assistant engineer in charge of a watch on vessels propelled wholly or in part by steam; and after January 1, 1897, no person shall be qualified to hold a license as a comr ander or watch officer of a merchant vessel of the United States who is not a native-born citizen, or whose naturalization as a citizen shall not have been fully completed.

"No master, mate, pilot, or engineer of steam vessels licensed under title 52 of the Revised Statutes shall be liable to draft in time of war, except for the performance of duties such as are required by his license; and, while performing such duties in the service of the United States, every such master, mate, pilot, or engineer shall be entitled to the highest rate of wages paid in the merchant marine of the United States for similar services; and, if killed or wounded while performing such duties under the United States, they, or their heirs, or their legal representatives shall be entitled to all the privileges accorded to soldiers and sailors serving in the Army and Navy, under the pension laws of the United States."

JOINT RESOLUTIONS.

ALASKA. Appropriating $75,000 to defray the joint expenses of the International Commission engaged in locating the boundary line between the Territory of Alaska and British North America. February 20, 1896.

INCOME TAX.-Directing the immediate destruction of all income tax returns and copies thereof, with all statements and records thereto in possession of the Treasury Department. April 6, 1896.

MEDALS OF HONOR.-Authorizing the issue to holders of medals of honor a rosette or knot, to be worn in lieu of the medal, and a ribbon to be worn with the medal; and provided, that a new ribbon may be issued without charge whenever the original issued has been lost, destroyed or rendered unfit for use. May 2, 1896.

NAVY.-Extending the benefits of honorable discharges, and of three months' pay upon re-enlistment after honorable discharge, to all enlisted persons in the Navy. June 11, 1890.

NAVY.-Authorizing the acceptance of the Ammen ram Katahdin. January 4, 1896.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGES.-Directing the distribution of the "Messages and Papers of the Presidents," published by resolution of Congress. April 30, 1896.

SEALS.-Authorizing a scientific investigation of the fur-seal fisheries on the Pribilof, Commander and Kurile Islands, and appropriating $5,000 therefor. June 8, 1896.

SEED DISTRIBUTION.-"That the Secretary of Agriculture be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to purchase and distribute valuable seeds for the year 1896, as has been done in preceding years; and as the public exigency requires that the valuable seeds, bulbs, trees, shrubs, vines, cuttings and plants, to be purchased may be ready for distribution at the earliest possible date, the Secretary of Agriculture is hereby directed to procure them by open purchase or contract at the places and in the manner in which such articles are usually bought and sold: Provided, That the said Secretary shall not,

in said purchase, pay more than a reasonable and fair price for such commodities or for any of them." Passed March 3, 1896. Became a law without approval of President.

TENNESSEE EXPOSITION.-Authorizing foreign exhibitors at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, to be held in Nashville, Tenn., in 1897, to bring to this country foreign laborers from their respective countries for the purpose of preparing for and making their exhibits, and allowing articles imported from foreign countries for the sole purpose of exhibition at said exposition to be imported free of duty, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. May 18, 1896.

UTAH.-Authorizing and directing the Governor and Secretary of the Territory of Utah to deliver to the Governor and Secretary of State of Utah, the safes, desks and all furniture and fixtures of their respective offices and all property of like character, belonging to the United States, including that held by the Utah Commission. January 4, 1896.

WORLD'S FAIR MEDALS AND DIPLOMAS.-An act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to distribute the medals and diplomas of the World's Columbian Exposition to the several exhibitors entitled thereto; but in case any of the exhibitors cannot be found, then, in every such case, such medals and diplomas shall be retained by the Secretary of the Treasury until they are called for by the exhibitors entitled thereto, or by persons authorized to receive the same. March 13, 1896.

WAR RECORDS.-Authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Navy to send the undistributed copies of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, both of the Union and of the Confederate navies, to such libraries, orgonizations and individuals, as may be designated before the meeting of the next Congress by the Representatives in the LXIVth Congress of the districts whose Representatives in the LXIIId Congress failed to designate the distributees of their quota of said official records or any part thereof as authorized by Congress. January 30, 1896.

CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS.

ARMENIAN OUTRAGES.

