New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

Grants majority OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1870
ELECTORAL VOTE.
For Ulysses S; Grant Rep). .,;....;;...i.:: 800
For Horace Greeley none tMr Greeley
For Thomas 4 Hendrc<s dem. ........... A
For T. Gratz Brown (LiberaD ........-...-. ID
scattering
G G2shr, majoiii; over aii:::::::::: q
PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION.
The third session Of the XLIId Congress be-
gan December 2. 1872 ending March 4. ND.
Its composition:
Senate-Republicans 3d. Democrats. II; Lib
eral Republicans >; total. "A.
House-James G. Blaine Rep), Of Maine.
Speaker; Republicans. 134; Democrats, lOi;
Liberal Republicans. .. total 243
President Grants Message dealt with routine
public topics chiefly. reduction Of the public
debt to the amount of S99.960.0O0 during The
year was reported. Ku-Kux disorders in the
South had been much suppressed. The Presl-
dent reported that rules had been adopted for
examinations for appointment in the Civil Ser
vice and he promised to carry them out faith
fully but asked Congress to pass law on the
subject in order to make Civil Service Reform
binding his successors.
The important laws Of this session were'
An act abolishing the franking privilege. APP
proved January 81, 1873 II was passed by he
publican votes in both houses.
The famous act revising the coinage law J. nx-
ipg the gold dollar as 2.I.S grains OF standard
gold; dropping the old silver dollar out OF com.
age; providing for the silver trade dollar OF ~
grains; specifying what subsidiary ana olhsr
coins should thereafter be minted; and Gener-
ally revising the laws relative to the Mi Is and
Assay offices. This bill had passed the senate
in the previous Congress; it was now passed py
the House in this Congress. and sent TO the Sen
ate and being then again passed, II went 10 lhe
President, who signed it February u, 1913 The
trade dollar was authorized by this law, IN o'ut
to provide for the coinage OF the prouuct OF me
American silver mines. and the expectation OF
the same to China and other Asiatlc countries
in payment of trade balances: me various
regulations Of the bill were fully and ably as
cussed in both houses but without any mention
of the discontinuance Of the coinage OF me ola
standard silver dollar which was then resaroeu
as of so little importance as not 10 can lot coin
nent Both parties voted for the Dill WINCH
however, was not in any way the subject OF
controversy. -, ,..o,
revenue system Approved December n. ls'2
An act forbidding the sale Of obscene htera,
tire and articles for immoral use Approved
March 3, 1913 ,,,., ,,o mansion,
laws and increasing the rates for various severe
snecidc disabilities, loss Of limbs. etc. Ap-
proved March >. 1913 80. -,o,
In transit in cars or vessels. by ordering that
they should not be carried more than twenty
eight hours without unioadIne !1f ,i,,,or on
An act encouraging the growth OF timber on
weeterr prairies by giving 100 acres free 10
any settler who should plant and keep IN d
healthy condition forty acres OF t4ihpe' ioi 'e"
Years. Approved March 3. 1910
THE SALARY GRAB"
A remarkable act OF this session. one Oh Tue
follies Of Congress. for which both parties were
severely censured by the country, was law APP
proved March 3. 1873. increasing salaries as
follows from March 4. 1913; The President
then S25 900. to $4,000 year; the Vice-Presi-
dent TO $1,000: the Chief Justice OF the ~
nrenna Court then $500, to $4,000; the JUS
tees Of the Supreme Court then so'VVV' u
SO 600; the Cabinet officers, then so"" u
SO 900: the Assistant Secretaries tc So'oVo 'he
Speaker Of the House. $1,000 senators anu
Renresenta,ives then receiving $1,000 a year,
were to have $500 each including the mem
bers Of the Congress which passed the bill. !
Mileage and allowances for stationery etc., were
abolished. The frankng privilege had been
q polished earlier in the session Tie story VI
this bill is follows II was an ainehoiheh'
to, and a part OF. the regular Legislative Elk
ecutive and Judicial Appropriation Dill oh
January n, 1873 Smith Ely Dem. ~ ID OF
fered a resolution in the House instructihs ''e
] Judiciary Committee to examine the question Oh
official salaries and report. When the Legs
lative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation
bill v as reported. no change whatever had peeh
made In salaries IL passed the House. anu
went to the Senate In the Senate. MI Hi
Rep. Ga) moved to increase the salaries OF
Senators and Representatives TO Ss,OU year
Mr. Morrill, (Rep., VT moved that the question
II an increase be submitted 10 the people OF the
United States at the next Congress election. ana
hat Congress follow the verdict OF the people