The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-03-06

Resume OF Its wori<--over 10000 Hills
introduced.


introduced.
Washington. March 2. - The Fifty
fourth congress viii be held remarka-
BILE. principally for what il has failed To
accomplish. In one respect--in the
number of bills and resolutions intro
duced--lt was n record-breaker. In the
house alone over i0.4o0 bills and s,100
resolutions were introduced and re-
ferred to various committees. Only
fraction of these passed the house and
fewer still became laws.
The principal business OF the congress.
aside from the passage OF the appropriation
bills. was limited to the first session, the
net results OF which were the enactment
into law OF the bills creating the commits
sion to determine the true divisional lino
between Venezuela and British Guiana:
prohibiting prize fighting In the territories.
permitting appointments In the army and
navy OF former United States officers who
served In the rebellion: making one years
residence in n territory necessary for
divorce: Incorporating the National So
ciety OF the Daughters OF the Revolution;
defining the penalty for interference with
railway trains and persons riding there
on and substituting salaries for fees to-
United States marshals and district at
torneys.
Aside from the foregoing measures. the
remaining bills Excepting the immigration
bill and the joint resolution for an inter
national monetary conference passed at
the second SESSION. were OF no general in
terest. Included In these were TOO private
pension bills-an unprecedented number
In another respect the Fifty-fourth con-
gross was remarkable. This was its fall
ure TO pass a single bill providing for pub
lie buildings. The house calendar con-
tained 100 bills OF this class. including the
senate bill for a custom house In New York
city. Speaker Reed. however, In his de-
termination TO reduce the expenditures to
the lowest limit consistent with the neoes-
stiles OF the government. set his face stern
ly against all legislation ef this character.
Notwithstanding this circumstance the
present congress Is the third In American
history I'm which the appropriations have
exceeded $1,000, 100000.
A number OF important measures which
were reported 20 the house last session
and were expected to receive favorable
consideration during the present session
were either defeated or were left on the
calendar. The bill 10 settle the indebted
ness OF tho bond-aidcd railways 10 the gov
ern ment, which was legacy from the last
session, suffered n crushing defeat In jan
uary last The substitute measure pre-
pared by Mr.. Harrison. OF Alabama. to adj
Just these claims through the medium OF
n cabinet commission was not permitted
by the committee on rules 10 come before
the house. thus leaving II an open question
between the supporters and the opponents
OF the measure what its fate would have
been. In the preceding session upwards OF
80 resolutions bearing upon the Cuban In
surrection were introduced, although but
one passed the house. During the present
session the Cuban resolutions introduced
have been few In number.
No effort was made at the present ses-
sion 10 call up the bills admitting Arizona,
New Mexico and Oklahoma 10 statehood
The sound money" men I'm the house
were n practical unit against the admis-
sion OF any territories which are likely to
send advocates OF free silver to the senate.
Among the bills which passed tho house
but have not been acted upon In the senate
are the Morse bill TO prevent the selling
OF liquor I'm tho capitol; the Brosius bill
permitting the establishment OF national
banks with capital OF 500 900 In towns Of
1900 inhabitants, ana the Loud bill TO re-
classify sccond-class mail matter.
Much OF the time OF the senate has been
consumed in tho discussion OF questions
relating TO our foreign relations. and while
no positive action OF any kind has been
taken, many columns OF the Congressiona al
Record have been filled with speeches on
these topics. Cuban resolutions have been
introduced and pressed for action by the
score, but beyond prccipitating debate,
nothing has been accomplished. A treaty
Win SuPoh nus DteH IutlHcu' putting INTO
immediate operation the clause OF the
treaty OF commerce and navigation nc
gotiated two years ago. The general
treaty OF arbitration with Great Britain,
after being fruitlessly considered for two
weeks, went over until the next session.
The Alaskan boundary treaty with Great
Britain has not even been considered In
committee. The Nicaraguan canal bill,
which was debated for several weeks, was
on the point or final passage with COM
Portable majority In front OF Il when the
protest OF the minister representing the
Greater Central American Republic was
received.