The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-01
RESUME OF THE SESSION.
In Spite of Economy Appropriations
Exceed the BiIIiOn-DOIlar Mark.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2s.-Speaker Reed
and the other Republican leaders OF the
House entered upon the final session OF
the Fifty-fourth Congress with the avowed
determination that no legislation which
compelled great expenditures of public
money should be enacted during the ses-
sion. They felt compelled to adopt this
policy because of the condition OF the treas
ury, and they have generally adhered to it,
although the regular appropriation bills
for the support of the government have
brought the total appropriations OF this
Congress far beyond the billion mark,
breaking the record of former Congresses.
Many of the appropriations notably those
for river and harbor Improvements and for
public buildings. were necessary TO con-
tinue works authorized by other Con-
crosses No public buildings have been
started by this Congress, and no new bat
tie ships or vessels Of any description, al
though the creation of new navy" begun
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 ais possible, TO
the appropriation bills, and they have bee N
successful in living up TO their policy.
These bills, moreover, have been numbered
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 incidentally.
Necessarily the policy of the House TO
avoid new legislation which involved ex-
fhn Srfa-
ate. The Nicaragua 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-home bill which the
Senate passed had a hearing at the other
end of the Capitol The Pacific Railroad
funding bill met a decisive defeat in the
House, so the Senate found II useless To
discuss that proposition. one feature OF
the sessions record worthy of note Is the
great number of private pension oiils
passed, many OF them placing the widows
of officers on the pension rolls at ratings
claims and war claims, on the other hand,
have been few. Several OF the pension Dilis
were vetoed by President Cleveland, but
Congress enacted some OF these despite
the veto by the necessary two-thirds ma
jority. Several important bills are In the
most among them the immigration bill,
which establishes an educational test Tor
mainfain 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 viii move that the
Senate accept the House amendments TO
the bill authorizing the President TO call
an international monetary conference, IL Is
likely that President Cleveland VIII be
given an opportunity 10 sign his name to
that The bill for the reorganization Of
the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Company Is
also on the Presidents desk.
LIMITING DEATH PENALTY.
One act written on 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
deyoed the best efforts OF his congressional
career. The abolition of the death penalty
has been a long-cherished enthusiasm with
General Curtis. Now after years of agita-
ton 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
TO stipulate whether or not capital punish
ment shall be inflicted for these crimes
An agitation by dramafists, composers
and theatrical managers has resulted in Sc
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