The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-07-30
EXTRA SESSION.
General Review of Work Done
by Congress,

Bill-The Leading Appropriation Bills
Were Also Passed.
Washington, July 26.-Tne nxtraord-
mary session of congress, which has just
ended, was called by President Mckin-
ley two days niter he took the oath OF
office. 1t met in pursuance 70 this
proclamation at noon, March 10. The
special message transmitted by him to
BON houses on the opening day was
brief. 1t explained the deficiencies in
the revenues, reviewed the BOND issues
OF the last administration lnd urged
congress promptly to correct the then
existing conditions by passing a tariff
Dill that would supply ample revenues
Tor the support of the government and
the liquidation of the public debt. No
other subject of legislation was men
TONED in the message, and the tariff bill
has been the all-abSorbing feature of
the session.
The Republican members of the ways
and means committee of the preceding
house had worked throughout the short
session, which ended March 4, giving
hearings and preparing the bill which
was to be submitted at the extra session.
Three days after the session opened the
tariff bill was reported to the house by
the ways and means committee, and 10
days later March 81, 1884, it passed the
house. 1t went to the senate, referred
to the committee on finance and the Re-
publican members of that committee
spent a month and three days in it's con-
sideration and in preparing the amend
ments which were submitted to the SEN
ate May 4.
Its consideration was begun in the SEN |
ate May I, and exactly two months later,
July 7, it passed the senate with 872
amendments. The bill then went to con-
ference, where after a 10 days struggle |
on July II, a complete agreement was
reached by which the senate receded |
from 118 amendments and the house
from 81. The others, 243 in number,
were compromised. The conference re- .
port was adopted by the house July 10
al the conclusion of II hours of continu-
Gus debate. The report was taken up
in the senate July 20, and adopted
Saturday, July "a The tariff bill was
signed by the president the same day.
Congress lid not devote its attention
entirely to the tariff, though it did
subordinate everything else to this one
Four appropriation bills,
which failed on March last. in them
selves would have compelled President
to call congress in extra ses-
sion even if the necessity for revision
Of the tariff had not existed.
The appropriation bills were the sun
dry civil the agricultural, the Indian
and the general deficiency. These bills
were introduced and passed by the house
In the identical form in which they ex-
sted at the time of their failure of en-
lctment into law at the preceding con-
gress, but they were amended in some
important particulars by the senate,
and when they finally became laws con-
aimed mora or less legislation of interest
md Importance. The general deficiency
,arried rrCvision accepting the invi-
-ation TO take part In the Paris exposi-
ton In 1900, and appropriated $25, 900 to
defray the expenses and appropriated
$150,000 for new immigrant station at
New York to replace the one destroyed
by fire.
Price of Armor Plate Fixed.
By far the most important piece of
in the bill, however was that
limiting the cost of armor plates for the
three new battleships to 5000 per ton.
In case the secretary of the navy should
find it impossible to make contracts for
armor within the price fixed, he was
authorized by this provision to take
steps to establish a government armor
factory of sufficient capacity to make
the armor. In executing this authority
he must prepare description and plans
and specifications Of the land, buildings
and machinery suitable for the factory;
advertise for proposals and report to
congress at its next session.
In the sundry civil bill the most i'm
portant new provision was that suspend
inc the order OF President Cleveland .
setting aside about 21OOO.OOO acres as
forest reservation land. The law also
includes a general scheme of legislation
for the government and protection of .
the forest reservations of the country.
The Republican leaders of the house
decided at the opening of the session to |
pursue a policy of inaction in order to
throw the responsibility for delaying
the tariff bill upon the senate, and there
fore no committees were announced until .
the close of the session, and Cn.y urgent |
matters were considered.
Fifty tho. sand dollars were appro-
priated for the relief of American citi-
zens in Cuba at the solicitation of the .
president; 5000, 900 was appropriated for .
the relief of the Mississippi flood suf-
ferers: a resolution was passed author
izing the secretary of the navy to trans
yort supplies contributed for the relief .
of the poor and diminishing in India,
and $4,000 was appropriated for the en-
tertainment and expenses of the dele
gates to the universal postal convention,
who met in this city.
The only extensive pieces of general |
legislation enacted by this congress,
except the tariff bill, were the laws to
prevent collisions at sea and to place in .
force regulations to prevent collisions .
upon certain harbors, rivers and inland /
waters of the United States, and the bill .
the president to suspend .
discriminating duties on foreign vessels |
and commerce.
The senate not being confined as to the |
scope Of its legislation dealt with a num-
Der Of important subjects, both in and |
out of executive session. One of these, |
which attracted worldwide attention, .
was the general arbitration treaty ne
gotiated with Great Britain. After ex-
haustive consideration despite the great .
pressure brought to bear upon the senate .
by religious and commercial bodies .
the country, the senate re-
iected it The Hawaiian treaty of an /