Evening star., 1897-07-26
EXTRA SESSION LEGISLATION
Comparatively Little Done Beyond Passing
the Tariff Bill.
Relief of Americans in Cuba and the
Sufferers 10y Fiond-Dcfeat of
Arbitration Treaty.

i'here was little Legislation by the special
session of Congress just closed. 1t was
called to pass a tariff BILL and the House
declined TO enter upon ether general legis-
lation.
Three days after the session opened the
tariff bill was reported to the House by
the ways ami means committee and thir-
teen days later. March Il. it passed the
House. 1t went to the Senate, was re-
ferred to tine committee on finance and
the republican members of that committee
spent month and three days in its con-
sideration and in preparing the amend
ments which were submitted 10 the Senate
May /. Its consideration was begun in
the Senate May 4. and exactly two months
later, July 4. it passed the Senate with 81
anEe I:dmenJs. The bill then went to con-
ference, where. after a ten-day struggle, on
July Il, a complete agreement was reached
by which the Senate roceded from IFS
amendments ard the House from 511. The
others, 24:i in number, were compromised.
The conference report was adopted by the
House July IL at the conclusion of twelve
hours of continuous debate. The report
was taken UP in the Senate July ~ and
adopted Saturday. July -. The tariff bill
was signed hy the President the same day.
The four appropriation bills which failed
land on the 4th Of March last--the agricul-
tural. the Indian, the sundry civil and the
general deticiencS--were passed at this ses-
sion
These bills contained some legislation OF
Importance.
General Le=isIntion.
The republican leaders of the House de-
cited at the opening of the session to pur-
sue policy of inaction in order to throw
the responsibility for delaying the tariff
bill upon the Senate. and. therefore. the
committees were not announced until the
close of the session. and only urgent mat
ters were considered Fifty thousand dol
lars we.c appropriated for the relief of
american citizens in Cuba. at the solicita-
tlo5 of the President. S2p.t"D We're appro-
priated for the relief of the Mississippi
food sufferers; a resolution passed
authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to
transport supplies contributed for the relief
of the poor and furnishing in India, and
S1i.Wn were appropriated for the entertain
rnent and expenses OF the deiega ties to the
universal postal convention. which met in
his city The only extensive pieces of
general legislation enacted by this CON
gress, except the tariff bill. We're 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. ard the bill author
iZiHg the President TO suspend discriminate
ing duties on foreign vessels and COM
mcrCe.
Action by the Senate.
The Senate dealt with number of i'm
portant subjects, both in and out of execu-
tive session. one of these which attracted
universal attention, was the rejection of q
general arbitration treaty negotiated by
President Cleveland with Great Britain.
The Hawaiian treaty of annexation. ne
goidIei u; President Mckinley, was still
una ted upon when Congress adjourned.
in open session. after much debate. the
Senate passed the Cuban belliseTeucy reso-
luton. a bankruptcy bill. including both
voluntary and involuntary features and
the free homes" bill. But none of these
important questions received consideration
II. thc House.
The following minor bills ard joint reso-
buttons became laws. managing to escape
objection frcm any member: Authorizing
the Secretary of War to receive for in
struct.on at the Military Academy at West
Point Carlos Gutierrez OF Salvador; to
amend act entitled AN act 10 provide
for the entry OF lands in Greer county,
Oklahoma, to give preference rights to set
tiers. and for other purposes" approved
January Il. 1897; reappropriating $1,000
not expended for the relief of the MiSsis-
sippi Hood sufferers and for the flood
sufferers at FL Paso. Tex; authorizing
foreign exhibitors at the TRANSMITS
SissIppi and International exposition, to
Pc held in the city Of Omaha. Neb., during
the year 1S.tS. TO bring TO the United States
foreign laborers from their countries, re-
spectively. Ior the purpose of preparing for
AMI making exhibits: to provide for the
immediate repair of dry dock numbered
three at the New York navy yard. making
appropriation for the improvement Of the
Mississippi river from the head of the
passes TO the mouth OF the Ohio river. and
to supply deficiencies in appropriations for
the liScaI year ending June 80. 1897; and
three bills authorizing the construction of
bridges across the Pearl river, Miss; the
81. Louis river between Minnesota and
Wisconsin. and across the Clinch river,
Tenn.