New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

greSS. Tne quarantine act Ol 1910 hdo Hoe
been operative. owing to Congress not having
provided the means to carry IT out. The recent
Congress elections the President said. had been
Tree from public disturbances in the South, but
The amount of freedom accorded to the freed
men in exercising their constitutional rights as
to suffrage was not as large as had been antici-
pated. Their rights had been overrdden and
their participation in the election had not been
general or free The President declared that
he should use his lawful powers to punish Of
tenders. and he implored the Southern. people
through their Legislatures and courts to assist
the prosecutions The South had gained great
Increase Of political power in Congress through
the enfranchisement OF the blacks by increase
OF their delegations. The public debt had been
reduced 500. 1j0.617 during the last year.
LAST KICK AT RESUMPTION.
The bill for stopping the resumption Of specie
payments, which originated in the House at the
first session, and was changed radically by the
Senate at the second session. came up at this
session for final disposal Specie payments had
been actually resumed. Nevertheless. the DEM
ocratic party lacked sufficient craftsmanship
and patriotism to let the subject alone. The bill
was called up and debated. On February d.
1879, 1t laid on the table by a vote OK III
yeas Ola Republicans, % Democrats) to ITO
nays &C Republicans 104 Democrats Thus, in
ridicule and disgrace, ended the long and deter
mined effort of the Democratic party TO defeat
one great triumph of Republican legislation.
CHINESE RESTRICTION.
bil, was passed at this session, introduced by
Representative Wren Rep., New for the restrc-
ton Of Chinese immigration principle TO which
the Republican party was committed AS
framed. however. the bill virtually assumed that
Congress had power to abrogate. at least in part
the Burlingame Treaty OF November % 1863
1t prohibited the landing Of more than fifteen
Cinnamon by any ship coming 10 the United
States any one voyage. The doubt as to the
right of Congress to take this action led many
Republicans to oppose the bill. 1t was passed by
the House January Is. 1879. by 100 yeas OIL
Republicans. 1O4 Democrats) to - nays (jG Re-
publicans Ii Democrats The Senate passed
the bill February II, by 30 yeas as Republic
cans. Il Democrats TO - nays 0G Republicans,
10 Democrats. l independently.
President Hayes was reluctantly compelled
to veto this BILL because il confcted with the
existing treaty with China, and because Congress
had no power in the premises. The Republic
cans then began to agitate for an abrogation Of
that treaty and the President himself sent
commission OF three men to China TO negotiate
an amendment to It.
The bill granting arrears Of pensions. which
came from the House at the second session. was
passed by the Senate January 1G, 1879. by A
yeas ca Republicans IL Democrats, l indie
pendenU to 4 nays (all Democrats). This act
gave S24 10000 in arrears to Union veterans.
1t was a Republican measure in its inception
and carried through Congress by Repub-
arguments and votes
In order to afford the people at large OPP
portunity to invest small savings in Government
securities, an act was passed chiefly by Repub-
lican votes in both houses. authorizing the
Treasury to issue $40 certificates Of deposit
bearing per cent interest. convertible at any
time into per cent bonds the money received
for these certificates to be applied TO the
demption OF the per cent bonds.
An act was passed restoring to persons In the
Civil Service the pensions which had been cut
of by the act OF March 3. 1866 (forbdding PEN
sions to the employees OF the GovernmenD, which
act had been repealed June 6, 1866.
On February II. 1879. the House appropri-
ated $23,WOWO to pay arrears Of pensions
granted by the act OF January D. 1879. There
was contest the bill. but IL was passed by
1893 yeas dOS Republicans 65 Democrats 10
independently to g. nays (66 Democrats | Re-
publican) In the Senate long struggle took
place amendment offered by Senator
Shields Dem) granting a service pension to
veterans of the Mexican War, a proposition
which would have pepsioned not only many ex-
COnfederates. but even Jefferson Davis himself
The amendment was finally beaten entirely by 20
yeas in favor Of the amendment (all Democrats
to - nays GA Republicans. l DemocraO The
bill was then passed without further struggle
and became law
FORCING DELAY IN LEGISLATION.
A at mol nj in