Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-06-12

80 were acted upon Two or 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 IN 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 In Alaskan waters; the filled 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
$500 bills were referred to 1t, of which 100
private bills were reported to the house.
Among the measures reported in addition
to 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 tho
law pensioning army nurses increasing the
pensions of those who lost limbs in 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 tc the invalid pen-
sions committee, disposed of 240 OF the 600
bills referred to them.
The committees on post offices and post
roads. railways and canals, coinage,
weights and measures, agriculture, mill
itary, public lands, patents, judiciary and
commerce reported the ordinary number
of measures, but with few exceptions they
We're not of unusual Importance.
Business in the Senate.
The results accomplished by the senate
during the session just closing are entirely
out IF proportion with the legislation that
was introduced. Up to Saturday there had
been introduced a total of 1921 bills more
than were introduced during the whole of
the last congress. The same ratio of in
10 in ba Of MI ia q
and petitions that have been laid before
the senate. Out of this array of proposed
legislation but little has been done.
The finance committee, to which was
referred Jos different measures, has sue,
ceeded In getting through the senate but
three of any Importance that have become
laws-the filled cheese bill; the amends
ment to the 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-
dence Of the Importer direct, and the bill
to repeal the free alcohol clause of the
tariff law. The Dingley bill came out OF
committee with a free coinage amendment
which prevailed in the senate, and this
proposition to increase the evenues through
tariff duties has ever since been hung in tho
air between the two houses. The bank
ruptcy and contempt of court bills, the two
most important measures emanating from
the committee ON the judiciary. We're not
even COnSlQereQ by the senate. i he IaVOc-
able report from the committee on priv
ileges 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
better record for accomplished results
Senate pension bills aggregating 1.G20 were
referred to this committee. Similar
bills aggregating 220 came over from,
the house. Two hundred and sew
enty senate bills were PASSED by the
senate, Of which the house passed but 80
On the other hand. the senate passed III
of the house pension bills out of total Of
22O passed by the house. Out of all this pro
posed legislation but 50 bills became laws
as follows: Senate bills without the ap'
prevail of the president, IL; senate bills ap
proved, 81; house bills become 4 law with
out approval, s; house bills approved