The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-03-03
A CurtaiIment Of the Expenditures
of Public Money Is The Object
of Speaker Reed snd the
Other Republican Leaders. What
Has Been Accomplished.


ton which compelled great expendi-
lures of public money should be enacted
during the session. They felt compelled
to adopt this policy because of the con-
dition of the treasury and they have
generally adhered to it, although tn
regular appropriation bills for the aid of
the government have brought the total
appropriations for this congress far be-
yond the billion mark, breaking the
record of former congresses.
Many of the appropriations, notably
those for river and harbor improve
ments and for public buildings, were
necessary to continue works authorized
by other congresses. No public build
ings have been started by this congress
and no new battleships or vessels of any
description, although the creation of a
"new navy" begun several years ago,
has by no means been abandoned The
intention of the house leaders at the be-
ginning of the session was to confine
the work so far as possible to the appro-
priation bills, and they have been sue
cessful i'll living up to their policy.
These bills, moreover. have been cum
bered with fewer new projects and less
general legislation than usual.
The last week of the session begins
with several of the appropriation bills
not yet passed by the senate. Much of
the time of that body has been consumed
in the discussion of the Cuban question,
which the house has dealt with only in
cidentally Necessarily the policy of
the house to avoid new legislation which
involved expenditures has been enforced
upon the senate. The Nicaragua canal
bill, which was discussed at great length
i'll the senate but not voted on. was not
taken up III the house, nor has the free
home bill, which the senate passed. had
hearing at the other end of the
Capitol. The Pacific railroad fund
ing bill met decisive defeat in the
house, so the senate found it useless to
discuss that proposition.
One feature of the sessions record
worthy of note is the great number of
private pension bills passed, many of
them placing the widows of officers on
the pension rolls at ratings ranging
from $50 to $40 q month Private
claims and war claims on the other
hand have been few. Several of the
pension bills We're vetoed by President
Cleveland, bat congress enacted some of
these despite the veto by the necessary
two'thirds majority.
Several important bills are in the
presidents hands awaiting his action,
foremost among them the immigration
bill which establishes an educational
test for immigrants and bars out labor
ers who maintain their homes in other
countries.
The anti-scalping bill may be submit
ted to the executive for his action with
III 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 authorizing the
president to call an international none.
tary conference, it is likely that Presi-
dent Cleveland will be given an oppor-
tunity to sign his name to that The
bill for the reorganization of the Allan
tic and Pacific Railroad company is also
on the presidents desk.
One act written upon the statute
books this session is noteworthy as be-
ing the work practically of one man.
That is the act to reduce the cases in
which the penalty of death may be in
flicted, movement to which General
Curtis of New York has devoted the
hest efforts of his congressional career.
The abolition of the death penalty has
been a long cherished enthusiasm with
General Curtis now after years of agi-
tation of the subject he has succeeded
in erasing from the statute books all
United States laws imposing the death
penalty for other crimes than murder,
rape, treason or piracy. and endowed
juries with the power 10 stipulate
whether or not capital punishment shall
be inflicted for these crimes
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 amend
ed to enable yachts belonging to Amer
lean or foreign clubs to enter or clear
from customs houses without ton.
mage tlxes. also to require naphtha
or electric boats of more than Is tons
burden to be subjected to all the re.
quirements for inspections and for pilots
and engineers A new law compels
the name and draft of every registered
vessel to be marked on the stern and
bow. New regulations have been made
Tor the compensation OF inspectors of
steam vessels for their travelling ex-
penses. All persons who make signal
exertions in rescuing wrecked ship or
drowning person are, under a law OF
this session, eligible for the lifesaving
medals, which formerly were given only
TO the lifesaving crew men
The friends of the Tennessee centen-
NAL exposition of 1897 have succeeded
in securing am appropriation of $40, 900
for government building and exhibit.
while the Nebraska delegation is work.
ing to secure "A like recognition for 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. 1.
1899, the time in which purchases may
be made Of the railroad grant lands for
feited TO the government under the act
OF 1890 and another confirms cash en-
tries which have been declared invalid
because the lands entered were never
offered for sale. ether acts confirm the
titles OF settlers in Greer count, o. t.,
Mississippi settlers on swamp lands in
the brants Of the Mobile and Ohio rail.
road ard settlers on some $4,000 acres
in Louisiana
Among the acts Of the session relat-
ing TO the courts were these Fixing
the fees IN the circuit court Of appeals
Withdraw ny- from. the supreme court