The herald., 1896-06-08
TwENTY-FIFTH YEAR. NO. ESQ.

Ne NOs AOVs
view Of their respective parties Tariff
or financial legislation Of any general
character was abandoned for all prac-
tical purposes when the disagreements
between the house and senate were DEM
onstrated by the fate of the two bills
prepared by the house ways and means
committee. Other lines Of business
were tabooed by the house because OF
the lack Of revenues, notably public
buildings. public and provincial claima
and all sorts of private bills entailing ex-
penditures, except pension bills. to which
last the usual amount of time has been
given.
One of the most bitterly contested
fights which has occurred has cropped
out from the provisions Of the Indian
and District of Columbia bills for gov
ernment aid to church schools. feature
which still holds both bills in conference.
The Indian bill contains provisions CIV
ing the homestead settlers on all ceded
Indian reservations an. extension OF one
year In which to make payments and
for the completion of the surveys OF land
In Indian territory. Incidental to the
legislative, executive and judicial bill
was an advance of the salaries of United
States district attorneys. marshals and
commissioners with the stipulation that
the terms of office of all commissioners
expire on June 80, 1897. The agricultural
bill conferred upon the president au-
thority to suspend the prohibition
against importations OF meat cattle.
domestic animals and hides on the GER
tification of the secretary Of agricul-
ture that countries or parts OF countries
are free from contagious or infectious
diseases of animals and authorized the
president to take steps to secure the alb
rogation of the regulations by Great
Britain prohibiting the importation OF
cattle from the United states into tnat
country alive
In the sundry civil bill the most impor-
tant legislation Is to make effective the
Carey arid land act, which ceded arid
lands to the public land states for recla-
nation. by authorizing the states to
give liens on the land to cover the ex-
penses Of reclamation.
The most noteworthy legislation per-
tanning to the navy Is contained In the
appropriation bill. The house provided
for fifteen new torpedo boats and four
battleshipe, but the senate reduced the
number of battleships to two and con-
ference Is pending over that difference.
The bill made provision for the enlist
ment of 1000 additional seamen. It also
made unlawful the employment Of ma
val or marine officers on the active and
retired lists by parties furnishing sup
plies or materials Of war to the govern
ment.
A special report authorized the ac-
ceptance by the government Of the ram
Katahdin, which failed to make the
speed required by the contracts, but
which satisfied the department, 1t being
largely an experimental craft. The
naval reserve system was strengthened
by a plan designed to draft vessels en-
gagged in the coastwise trade into the
uaryiCo ', fivno Of An ocfv vryou
ed to establish a naval training station
on Yerba Buena (or Goat Island) in San
Francisco harbor. The secretary was
empowered to accept certified checks in
lieu Of bonds from contractors for naval
supplies.
the army appropriation bill. Special
bills were passed, however, creating the
positions of chaplain (wfio will also be
professor Of history. geography and
ethics) and an assistant professor of the
same branches at West Point academy;
making the National Military pax fields
for maneuvers by the National guard or
militia. and q resolution appointing Gen.
w. 8. Franklin OF Connecticut. Gen.
Thomas ]. Henderson Of Illinois. Repre-
sentative Steele Of Indiana and George
L. Beale of Maine, members Of the board
Of managers for the national soldiers
homes.
vi tdTlIl anu uudIlCldl lck lSldIlOu, IHl6
congress, as was said, has accomplished
none. With safe margin of free-silver
votes In the senate, and q majority Of
nearly two to one against silver in the
house. 1t was evident from the begin
ming that no general policy could be
agreed upon. The two bills framed by
the house ways and means committee,
and bearing the name of their author,
Mr.. Dingley of Maine, one a bill for the
issue OF short-term popular loan and of
certificates of indebtedness, the other
to increase the rates of tariff schedules
in wool, manufactures Of wool and other
articles. were killed in the senate by the
determination to substitute therefor sill
yer coinage measures. On the other
hand, the senate resolution to prohibit
the issue of bonds without authority of
congress. one of the last important acts
OF the senate, was reported adversely,
by the house ways and means commit
tee. The only one of the many proposed
changes In the tariff laws which became
an actuality, was the repeal of that
clause Of the Wilson bill giving free al
cohol to the arts and manufactures.
this being done on the recommendation
of Secretary Carlisle and Commissioner
of Internal Revenue Miller. This repeal
met so much antagonisn from members
representing manufacturing interests
that 1t could only be effected by coup
ling with a compromise scheme devised
by Senator Platt and Representative
Russell of Connecticut, for a congress
sional committee to recommend legisla-
tion at the beginning of the next session
by which free alcohol can be secured un-
der sufficient safeguards for the gov
ernments interests.
The policy of reciprocity was thor
oughly investigated by subcommittee
of the ways and means committee, but il
was thought not advisable by the Re-
publican leaders to attempt legislation
on that single feature Of the tariff sys-
tenn.
Although the house committee on
banking and currency devoted much
time to the discussion Of financial oues-
tions 1t was able to agree on but two
bills. one to permit banks to issue cir
culation to the amount Of the par value