The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-06-13

| A Resume OF tho Important Business OF
the Session.


ing hours. enjoys the distinction OF being
the shortest slong" session for period OF
50 years. or the measures which become
saws. the most important from an internA-
tionai standpoint, was the bill creating the
commission " 10 determine the true d.
visional line between Venezuela and Brit
ish Guiana" or scarcely less general In
terest were the bills prohibiting prize light
ing I'm the territories; permitting appoint-
ments In the army and navy or former
United States officers who served In the
rebellion and making one years residence
In a terrntory a prerequisite TO obtaining
q divorce there.
Excepting these. however. the remainder
OF the 225 bills and resolutions which re-
ceived the presidents approval We're not OF
a character TO deserve extended mention.
The more important were tho bills incor-
porating the national society or the Daugh-
tiers OF the Revolution. opening the forest
reservations In Colorado. for the location
OF mining claims; regulating proof OF death
in pension cases: providing Tor naval
training school In San Francisco harbor;
making IL unlawful TO shoot at any rail-
way train or any person thereon or TO
throw missiles into such train, and repeal
ing clause 81 OF the tariff law providing for
a rebate on alcohol used In the arts.
IL the session. however. be conspicuous by
reason OF it's brevity and the limited num-
Der OF important laws enacted. Il resulted
ia the Introduction OF a larger number OF
bills In the house than during any similar
period for quarter OF a century. The total
number OF bills introduced during the en-
tire last congress was S.gS1, OF which 4i05
were introduced during the first session.
which corresponds 70 the session now draw
ing TO "A close and Ina which latter the ag-
gregate reaches $500. or these 1850 were
favorably reported by tho committees TO
whom they were referred. and scores OF
them are likely 10 be brought 10 the atten-
ton OF the house next winter
The Nicaragua canal bin is one OF these
measures Aftor many months OF consid-
Grafton In the committee, IL received ia
vorable report in the face OF an absolute
certainty that IL would not be taken up dur
ing tho present session. The bill 10 liqul-
date the Indebtedness OF the Pacific rail-
ways TO the government IL another far
reaching measure, which is also upon the
calendar with favorable report but which
for prudential reasons Will continue TO
slumber there. Others are the service pen
sion bill. reported by the Invalid pensions
committees; the Arizona, New Mexico and
oklahoma statehood bills: the Pacific
cable bin and the joint resolution confer
ring the rank of lieutenant general upon
Mai. Gen. Miles.
The popular interest I'm the Cuban revo-
luton was shown In the large number OF
resolutions. more than 90 I'm all, that were
introduced and referred 20 the committee
on foreign affairs. After careful considera-
ton, concurrent resolution was reported,
for which was subsequently substituted, In
/
| ing the sympathy OF the United States with
I the insurgents, recognizing their belliger-
ency and calling upon the president TO use
his good offices TO secure the Independence
OF the island.
| Measures for which there has been
widespread demand that have passed the
house and viii probably receive considera-
tion from the senate next session, include
the bankruptcy bill, the Mccall bill, pro-
viding an educational test for immigrants,
ful.. lab
bills and the bill simplifying the rules OF
| the pension Office so as TO facilitate the
adjustment OF private pension cases.
| The early weeks OF the session were
busy period for the ways and means com
mittee. or the ISL measures referred TO IL.
| 80 were acted upon. Two OF the greatest
| Importance were the bond and revenue
bills. The bond bill passed the house, was
sent TO the senate and returned with the
addition OF an amendment providing for
the free coinage OF silver The revenue bill
! died I'm the senate committee on finance.
| Among other measures OF interest reported
| by the ways and means committee were the
bills permitting the killing OF all the fur
seals I'm Alaskan waters the allied cheese"
bill and the bill amending the law per-
hitting rebate on alcohol used In the arts
| The committee on invalid easions broke
| all previous records for work. Upwards OF
1850 bills were referred 10 II. OF which 200
| private bills were reported to the house.
| Among the measures reported I'm addition
| 10 those which passed the house. were bills
| giving members OF state militia pension
| able status; granting pensions to remarked
war widows. broadening the scope OF the
law pensioning army nurses increasing the
| pensions OF those who lost limbs I'm the
| service and providing for the payment OF
| pensions by check.
The pensions committee. which deals
| with a different class OF measures from
those which are referred &c the Invalid PEN
| Rions committee, disposed OF 2fO of the 600
| bills referred TO them.
The committees on post offices and post
roads railways and canals, coinage.
| weights and measures, agriculture, mil
itary. public lands. patents Judiciary and
| commerce reported the ordinary number
OF measures. but with few exceptions they
were not OF unusual Importance.
The results accomplished by tho senate
during the session just closing are entirely
out OF proportion with the legislation that
| was introduced. Up 10 Saturday there had
| been introduced total OF 1921 bills more
than were introduced during the whole OF
| the last congress The same ratio OF In
| crease Is found In the flood OF memorials
and petitions that have been laid before
| the senate Out OF this array OF proposed
| legislation but little has been done.
The finance committed. to which was
| referred los different measures. has sue
| ceeded In getting through the senate but
three OF any importance that have become
| laws--thc filled cheese bill tho amend
ment 10 tho administrative feature OF the
tariff act permitting express companies to
| pay the duty on packages valued at not
| more than $500 and deliver them TO the resi-
dcnce OF the Importer direct. and the bill
| 70 repeal the free alcohol clause OF the
| tariff law. The Dlngley bill came out OF
| committee with a free coinage amendment
| which prevailed In the senate, and this
| proposition 10 increase the revenues through
| tariff duties has ever since been hung ia tho
air between the two houses. The bank
ruptcy and contempt OF court bills. the two
/ most important measures cmnnnting from
| the committee on the judiciary. were not
| even considered by the SENATE The favor
able report from the committee on priv
| neges and elections for an amendment for
the election OF senators by popular vote,
| became the text for many speeches that
never got beyond that indefinite stage.
The senate committee on pensions shows
a better record for accomplished results.
| Senate pension bills agRregating 900 were