Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-08-28
SOME QUEER BILLS.
NOVEL PROPOSITIONS OF OUR LAW
MAKERS At WASHINGTON.

70 Improve Resolution Concerns
ing salmon-To Change Street Names In
Washington Mr.. PETERS Resolution
TrelOar and Boatner Rave Wants.
The present session Of congress has
produced its share of bills and resolu-
tions sufficiently novel in character to
be worth noting.
One, introduced in the house bS Mr.
Berry, is entitled "a bill to further
higher theatrical interests. 1t declares
that "in view of the beneficial effect OF
the correct theatrical art upon the pub
lie mind and in view of the further
necessity of preserving the better meth
DDS Of the stage, a sum not exceeding
So, 600 is appropriated for the purpose
Of assisting the further usefulness of the
theater as an educator aud in respect of
an examination into present theatrical
conditions and the best means of ex-
tending aid to the stage" But it still
remains mystery rs 10 what is to DO
done with the $4,000, Except that the
library committee is authorized by tbs
bill to expend it.
A concurrent resolution introduced by
Senator Mitchell of Oregon is rather elo-
quent on the subject eff salmon. The
preamble contains no fewer than six
clauses, each beginning with its sep
arate whereas. The first declares that
whereas the Columbia river is the
only stream in the world where the Chi
nook salmon is found in all its perfeo
ton, no other known river producing
salmon Of such firm, rose red, oily
flesh, while the last clause declares
that the fish commission "has reeog-
nized the Importance of the royal Chi
nook salmon of the Columbia as an arti-
ole of food for the people of the whole
country. +" The resolutic:I following the
long and resonant preamble is brief,
namely, that the Clackamas, tribu.
tary of the Columbia, and the eontigu-
Gus government lands shall be set apart
as spawning grounds for said fish.
Mr.. PETER has joint resolution
founded ON the proposition that there
were four distinct financial policies at
issue in the late election, and that 'tths
result does not show that majority of
tho voters favor any of the said policies -
He therefore asks To have a national mon
stary commission appointed to examine
the matter, with a view to getting at "a
safe and sound currency, $4,000 bee
Ing appropriated for this purpose. MIR
Allen has a resolution for a committee
of nine senators to investigate the ex-
tent to which money was used in the
recent presidential election, inqui<ing
whether any expenditures were excess
i've, illegitimate, corrupt or unlawful, "
and especially how much the owners of
silver mines aud gold mines. bankers,
manufacturers, railroads or other cor
Forations and amillionaires of all
classes eontri bnted and what contri.
buttons were made by persons and COR
porations abroad.
A bill to regulate the sale of milk in
the District of Columbia has among its
provisions that no person shall sell, ex.
change or deliver any cream that con
tains less than 18 per cent of butter fat.
Another bill changes the names of the
alphabetical streets in Washington, so
that hereafter they are TO be known as
Adams, Bancroft, Clay, Decatur, Elmer
son, Franklin, Grant, Hamilton, Kane,
Lincoln. Marshall, Neweomb, Ogle-
thorpe, Perry, Quincy, Randolph,
Stanton, Taylor, Union, Van Buren,
and Webster A third bill Furnishes by
fine not exceeding $500 any person
who sells, dispenses cor otherwise dis.
poses Of" Intoxicating liquors of any
kind in the capitol buildings or on the
capitol grounds.
A proposition of Mr. rleloar is to
give the president of the United States
and also the senators terms of eight
years each and representatives terms
of four years Mr. Boatner's bill gives
the speaker Of the house $40, 900 a year.
and each senator and representative ST.
800 year
Senator Call has bill appropriating
500, 0o0, Ito be expended this year,
for the extirpation of the water hyacinth
IN the ST. Johns and Oklavaha rivers
and their tributaries in Florida, $50 aa
to permit the navigation of the rivers
from being closed" This suggests new
posi- bilities in river and harbor bills