A concurrent resolution of Congress was passed by the Senate on January 24, and by the House on January 27, 1896, which read as follows:

"Whereas, The supplementary treaty of Berlin, of July 13, 1878, between the Ottoman Empire and Great Britain, Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Russia, contains the following provisions:

"The Sublime Porte undertakes to carry out without further delay the ameliorations and reforms demanded by local requirements in the provinces inhabited by the Armenians, and to guarantee their security against the Circassians and Kurds. It will periodically make known the steps taken to this effect to the Powers, and will superintend their application.

"The Sublime Porte having expressed the wish to maintain the principle of religious liberty, to give it the widest scope,

the contracting parties take note of this spontaneous declaration. In no part of the Ottoman Empire shall difference of religion be alleged against an individual as a ground for exclusion or incapacity as regards the discharge of civil and political rights, admission to the public service, functions and honors, and the exercise of the different professions and industries. All persons shall be admitted, without distinction of religion, to give evidence before the tribunals. Liberty and the outward exercise of all forms of worship are assured to all, and no hindrance shall be offered either to the hierarchical organization of the various communions their relations with their spiritual chiefs. The right of official protection by the diplomatic and consular agents of the Powers in Turkey is recognized both as regards the above-mentioned persons and their religious, charitable and other establishments in the holy places; and

or to

"Whereas the intent and object of the above cited provisions of said treaty are to place the Christian subjects of the Porte under the protection of the other signatories thereto, and to secure to such Christian subjects full liberty of religious worship and belief, the equal benefit of the laws, and all the privileges and immunities belonging to any subject of the Turkish Empire; and

"Whereas by said treaty the Christian Powers, parties thereto, having_established, under the consent of Turkey, their right to accomplish and secure the above-recited objects; and

"Whereas the American people, in common with all Christian people everywhere, have be held with horror the recent appalling outrages and massacres of which the Christian population of Turkey have been made the victims; therefore,

"Resolved by the Senate of the United States (the House of Representatives concurring) That it is an imperative duty, in

the

the interest of humanity, to express earnest hope that the European concert brought about by the treaty referred to may be speedily given its just effect in such decisive measures as shall stay the hand of fanaticism and lawless violence, and as shall secure to the unoffending Christians of the Turkish Empire all the rights belonging to them both as men and Christians and as beneficiaries of the explicit provisions of the treaty above recited.

"Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate these resolutions to the Governments of Great Britain, Germany, Austria, France, Italy and Russia.

"Resolved further, That the Senate of the United States, the House of Representatives concurring, will support the President in the most vigorous action he may take for the protection and security of American citizens in Turkey, and to obtain redress for injuries committed upon the persons or property of such citizens."

CUBAN WAR.

"Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring). That, in the opinion of Congress, a condition of public war exists between the Government of Spain and the Government proclaimed and for some time maintained by force of arms by the people of Cuba; and that the United States of America should maintain a strict neutrality between the contending Powers, according to each all the rights of belligerents in the ports and territory of the United States.

"Resolved further, That the friendly offices of the United States should be offered by the President to the Spanish Government for the recognition of the independence of Cuba."

Passed the Senate February 28, 1896. Passed the House of Representatives April 6, 1896.

Departments.

Agricultural

$3,303,750 00

LIVth Congress. Laws 1896-97.

Army

$3,255,532 00

Diplomattic and consular)

23,252,608 09

23,278,402 73

1,574,458 76

District of Columbia.... Fortification

1,642,558 76

5,900,319 48

2,210,055 00

7,377,888 00

8,762,751 24 21,891,718 08

7,390,496 79

Military Academy.

21,519,324 71

Navy

Pension

Postoffice

432,556 12 22,104,061 38 a180,681,074 85 84,004,314 22

River and Harbor.

b

Grand totals.....

