The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-03-01
Bills That Have Become Law by Act
Of the hfg-Fourth Congress
THE APPROPRIATIONS MADE
Reed 10 Sorry That They Are So
Very large-Sunday Session of
the Senate Attended by Many
Members and Visitors.

WV 'H'S-iouTtn congrtSs Win the
avowed determination that any lcgisla-
tion which compelled the expenditure
Of any more Of public moneys should
not he enacted during this session.
They felt compelled 10 adopt this pol
Icy because of the condition of the
treasury, and they have generally ad-
hered To II. although the appropriation
bills for the support OF the government
have been through the total appropria-
tion of this congress far beyond the
record of former congresses. Many OF
the appropriations, notably those for
river and harbor improvements and for
public buildings, were necessary to
continue the works authorized by other
congresses. No public buildings have
peen started by this congress and no
new battleships or vessels of any de-
scription, although the creation Of a
new navy. began several years ago has
10y no means been abandoned. The in
tention of the house leaders at the he
ginning OF the session was To Contine
the work. 50 fur as possible to appro-
priation bills and they have been sue
cessful In living up to their policy. The
past week of the session begins with
several appropriation bills not yet
passed by the senate. Much of the time
of that body has been consumed in
discussion of the Cuban question, which
the house has dealt with only inciden-
tally.
Necessarily the policy of the house to
avoid new legislation which involves
expenditures has been enforced upon
the senate. The Nicaragua canal bin
which has been discussed at length In
the senate but not acted upon was not
taken up In the house nor has the free
home bill. which the senate passed. had
hearing at the other end of the capt.
tol. The Pacific railroad funding bill
met a decisive defeat in the house. so
the senate found II unnecessary to dis
euss that proposition. One feature of
the session worthy of note was the
great number of private pension bills
passed, many of them placing widows
of officers on pension rolls at ratings
ranging from $50 to si5 a month. Pri-
vate claims. on the other hand. have
been few. Several OF the pension bills
were vetoed by President Cleveland,
but congress enacted some of these
despite the veto. by the necessary two
thirds majority.
Several important bills are I'm the
presidents hands awaiting his action.
foremost among them being the immi-
grafton bill, which establishes an edu-
cational test for immigrants and bars
out laborers who maintain their homes
in other countries. The anti-scalping
bill may be submitted TO the executive
for his action within two or three days,
and since Senator Chandler has given
notice that he will move that the sem
ate accept the house amendments To
the bill authorizing the president to
call an international monetary confer
ID L. straIxr kas IL. Iax..
land Will be given an opportunity to
veto that. The bill for the reorganiza-
ton of the Atlantic a. Pacific Railroad
company is also on the presidents
desk, one act written upon the statute
books this session ls noteworthy as be-
ing the work practically OF one man.
the act to reduce cases In which the
penalty OF death may he inflicted. a
movement to which General Curtis Of
New York has devoted the best efforts
of his congressional career, After years
of agitation of the subject, he has sue
ceeded In erasing from the statute
books all laws imposing the death PEN
atty for other crimes than murder,
criminal assault. treason or piracy and
endowed juries with the power to stip-
ulate whether or not capital punish
ment shall he inflicted for these crimes.
An agitation by dramatists. COM
posers and theatrical managers. has
resulted in the securing OF law fixing
penalties for public performances of
copyrighted dramatic or musical COM
positions. and empowered all circuit
courts to enforce the orders of any
such regarding these performances.
The interstate commerce laws have
been extended to prevent traffic In OBJ
scene literature. the shipping laws have
aoA IN hts. IN hplnnp N D.
Of American or foreign clubs to enter
or clear without taxes. also to require
naphtha or electric boats OF more than
IL tons burden to he subjected to all
requirements for inspections and for
pilots and engineers. A new law COM
pels the name and draft OF every regis
tered vessel to he marked on the stern
and bow. New regulations have been
made for compensation of inspectors of
steam vessels for their travelling ex-
penses. All persons who make signal
exertions in rescuing wrecked or
drowning persons are. under the law Of
this session. eligible for life-saving
medals. which formerly were given
only to life-saviDg crew men.
The friends OF the Tennessee centen-
nial exposition of 1898 have succeeded
in securing an appropriation Of $4,000
for government building. while the
Nebraska delegation Is working to se-
cure a like recognition Of the Omaha
exposition.
one of the most important pieces of
public land legislation permits the pat
enting of lands containing petroleum or
other mineral oils under the mineral
land laws. Another extends to Jan. !.
1899, the time In which purchases may
he made of railroad grant lands for
feIted to the government under the act
of 1890 and another conforms cash en-
tries which have been declared invalid
because lands entered were never Of
fered for sale.
Among the bills passed relating to
courts were these. Fixing fees in cir
cult court appeals. withdrawing from
the supreme court the jurisdiction Of
crime cases not capital and giving it to
the circuit court Of appeals. An act
was passed providing heavy penalties
for selling intoxicating liquors to lndi-
ans. An act passed authorizing the
secretary of the interior to use the
abandoned Fort Bidwell fort In Cali
fornia for an Indian training school
and one to enable the town of Flag
staff. Arizona. To issue Ss5 900 per cent
bonds TO construct water system.
Military acts were passed authorizing
the comforting on officers Of tho regular
army of the highest brevet rank held
by them in volunteer services: 10 au-
thorize officers who served in the regu-
lar army during the rebellion to bear