The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-03-05
REVIEW OF 50 SION.
Fifty-Fourth Congress Broke All Records
on Appropriations.


Washington, March l.-S~eaker Reed
and the other Republican leaders of the
house entered upon Tie ina session Cf
the Fifty-fourth congress With the
avowed determination that L.; leGis!a-
ton which compelled great eNpe mixtures
of pubic honey ShULuu De eli, Oted dul .
ing the session. They felt compelled to
adopt this policy because Of the condi-
ton of the treasury, and they have gen
orally adhered 70 it, although the regu-
lar appropriation bills for the support of
the government have brought the tota.
appropriations of this congress far be
yond the billion mark, breaking the rec
ord of former congresses. Many of the
appropriations, notably those for river
and harbor improvements, and for pub
lie buildings, We're necessary to con-
tinue works authorized by other con-
crosses No public buildings have been
started by this session, and no new bat
tleships or vessels of any description, al
though the creation Of new navy" be-
gun several years ago, has by no means
been abandoned. The intention of the
house leaders at the beginning of the
session was to confine the work, so far
as possible, to the appropriation bills,
and they have been successful in living
up to their policy. These bills, more
over, have been numbered with fewer
new projects and less general legisla-
ton than usual.
One act written upon the statute books
this session is noteworthy as being the
work practically of one man. That is
the act to reduce the cases in which the
penalty of death may be inflicted, a
movement to which General Curtis of
New York has devoted the best efforts
of his congressional career The aboli-
ton of the death penalty has been a long
cherished enthusiasm with General Cur
tbs. Now, after years of agitation of the
subject, he has succedSd in erasing from
the statute books all Emitted States laws
imposing the death penalty for other
crimes than murder, rape, treason or
piracy, and endowed juries with the
power to stipulate whether or not capital
punishment shall e.inflicted for these
crimes.
An agitation by dramatists, compos-
ers and theatrical managers has result
ed in securing a law at this session fix
ing heavy penalties for public perform
arces of copyrighted dramatic or musi-
cal compositions and empowering all
United States circuit coruts to enforce
the orders of any such court regarding
these performances.
The interstate commerce laws have
been extended to prevent traffic in OBJ
scene literature or articles designed for
Immoral uses. The shipping laws have
been amended to enable yachts belong
ing to American or foreign clubs to en-
ter or clear from the customs houses
without tonnage taxes. also to require
naphtha or electric boats of more than
10 tons burden to be subjected to all re-
quirements for inspection and for pilots
and engineers. a new law compels the
name and draft of every registered YES |
sci to be marked on the stern and bow |
New regulations have been made for the |
of inspectors of steam YES
sells for their travelling expenses. All |
persons who make signal eXertions in |
rescung a wrecked ship or a drowning |
person are, under a law of this session. |
eligible for the life-saVing medals which .
were given only to the life
saving crew men. The friends of the .
Tennessee centennial exposition of 1897 .
have succeeded in securing an appro-
priation of $4,000 for a government
building and exhibit, while the Nebraska
is working to secure a like
recognition for the Omaha exposition.
An act W as passed to validate the acts
IF deputy marshals in the Indian terri
.ory sworn between March l, 1895, and
April Is, 1896, Then the law was defec-
i've an act providing heavy penalties
FOR selling intoXiCants to Indians; an act
the secretary of the interior
20 use the abandoned Fort Bidwell in
"a lifornia for an Indian training school,
md one to enable the town of Flagstaff,
Ari., to issue $65,OOO per cent bonds to
construct a water system.
Right of way has been granted the
duskogee (Okla.) and Western railroad
through the territory, and Oklahoma
md Eastern Nebraska and Gulf Rail
DAD company through the Omaha and
Indian reservations in Ne
'raska.
To Remove Mayors Appointments.
Lowell Mass, March 3.-Both branches
( the city council met last night with a
urpose. so far as the Republicans were
oncerned. to remove the mayors re-
ent appolntees to public offices. This
ower is given by the new charter signed
week or more ago by the governor
he common council gave . solid Re
ublican vote in favor of the removals.
nd if the aldermen had done likewise
he matter would have been settled.
ut Alderman Howe (RepD. the senior
lember and chairman of the board.
afused to act as chairman while Mayor
who was present and declined ,
} leave the chamber. remained and
his defeated the unanimous party