Total by Congress.....$1,027,104,547 92

464,261 66 29,416,245 31

449,525 61

30,562,660 95

141.381.570 00 89,545,997 86

141,328,580 00

92,571,564 22

f12,659,550 00

e46,568,160 40| 9,825,374 82 297,667 37

33,096,710 19

g15,341,911 07

416,010 06

would have had its full representation in the Senate. During the session two Democrats, one a member of the Senate and the other a member of the House, were removed by death. Upon the death of the member of the House, Mr. Stege, a Republican, refused to vote until the vacancy should be filled, thus preserving the tie. Upon the death of the Senator the Speaker ruled that it would take a majority of both Houses (70 votes) to elect, hence the death of the Senator did not bring about the required strength for the Republican candidate. One of the Populists, Poor, held the key to the situation, and, although he started out by supporting the Republicans, he soon cut loose, after which he became what he himself termed a free-lance, voting at first for Blackburn and then for some one else. There culminated the most bitter partisan feelings, especially when the Democrats in the Senate attempted to unseat two of the Republicans. During the last week of the Legislature some of the Blackburn sympathizers became very desperate and assaulted some of the Senators, and took possession of the doors of the House for the purpose of intimidation and interfering with the procedings. The Governor was informed that there were threats of violence and bloodshed, and for the security of the lives and the property of the citizens he called out the militia on March 14, and it guarded the State Capitol until after the Legislature adjourned on March 17. There were fiftytwo ballots taken from beginning to end. The following gives the figures from day to day, except on those days when there was no material change:

or more votes for several days, Pharr and Blackman dropping out of the race. On May 28, after ten days of balloting, Blanchard and Price withdrew and threw all their strength to ex-Governor Samuel D. McEnery, who was elected by a majority of three votes over Denegre.

MARYLAND.

The election for the successor of Charles H. Gibson (Dem.) for the term from March 4, 1897, began in the joint session of the Legislature on January 14, 1896. The complexion of the Legislature was: Senate, 12 Republicans, 14 Democrats; House, 70 Republicans and 21 Democrats. There were eight ballots taken. On the first ballot it stood: George L. Wellington (Rep.), 25; C. T. Westcott (Rep.), 18: P. L. Goldsborough (Rep.), 14; J. Č. Milliken (Rep.), 7; A. L. Dryden (Rep.), 7: S. E. Mudd (Rep.), 1; R. P. Dixon (Rep.). 1; H. C. Forbeyt (Rep.), 1: J. W. Smith (Dem.), 21; S. M. Henry (Dem.), 9. The final ballot, on January 22, resulted in the election of Wellington, the ballot standing as follows: Wellington, 63; Goldsborough, 1; Smith, 23; John R. Pattison (Dem.), 7; James E. Ellegood (Dem.), 1.

MISSISSIPPI.

The Democrats of the Legislature held caucuses which continued for three weeks before they could decide on a candidate for United States Senator, and on the twentieth ballot Representative Hernando De Soto Money was chosen. The Legislature took a joint ballot on the following day, with this result: Money, 166: Burkitt (Pop.), 2. The Legislature was almost wholly Democratic.

OHIO.

Joseph B. Foraker (Rep.) was elected on January 15, 1896, for the full term of six years from March 4, 1897, to succed Calvin S. Brice (Dem.), the vote being as follows: Foraker, 116; Brice, 27; Blandin (Dem.), 1: Thomas (Dem.), 1; Neal (Dem.), 1; Kagy (Dem.), 1; Groot (Pop.), 1.

POLITICAL MISCELLANY, 1896.

INDIANA.

The Congressional Apportionment Act, passed over the Governor's veto on March 5, 1895, was declared to be unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court on January 30, 1896. The Act of 1893 was also declared void. The Court held that the provision of the State Constitution providing that an apportionment shall be made every six years, upon the basis of the sexennial enumeration, is mandatory. On March 31 a suit was brought in the Supreme Court to decide whether the Apportionment Act of 1885 was valid, and the Court rendered a decision on May 15 sustaining the act. This leaves the law of 1885 in force until the Legislature makes other provisions.

NEW-JERSEY.

There were 668 bills introduced in the Legislature of 1896, but not more than 15 per cent were enacted int laws. Among the successful bills was one ceding to the United States jurisdiction over lands adjoining the Palisades for a mil

itary

and

National park. Another bill that became a law permits township authorities to grant a rebate of taxes to all those using wagons with tires four inches wide. A bill was passed that the Constitution be amended to provide for biennial instead of annual sessions of the Legislature; that the terms of the seven Senators elected in 1896 shall be extended so as to be four years each; the six to be elected in 1897 must be divided equally by lot into two classes, the terms of three of whom shall be for three years each; their terms will thus expire at the same time as those elected in 1896, making ten in all to terminate together; the terms of the other three Senators elected in 1897 will be for five years, terminating at the same time as the terms of the eight Senators to be elected in 1898, who shall serve for four years. This will make eleven whose terms end at the same time. Thereafter all Senators will be elected for four years; that is, ten at one time, and eleven two years thereafter.

