The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-08
No Tariff or Financial Legislation OF
Any Character, Owing 10 the At
titude OF silver Senators.
FEATURES OF APPROPRIATIONS
SEVERAL IMPORTANT PRoyISToxs
IN THE VARIOUS MEASURES.
Resolutions Relating 10 Foreign At
fnirs-Resume of Bills Of Public In
terest Passed by House and senate.

WASHINGTON. June 7.-If, as now
seems probable. the first session OF the Fff-
ty-fourth Congress adjourns this week. IL
VIII be the shortest so-called long session"
since that OF the Thirty-ifty Congress. and
one OF the shortest I'm the history of the
government. This record is probably partly
due to the political differences between the
Senate. House and President. which have
forestalled agreements on lines OF legisla-
tion, and partly 10 the determination with
which the Republican leaders In tse House
have carried into effect Speaker Reeds
caucus prediction that the Congress
would be do-nothing assemblage
Legislation means appropriations. the
House leaders have said. and as sheir opin-
ion was that the treasury's condition war
ranted no appropriations except the most
imperatively necessary, they have held the
doors tightly shut against classes Of bills
which usually receive hearings.
Foremost among the inevitable and regu-
lar acts OF Congress are the annual appro-
priation bills for the support OF the govern
ment Their preparation has constituted a
large part OF the work of the session and
five of them are yet hanging between the
House and Senate with some of their details
unsettled. For this reason IT is impossible
to give the exact totals OF the bills or the
grand total of appropriations made by
this Congress. which aggregate about half
a billion dollars. but the disbursements au-
thorized during the session will be discussed
hereafter by Chairman Cannon. OF the
appropriations committee. and ex-chairman
Sayers. from the point Of views Of their
| respective parties.
| Tariff or financial legislation OF any gen.
L 49,
| sill practical purposes when the
| disagreement between the House
and Senate were demonstrated by the fate
of the two bills prepared by TIE House
ways and means committee. Other lines OF
business were also tabooed by the House
because of the alleged lack of revenue. nota-
bly, public buildings. public and private
| claims and all sorts of private bills. entail
ing expenditures except pension bills. to
which last the usual amount OF time has
been given.
| One of the most bitterly conte5tad lights
which has occurred has cropped ost n ON
| the provisions OF the Indian and District
of Columbia bills for government AID to
| church schools, a feature which still holds
both bills In conference. The indian bill
| contains provisions giving the homestead
settlers on all ceded Indian reservations IN
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 aud
judicial bill was an entire revision OF tho
salaries of United States district attorneys.
marshais and commissioners. with the stip-
ulation that the term of offices Of al; COM
missioners expire June 80. 1897.
POWER GIVEN THE PRESIDENT.
The agricultural bill conferred on the
President authority to suspend the pro-
| hibition against importations OF meat cat
| tie, domestic animals and hides. on the
certifcation Of the Secretary of .Agricul-
ture that countries or parts OF countries
are free from contagious or infectious dis
eases of animals and authorizes the Presi-
dent TO take steps TO secure the abrogation
Of the regulations by Great Britain prohib-
iting the importation of cattle from the
| United States into that 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 reclamation)
by authorizing the States to give liens on
| the land to cover the expenses OF. reclama-
| ton.
| The most noteworthy legislation pertain
| ing to the navy Is contained I'm the APP
4
| fifteen new torpedo boats and four battle
ships, but the Senate reduced the number
of battle ships 10 two and conference y. ~
| made provision for the enlistment of loo
| additional seamen. IL also made unlawful
the employment Of naval or marine omeers
| on the active or retired lists by parties
furnishing supplies or materials OK war 70
| the government. A special resolution au-
thorizing the aceeP'snSse Dy hscb shf s fsiIs5
| to make the speed requirements OF the con-
tracts. but which satisfied the Departments.
naval reserve system was strengthened BY
| a plan designed 10 draft vessels engaged
| in the ccastwise trade into the service IN
| time of war. An act was passed 10 estab-
| lish naval training station on 1erba
| Buena Cor Goat island). in San Francisco
narDoT i .ortsesd cbecss IN lieu OF bonds
1 from contractors for naval supplies
| No special legislation was contained IN
the the army apphoprassp" boxexer cpsat,ne the posi-
| ton of chaplain twho will aiso be professor
OF history, geography and ethics), AID an
! assistant professor OF the same branches
| at West Point Academy. making the ma
tional military parks fields tor maneuvera
by the National Guard or militia; anc
| resolution appointing Gen W. Il. Franklin.
| of Connecticut; Cen Thomas j. Henderson.
| of Illinois; Representative Steele, OF tn-
diana. and George l. BeaL OF Maine; mem
| tioral Soldiers Home
| TARIFF AND FINANCE
| OF tariff and financial legislation the
| Congress. as was said. has accomplished
| none. With a safe margin OF free-silver
| votes In the Senate and majority OF near
ly two to one against silver In the House.
| IL was evident from the beginning that no
| general policy could be agreed upon The
| two bills framed by the House ways and
means COMMITTEES bearing the name Of their
| author Mr.. Dinsley of Maine-onc bin
J for the issue Of a short-term popular loan
and of certificates Of Indebtedness. the
| other to increase the retes OF tariff sched.
| uies IN wool. manufactures OF wool and
! other articles-nere killed IN the Senate BY
/ the determination 10 substitute therefor
| silver coinage measures On the other
hand the Senate resolution TO prohibit the
| issue of bonds without authority Of Con-
gress. one Of the last Important acts OF the
| Senate. was reported adversely BY the
| House ways and means COMMITTEES. The
only one OF the many proposed changes In
| the tariff laws which became an actun1ity
| was the repeal OF that clause Of the Wilson
| act giving free alcohol IN the arts and
| manufactures. this being done on the rec
| ommendation Of Secretary Carlisle au6
| Commissioner OF Internal Revenue Mflle-.
1 This repeal met mach antn1oninm from
a. - 1tsrI IT,