Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-03-04
WORK OF CONGRESS.
A Summary of the Most Important
Legislation This Session.
CUBA QUESTION TOOK MUCH TINE.
Several Important Bills In the Presidents
Hands Awaiting His signature. Among
Them Being the Immigration Bill
Many Pension Bill Passed.

pdSStu ny tHc StHdtc. MUCH VI Vic
time Of that body has been consumed
in the discussion of the Cuban ques-
ton. Necessarily, the policy Of the
house to avoid new legislation which
involved expenditures has been en-
forced upon the senate. The Nicara-
qua canal bill, which was discussed at
great length in the senate, but not
voted on, was not taken up in the
house, nor has the free homes bill,
which the senate passed. had hear
ing at the other end of the capitol.
The Pacific railroad funding bill met a
decisive defeat in the house. One fea-
ture Of the session worthy of note is
the great number of private pension
bills passed, many Of them placing the
widows of officers on pension rolls at
ratings ranging from $50 to $75 a
month. Several important bills are in
the presidents hands awaiting his &C.
ton, foremost among them the immi-
grafton bill.
The anti-scalping bill may be sub
mitted to the executive soon, and since
Senator Chandler has given notice that
he will move that the senate accept
house amendment 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 the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Co.
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
ficted, a movement to which Gen. Cur
tbs, of New York, has devoted the best
efforts Of his congressional career.
After years Of agitation 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, criminal assault,
treason or piracy, and endowed juries
with the power to stipulate whether or
not capital punishment shall be in
ficted for these crimes
An agitation by dramatists, compos-
ers and theatrical managers has result
ed in securing law at this session
fixing heavy penalties for public per-
formances Of copyrighted dramatic or
musical compositions.
The interstate commerce laws have
been extended to prevent traffic in OBJ
scene literature of articles designed
for immoral uses. The shipping laws
have been amended to enable yachts
belonging to American or foreign clubs
to enter or clear from the customs
houses without tonnage taxes. All
persons who make signal exertions in
rescuing 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 Cen
tennial exposition of 1897 have succeed
ed in securing an appropriation Of
$40, 900 for government building and
exhibit, while the Nebraska delegation
is working to secure a like recognition
for the Omaha exposition. One of the
most important pieces of public land
legislation permits the patenting Of
lands containing petroleum or other
mineral oils, under the mineral land
laws. Another extends to January l.
1899, the time in which purchases may
be made of the railroad grant lands
forfeited to the government under the
act of 1890, and another confirms cash
entries which have been declared in
valid because the lands entered were
never offered for sale. Other acts con-
firm the titles of settlers in Greor coun-
ty, Ok; Mississippi settlers on swamp
lands in the. grants of the Mobile &
Ohio railroad and settlers on some S0,-
600 acres i'll Louisiana.
Among the acts Of the session re-
lating to the courts were these: With
drawing from the supreme court juris-
diction of criminal cases not capital
and giving it to the circuit court of APP
peals; directing the fling of mortgages
on Indian territory property in the ju-
dicial district in which the property is
located when the mortgagor is nom
resident; attaching Audrain county to
the eastern judicial district of Mis-
souri,.
An act was passed to validate the
acts of deputy marshals in the Indian
territory sworn between March l., 1895,
and April Is, 1896, when the law was
defective; an act providing heavy PEN
alties for selling intoxicating liquors
to Indians.
Military acts were passed authoriz-
izing officers who served in the regular
army during the rebellion to bear the
official title and on ceremonial occa-
sions wear the uniform of their rank;
for issuing certificates of service to
of the military telegraph
corps for the state of Colorado to use
the Fort Lyon military reservation for
a soldiers home; to permit the ap-
pointment as medical officers of SOL
diers' homes of other than those who
haze been disabled in the military
service.
Life saving stations have been pro-
vided for at Point Arena, CAL; Great
Bears Head, N. H., and one on the.
coast between Fenwick is
land and Ocean City. A survey has
been authorized for water route from