Members of Assembly to be elected in 1898 and thereafter will serve for two years. Another constitutional amendment voted by the Legislature provides for an entire change of the judiciary of the State. Both of these amendments must be acted upon by the Legislature of 1897, and if adopted, must go to the people for ratification at the next regular election, and if they receive a majority vote they become laws of the State.

NEW-YORK.

The Legislature amended the Ballot Iaw, increasing the number of signatures to make an independent State nomination from 3,000 to 6,000, and requiring the signatures of at least fifty persons in each county. Another provision makes the days of registration in New-York City and Brooklyn the same as all other cities in the State.

Another law enacted abolished the School Trustees system, and substituted therefor a system of management by a capable Educational Board.

The bill requiring the elevated railroads to substitute electricity or gas in their cars for the dingy and bad-smelling oil lamps so long used became a law.

The Reciprocity Insurance law directs the Superintendent of Insurance to cancel the authority of foreign insurance companies to do business in this State, if authority has been refused to any American company to do insurance business in the country where such foreign companies were incorporated.

Another law, which went into effect on September 1, 1896, amended the Penal Code in relation to prize fights. It pro

or

vides that "a person who, within this State, engages in, instigates, aids, encourages or does any act to further a contention, or fight without weapons. between two or more persons, or a fight commonly called a ring or prize fight, either within or without the State, who engages in a public or private sparring exhibition, with or without gloves, within the State, at which an admission fee is charged or received, either directly or indirectly, or who sends or publishes a challenge or acceptance of a challenge for such a contention, exhibi

79

Other laws enacted amend the Mechanics' Lien law by giving the mechanic additional protection; regulate the employment of women and children in mercantile establishments; provide better sanitary conditions in bakery shops; amend the sweatshop law; abolish contract labor in the State prisons after January 1, 1897, provide that prisoners shall work not to exceed eight hours a day, and provide that no prisoners from outside the State shall be received in any of its penal institutions.

are

EXCISE.-The Raines Excise law, which was passed by the Legislature of 1896, was signed by the Governor on March 23. It provided that all local Excise Boards should be abolished on April 30, and created in place of them a State Excise Commissioner, at a salary of $5,000, a deputy at $4,500, a secretary, financial clerk, necessary clerical assistance and special deputies and collectors. A special deputy was provided for NewYork City at a salary of $4,000, one for Brooklyn at $3,000, and one for Buffalo at $2,000. Sixty collectors at a salary of $1,200 each were provided for. All are to receive expenses. The collectors termed confidential agents. All licenses in existence were revoked on June 30. Of the new revenue collected, one-third goes to the State and two-thirds to counties. County Treasurers get from 1 to 3 per cent for handling collections. There are four grades of licenses, one for saloons and retail places, one for storekeepers, one for drug stores, and one for cars and steamboats in transit. The bond must be twice the cost of the license. The bond and the license and the fee are forfeited if gambling is permitted or other provisions of the license are violated, such as by selling to a drunkard, selling to a minor, selling in illegal hours, permitting a woman to sell, or selling adulterated liquor. In addition to this forfeiture there is a penalty of $500 or imprisonment for one year, or both.

The rates for licenses are: New-York, first-class, hotel, restaurant, saloon, store or club, $800; storekeepers' license, $500; druggists, $100; steamboat or train license, $200. Brooklyn, first, $650; second, $400; third, $75. Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Troy, first, $500; second, $309; third, $50. Utica, Amsterdam, Auburn and cities of that size, first, $350; second, $200; third, $30. Hudson, Batavia, Canandaigua and cities of that size, first, $300; second, $100; third, $20. Places of under 5,000 and more than 1,200 inhabitants, first, $200; second, $75; third, $15. All other places, first, $100; second, $50; third, $10. Some other provisions of the law are: Free lunches prohibited;