The record-union., 1896-06-08
Reasons Why It Has Not Accomplished
More.
Nearly Ten Thousand Bills Intro
duced During the Session, But
Only Few Became Laws, and a
Number Will be Brought Up at the
Next Session and Their Passage
Urged-ReSume of Work Done.

WASHINGTON, June THE first
session of the ty-fourth Congress,
now in its closing hours, enjoys the
distinction of being the shortest long
session for a period of thirty years.
A Senate passively Indifferent in
some instances, and in others actively
hostile, with an Executive not in SYM
pathy with the Republican party poll
cies, are the reasons assigned by the
House leaders for the paucity of n3-
ticnal legislation
OF the measures which became laws
the most important from an inter-
national standpoint was the bill Great
ing the commission ito determine the
true divisional line between Venezuela
and British Guiana" OF scarcely less
general interest were the bills pro-
hibiting prize-fighting in the Terrific
rieS; permitting appointments in the
army and navy of former United States
officers who served in the Rebellion,
and making one years residence in a
Territory a prerequisite to obtaining
a divorce there.
Excepting these, however, the re-
mainder of the 225 bills and resolu-
tlons which received the President s
approval were not of a character to
deserve extended mention. The more
important were the bills incorporat-
ing the National Society of the Daugh-
ters OF the Revolution; opening the for
est reservations in Colorado for the
location of mining claims; regulating
proof of death in pension cases: pro-
viding for naval training school in
san Francisco Harbor; making it un-
lawful to shoot at any railroad train
or any person thereon or to throw mis-
SIZES into such train, and repeating
clause 6130 of the tariff law, providing
for rebate on alcohol used in the arts.
III the session, however, be conspicu-
Gus by reason of its limited number Of
important laws enacted, it resulted in
the introduction Of larger number of
bills in the House than during any
similar period for a quarter Of a. CEN
tury
The totai number of bills introduced
during the entire last Congress was
S,9S7, of which 4405 were introduced
during the first session. which corre-
spends to the session now drawing to
close, and in which latter the aggre-
gate is $500 OF these 230O were favor
e bly, reported by the committees TO
whom they were referred and scores
of them are likely to be brought to the
attention of the House next winter.
Many members will enjoy a degree Of
Independence after the autumn elec
tons, which they have been denied
during the present year, and their in
f1uence will be exerted to call nm and
pass measures that are now regarded
as personally and politically unsafe. -
The Nicaragua Canal bill is one of
these measures. After MANY months
CT consideration in the committee II
received favorable report in the face
Of an absolute certainty that it would
not be taken up during the present
session. The bill to liquidate the in
debtedness of the Pacific Railroads IN
the Government is another far-reacb-
ing measure which is also upon the
calendar with a favorable report. hut
which for prudential reasons will con-
tinue to slumber there Others are the
service pension bill, reported " the
Invalid Pension Committee: the. Ari-
zona, New Mexico and Oklahoma State
hood bills; the Pacific cable bill and the
JOINT resolution comforting the rank of
Lieutenant-General upon Maior-Gen-
eral Miles
The popular interest in the Cuban
revolution was shown in the large num-
Der of resolutions, more than fiftv in
all, that were introduced and referred
To the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
After careful consideration a concur
rent resolution was reported, for which
was subsequently substituted in con-
ference the Senate resolution expressing
the sympathy of the United States with
the insurgents, recognizing their bel
hgerency and calling upon the Presi-
dent to use his good offices to secure
the independence of the island
Measures for which there has been a
widespread demand that have nassed
the House and will probably receive
consideration from the Senate next sas-
sion, include the bankruptcy bin. the
Mccall bill providing an educational
| test for immigrants, the labor commits
| sion and labor arbitration bills and the
bill simplifying the rules of the Pom
| sion Office so as to facilitate the MASSAGE
| Of private pension cases.
The early weeks of the session wore
| a busy period for the Ways and Means
| Committee. OF the 1877 measnras ra-
ferred to it thirty were acted upon. Two
| of the greatest Importance were the
| bond and revenue bills. The bond bi1I
passed the House, was sent to the Son
| ate and returned with the addition of an
amendment providing for the free coin
| age of silver. The revenue bill died in
| the Senate Committee on Finance
Among other measures Of interest re-
| ported by the Ways and Means Com
mittee were the bills permitting tbe
killing of all the fur seals in Alaskan
waters. the filled cheese bill and the hill
| amending the law permitting a rebate
| on alcohol used in the arts.
The Committee on Invalid Pensions
broke all previous records for work
Upwards of 2.S00 bills were referred to
it, of which 700 private bills were re-
| ported to the House. Among the meas
ures reported in addition to those which
passed the House were bills giving mem
| bers of State militia a pensionahle
status; granting pensions to re-married
war widows; broadening the scope Of
the law pensioning army nurses: in
| creasing the pensions of those who lost
limbs in the service and providing for
! the payment of pensions by check
1 The Pensions Committee, which deals