The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-08

nue. bills. The bond bill passed the
house, was sent to the senate and re-
turned with the addition or an amend
ment providing for the free coinage of
silver. The revenue bill died in the sem
ate 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, amending the law permit
ting a rebate on alcohol used in the arts,
amending the administrative features of
the tariff law with a view of prevent
ing the differentiation of imports and
additional measures regarding the dis
tillation of brandy from fruit and pro-
viding for the bottling Of spirits in bond.
Hearings were given ON q number of the
foregoing measures and a special in
vestigation was made to show the effect
on American agricultural interests Of
the repeal Of the reciprocity clause of
the Mckinley law. An exhaustive re-
port upon this last named subject was
prepared by a subcommittee and form
ally adopted by the full committee by
strict party vote.
PENSION COMMITTEES WORK.
The committee on invalid pensions, of
which Mr.. Pickler, of South Dakota, is
chairman, had a busy session and broke
all previous records for work. Upwards
of $500 We're referred to it, of which 700
private bills were reported to the house.
Among the measures reported In addi-
tion to those which passed the house
We're bills giving members of state
militia q pensionable status; granting
pensions to remarked war widows;
broadening the scope of the law PEN
sioning 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 different class of measures from
those which are referred to the invalid
pensions committee, disposed of 24O of
the 600 bills referred to them. General
bills were reprted granting an increase
of pension to the survivors OF the In
dian and Mexican wars and their
widows and extendingHthe provisions of
the Indian war law OF 1890 to the sur
vivors of Oregon and other Indian wars
prior to 1856.
The senate bill prohibiting the issue
of bonds, except by direct authority of
congress was reported adversely by the
ways and means committee and died in
that committee.
The president vetoed two appropria-
ticn bills, viz: The river and harbor,
which was passed over the veto, and
the general deficiency bill. The veto of
the latter bill was sustained by the
house and that body passed new bill,
omitting the Objectionable features.
This has not yet been acted upon by the
senate.
RESULTS IN THE SENATE.
The results accomplished in the senate
during the session just closing are en-
tirely out Of proportion with the legisla-
ton that was introduced. Up 10 Satur-
day there had been introduced total of
3.2Gl bills more than were introduced
during the whole Of last congress. OF
the same ratio of increase 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
committee to which was referred 1,105
different measures has succeeded in
getting through the senate but three of
any importance that have become laws
the filed cheese bill; the amendment
to the administrative features Of the
tariff act permitting express companies
to pay the duty on packages valued at
not more than $500 and deliver to the
residence 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 free coinage
amendment which prevailed in the sem
ate and this proposition to increase the
revenues through tariff duties has ever
since been hung in the air between the
two houses.
Bankruptcy and the contempt of court
bills, the two most important measures
enanating from the committee on the
judiciary, were not even considered by
the senate. The favorable report from
the committee on privileges and cleo
tions for an amendment for the election
of senators by popular vote, became the
text for many speeches but never got
beyond that indefinite stage. From the
committee on military came two great
measures. for the re- organization of the
army and a similar bill for the re-or-
ganization Of the militia, neither Of
which have been considered. The COM
mttee OH territories reported favorably
on the admission Of the territories of
New Mexico and Arizona, but beyond
the reporting of the bills no action has
benen taken. One important measure
was. however, got through by this COM
mittee, that relating to divorces in the
territories, thus removing an evil that
had for years cried aloud for radical
legislation.
AFFECTING SEAMEN.
An important matter relative to the
laws relating to American seamen re-
pored from the committee on commerce
by Mr. Frye will probably come up next
session. 1t repcals all obsolete laws
and codifies and simpliies those now
on the status books affecting better con-
ditons for seamen and also protecting
the rights of ship owners. For those who
go down to the sea in ships it is the most
important measure that has come be-
fore congress in many years. The ton
mage tax bill and several other proposed
measures emanating from this commit
tee are still on the calendar and will
not be taken therefrom.
The senate committee on pensions
shows better record for accomplished
results. Senate pension bills aggregat-
ing to 1920 We're referred to this conf
I..II