The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-08

name OF their author. Mr.. Dingley, one
bill for the issue OF a short OF popular
loan and of certificates OF Indebtedness,
the other to increase the rates OF tariff
schedules In WOOL manufactures OF wool
and the other articles, were killed I'm the
senate by the determination TO sAbsti-
tute therefor skier coinage measures.
On the other hand, the senate resolution
10 prohibit the issue OF bonds without
the authority OF congress, one OF the last
important acts OF the senate, was re-
ported adversely by the house ways and
means committee. The only one OF the
many proposed changes in the tariff
laws which became an actually was the
repeal OF that clause OF the Wilson act
giving free alcohol in the arts and man.
ufactures. This repeal met with so
much antagonism that IL could only be
effected by coupling with II compromise
scheme for a congressional commission
to recommend legislation at the begin
ming OF the next session, by which free
alcohol can be secured under sufficient
safeguards for the governments inter-
ests.
The policy of reciprocity was
thoroughly investigated by a sub-com-
mittee OF the ways and means. but IL
was thought inadvisable by the Republic
can leaders to attempt legislation on
that single feature of the tariff system
go long as a general revolution was out
OF the question. Although the house
committee on banking and currency de-
voted much time to discussion Of fnan-
cial questions, 1t was able to agree on
but two bills--one to permit banks to
issue circulation TO the amount Of the
par value OF the bonds deposited by them
as security; the other for the organiza-
tion Of national banks in the smaller
towns neither of which were passed
this session. The only important bill
recommended by the house committee
on coinage, that for the adoption OF the
metric system OF weights and measures
at the beginning OF the next century,
met with a temporary rebuff I'm the
house. but will be brought up again.
While foreign affairs divided with
finances the interest of congress, COM
paratively little legislation resulted from
the discussions because so great share
of the conduct of foreign relations rests
with the executive branch. The first
public resolution adopted by the con-
gress-and that after one hour debate
I'm the house and few days In the sem
ate-was that authorizing the president
To create the commission TO investigate
the yenezuela- British Guiana boundary
line. The debate over Cuban affairs re-
suited in the adoption Of a concurrent
resolution expressing the sympathy of
this government with the insurgents:
calling upon the president to accord
them belligerent rights and to offer the
friendly offices of the United States to
Spain to bring the war TO an end. Reso-
lutions were adopted by both branches
of Congress denouncing the massacres
of Armenians in Turkey, and calling
upon the signatory powers &c the Ber-
| lin treaty TO protect the Armenian Chris
tians. Seventy-five thousand dollars
was appropriated for carrying out the
stipulations of the Behring sea seal
fisheries treaty with Great Britain.
.,snother resolution passed was to de-
fray the expenses of negotiating con-
vention to locate the boundary line be-
tween Alaska and British America.
one incident of the excitement which
attended the crisis of the Venezuelan
boundary dispute, was the quick adop-
ton by the senate and house of Senator
Hills proposition 10 repeal the law for
bidding ex-Confederates, who relin-
| quished commissions in the United
pointed to the service. The plans TO
bring about the Maher- -Fitzsimmons
tight in the Indian territory inspired the
rapid enactments of a law imposing ex-
tremely severe penalties for prize fight
ing in the territories, and the epidemic
| of train robberies in the Indian territory
brought about an iron clad law against
crimes of that class, or attempts at them,
/ with the death penalty for any in
cidental loss Of life. Another emergency
| act was that authorizing the secretary
| of war to lend tents 20 the cyclone suf-
| ferers OF st. Louis.
The dairy interests of the country pre-
vailed upon congress 10 enact the
| most important measure for their pro-
lection since the oleomargarine law, the
filled cheese BILL which regulates the
| manufacture and sale of adultered
| cheese and imposes heavy penalties for
deception.
| Many special acts were passed during
| the session, granting condemned cannon
! and cannon balls TO G.. A II. posts and
many other bodies. The pressure OF the
passage of these bills finally became so
| great that congress adopted one general
| measure, authorizing the secretaries OF
| war and navy To give or loan condemned
! ordnance to sdch bodies as they saw
| fit. Acts of Incorporation were passed
| for the National Society of the Daugh-
| ters of the American Revolution; SUI
! prene council of the SD degree of Scot
tish Rite Masonry for the southern jur
isdiction OF the United States, the Ma
tional university and the convention OF
| the Protestant Episcopal church OF the
diocese Of Washington. American reg
listers were granted To the barks Miide
and John Ludwig and the steamers
| Miami and Mattewan.
The old anti-option bill was killed by
the house committee on agriculture, and
will not appear in this congress. a large
fraction OF the sessions business re-
lated to the public lands. and important
| amendments were made To the public
land laws. Foremost among these was
Delegate Flynn's free home" bill a
second important measure was that
| which extended for five years. from
March last the limit within which the
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