress adlourns this
week, II viii be the shortest so.calltd
'long session" since that Of tho
Tbirty.fith Congfess. aud ono OF the
shortest In the history OF the govern.
mont. This record 10 partially due to
tho political differences between the
Senate, House and Pfeeident, which
have fores,alled agreements on lines Of
legislation, ana partly due to the de-
termination with which tho Ropubli.
can leaders in the House nave carried
into effect Speaker Rsod', caucus pre-
aiction that the Congress would DO u
do.uothing nsseinblage.
Foremost among tho Inevitable aud
regular acts of Congress are tho annual
appropriation bills for tho support OF
the government. Their preparation has
constituted n large part u tho work Of
tho session, and fivo Of them nro yet
hanging between the House anu Sen.
ate with some OF their details unset
tied.
Tariff or financial lcgislntion OF any
general character was abandoned Tor
all practical purposes wnen the dis
agreements between tho House and
Senate were demonstrated by tho fate
Vt the two bills prepared by che House
ways and meane com mittoc. Other
lines OF business were also tabooed by
the House because of the alleged lack
Of revenue, notably public buildings,
public anu provincial claims and nll
torls Of private bills eutailing oxpendi-
turte, except pension bills, 10 which
last tue uHunl amount OF time has been
gwen.
Inc agricultural bill conferred upon
the President authority 10 suspend the
prohibition against importati0ns OF
meat cattle, domestic animals and
hidvn on the certificatiUn Of tho Hecfo.
tary Of agriculture that couDtrios or
parts OF Countries are iroo from con-
tugious diseases OF animals, anu author
iEed the President To take steps to
secure the sbrogation OF the regulations
by Great Britain prohibiting tho ex-
p0rtation " cattle from the United
states into that country alive.
NAVAL LHoisLATIoN.
The mest noteworthy legislation per-
tainiag TO the navy 10 contained In tho
appropriation bill. The House pro-
vided for fifteen new torpedo boats and
four bat,leshipa, hut the Senate reduced
tbs number OF Uattlosbips to two and q
Conferences IA pending over that difieI-
ebcc. The bill made provision for the
enlistment OF 900 additional sssmeu.
No special legislation wns contained
In the army appropriation bill. Special
bills were passed, however, creating
the position OF chaplain (who will also
bo professor Of hi,tory, geography and
ethics) and an assistant professor OF
the same branches at West Point
academy, making the National MILL
tary Park nelde for maneuvers by the
National Guard or militia, and n
resolution appointing General w. b.
Franklin OF Connecticut, Gen. Thomas
J. henderson OF Illinois, Representa-.
tive Steele OF Indiana and George L..
BeHle OF Maine, members OF the board
OF managers for the National Soldiera'
home.
While foreign affairs divided with
finance the interest OF Congress, CONF
parativsly little legislation resulted
from the discussions, because 40 great
q share OF Tho conduct OF foreign rela.
tlons rests with the executive branch.
The nTst public resolution adopted by
Congress, and that after one hours de-
bate In tho House aud alter few days
In tue Senate, was that authorizing the
President TO create tho commission 10
investigate the Venezuela- Guiana
boundary line.
Tho debates over Cuban afiairs re-