The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-06-11
MANY BILLS OFFERED, FEW PASSED
THE WORK OF CONGRESS.
A Short Session and Pauoity Of National
Legislation.

The first session Of the Fifty-fourth Con-
gress Is the shortest "long' session in thirty
years. A Senate passively Indifferent in
some instances and In others actively hostile,
with an executive not In sympathy with the
Republican party policies, are the reasons
assigned by the House leaders for the pau
city Of national legislation.
OF the measures which have become laws.
the most important, from an International
standpoint, was the bill creating the commits
sion "to determine the true divisional line
between Venezuela and British Guiana. -
OF scarcely less general interest the bill pro-
hibiting prize lighting in the Territories. per-
mitting appointments in the army and navy
Of former United states officers who served
in the Rebellion. and making one year resi-
dencc In territory prerequisite TO OBJ
t0intng divorce there. The remainder OF
the 22j bills and resolutions which received
the Presidents approval were OF minor
character. The more important were the
bills incorporating the National Society OF
the Daughters ot the Revolution: opening
the forest reservations In Colorado for the
location OF mining claims; regulating proof
OF death In pension cases; providing naval
training station In san Francisco harDOr.
making IL unlawful 90 shoot at any railway
train or any person thereon, or 20 throw
missiles into such train, and repeating clause
on 81 Of the tnrin law prohibiting for Il re-
bate on alcohol used In the arts
4 larger numlgr Of bills were introduced
In the house than during any similar period
for quarter ot a century. The popular in
tercst In the Cuban revolution was shown In
the large number of resolutions, more than
80 IN all. that were introduced. \ concurrent
resolution was reported, for which was sub
scqucntly substituted the Senate resolution.
expressing the sympathy Of the United states
with the insurgents, recognizing their bel
ligerency, and calling upon the president to
use his good offices to secure the indepcnd-
ence ot the island. Being concurrent and
not a joint resolution. IL did not call for the
presidents signature and it, only effect was
To express the sentiments Of the American
people rs reflected in thetwo houses Of Con-
grcs-.
Measure, for which there had been n wide
spread demand that have passed the House.
and will probably receive consideration from
the senate next session. include the Bank
ruptcy hill. the Mccall bill, providing an ed
ucational test for immigrants; the Labor
commission and Labor Arbitration bills and
the bill simplifying the rules Of the pension
| Office, SO as TO facilitate the adjustment of
| private pension cases
| Oi the bills reported, two Of the greatest
| importance were the bond and revenue bills.
! The bond bill passed the House. was sent 10
! the Senate and returned with the addition OF
an amendment providing Tor the free coinage
| Of silver. The revenue bill died In the SEN
| ate committee on finance.
! The results accomplished by the Senate
/ during the session just closing are en-
/ ,ircly out Of proportion with the leg
/ isation that wHs introduced. Up 10
/ saturday there had been introduced total
| Of 3,2Gl bills more than were introduced
| during the whole of last Congress. The
| same ratio OF increas" j. found in the Hood
! Of memorials and petitions that have been laid
| before the Senate. Out OF this array OF
| proposed legislation but little has been don,
| The Finance committee. TO which was refer
/ red lO5 different measures, has succeeded IN
| getting through the Senate but three Of any
| importance that have become laws-th,
| filed cheese Elll; the amendment to the ad
| minstratiye feature oi the tariff net, permit
! ting express companies to pay the duty Oh
! packages valued at not more than $500 and
| deliver 1t 10 the residence OF the importer di-
| rect; and the bill To repeal the free alcoho
| clause of the tariff law.