The herald., 1897-03-01


foremost among them the immigration
bill. which establishes an educational
test for immigrants and bars out Ia
borers who maintain their homes In
other countries.
The anti-scalping bill may be sub
mitted to the executive for his action
within two or three days, and since
Senator Chandler has given notice that
he will move that the senate accept the
house amendments to the bill author
izing the president to call an interna-
tional monetary conference, 1t Is likely
that President Cleveland will be given
an opportunity to sign his name to that.
The bill for the reorganization Of At
lantic and Pacific Railroad company is
also on the presidents desk.
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 number OF cases in
which the death penalty for other crimes
than murder, rape, treason or piracy,
and endowed juries with the power To
stipulate whether or not capital pun
ishment shall be inflicted for these
crimes.
An agitation by dramatic composers
and theatrical managers has resulted
in securing law fixing heavy penal
ties for public performances of copy
righted dramatic or musical compost
tions, and empowering all United States
circuit courts to enforce the orders Of
any such court regarding these per-
formances
The interstate commerce laws have
been extended to prevent traffic in OBJ
scene literature. The shipping laws have,
been amended to enable yachts belong
ing to American or foreign clubs to en-
ter or clear without tonnage taxes; also
to require naphtha or electric boats of
more than fifteen tons burden to be
subjected to all requirements for in
spections and for pilots and engineers.
A new law compele the name and draft
of every registered vessel to be marked
on the stern and bow. New regulations
have been made for the compensation
of inspectors of steam vessels for their
travelling expenses. All persons who
make signal exertions In rescuing a
wrecked ship or a drowning person are.
under law of this session. eligible for
the life saving medals, which formerly
were given only to the life saving crew
men.
The friends of the Tennessee centen-
nial exposition of 1897 have succeeded
in securing an appropriation OF $4,000
for an exposition, while the Nebraska
delegation is working to secure a like
recognition for the Omaha exposition
One of the most important pieces of pub
lie land legislation permits the patent
ing OF lands containing petroleum or
other mineral oils under the mineral
land laws. Another extends to January
/, 1899, the time in which purchases may
be made of the railroad grant lands for
feited to the government under the act
of $780, and another confirms cash en-
tries which have been declared invalid
because the lands entered were never
offered for sal.
Among tn acts of the session relating
to the courts were these: Fixing the
fees in the circuit court of appeals.
withdrawing from the supreme court
jurisdiction of crimes not capital and
giving it to the circuit court of appeals
An act was passed providing heavy
penalties for selling Intoxicating liquors
to Indians; an act authorizingg the sec
'retary OF the interior to use the aban-
doned Fort Bidwell in California for
an Indean training school, and one to
enable the town of Flagstaff. Ariz, to
issue $4,000 six per cent bonds to con-
struct a water system
Military acts were passed authorizing
the comforting on officers Of the regular
army of the highest brevet rank held by
them in the volunteer service; to au-
thorize officers who served in the regular
army during the rebellion to bear the
official title and on ceremonial occasions
to wear the uniform of their rank; for
issuing certificates of service to mem
bers of the military telegraph corps;
for the state of Colorado to use the Fort
Lyon military reservation for soldiers
home; to permit the appointment as
medical officers of soldiers homes of
others than those who have been dis
abled in the military service.
A life saving station has been pro-
vided for at Point Arena, Mendocino
county. California. and as survey has.
been authorized for water route from
the mouth of the jetties at Galveston
through ship canal and up Buffalo
bayou to Houston.
Right Of way has been granted to the
Muscogee, Oklahoma and Western
railroad through the Indian territory
and Oklahoma and to the Eastern Ne
braska and Gulf railroad through the
Omaha and Winnebago Indian reserva-
tions In Nebraska.
THE LAST DAYS
But four more days remain of the Fiji
ty-fourth congress to wind up it's busi-
ness and make way for its successor.
The close of the session promises to be
no sensational incidents. for only rou-
tine business is possible. AS usual the
house awaits the end with a clean slate.
1t has finished It's work on the big ap-
preparation bills with which the senate
is now struggling. In the upper house
these four days will be found full Of
work. Indeed 1t is still uncertain
whether the senate will be able to dts
pose of the bills by noon of Thursday
next. There are four of the big appro-
priation measures to be voted on. Of
course, the naval bill and those making
appropriations for the District of Col
umbia may cause a prolonged debate.
The other two-the fortifications and
general deficiency bills-will go through
without trouble. Meanwhile the house
will. sit merely to receive and act upon
conference reports, with probably only
sessions Tuesday and Wednesday. 1t
will take skillful generalship. but the
senate leaders believe they will have the
slate clear on Thursday.
A very embarrassing complication
seems likely to arise over the unexpected
failure of the senate to confirm the NOM
ination of Levi T. Griffin as pension
agent at Detroit. Mich. Mr.. Griffin
was appointed during the last recess of
congress and In case the senate fails
to act his term of Office will expire on