The Senate has passed the House bill to provide for celebrating the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus. During its sojourn in the Senate Committee, the bill was enlarged by the insertion of a new Section providing for a naval review by the President, in New York harbor, and the unveiling of a statue to Columbus in Washington; but that part relating to the statue to Columbus was struck out by a vote of 28 to 27. The expense of the naval review is to be borne by the Government, and is not included in the $1,500,000 contribution from the National Treasury toward the expense of the celebration.

Price 5 Cents.

Devoted to the record of the facts and considerations which show that Individual Liberty is good for the people of the United States:

And that, therefore, Legislative Regulation is injurious for them.

The bill for the establishment of a National Zoological Park at Washington, has gone to the President for his signature. The District of Columbia is required to pay half the expense.

The Committee on foreign relations has reported an amendment to the Diplomatic Appropriation bill, giving the title of Ambassador to our Ministers to Great Britain, France, Germany and Russia without increase of salary. Other amendments provide that the salary of the Minister to Turkey shall be increased to $10,000; and of the Ministers to Denmark, Greece, Roumania and Servia to $7,500.

The Committee on Privileges, etc., has reported a Federal Elections bill, "to amend and supplement the election laws of the United States, and to provide for the more efficient enforcement of such laws and for other purposes."

The Special Committee on Meat Products has submitted its report, and offers four measures for the consideration of the Senate; first, a concurrent resolution asking the President to correspond with the British authorities with a view to bringing about a repeal or modification of the quarantine regulations now in force in England; second, a provision for a National Meat Inspection law, by which all live cattle for export shall be inspected by the Government, at the place of export, and all meat for export, at the place of slaughtering; third, a measure intended to prohibit monopoly of space in steamships carrying cattle to foreign countries; fourth, a measure intended to prevent the discrimination of railroads east from Chicago.

A bill for the admission of Arizona to the list of States has been introduced by Mr. Blackburn.

Mr. Ingalls has introduced a new bill, granting Pensions of six dollars a month to soldiers of the late war who served not less than three nor more than twelve months, eight dollars a month to those who served not less than a year nor more than 800 days, and one cent a day for each day's service to those who served more than 800 days. These benefits are to accrue to such soldiers only as have been unwilling, or unable, to accumulate $5,000 worth of property.

From the Committee on Private Land Claims has been reported a bill to establish a United States Land Court, to consist of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices, to hold office until the year 1895. The cost of this court will be $35,000 a year.

The Court is to have jurisdiction in settling claims to lands in New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and Nevada, and is to hold its sessions in the capitals of the States or Territories in which the land involved is situated, or in Washington, as the case may demand. Appeal may be made from the decision of this Court to the Supreme Court of the United States within six months from the decision. The cases to come before it shall be those only where the question is one between an individual and the United States; and no claim is to be allowed for land the right to which has been previously decided by Congress.

The Senate has passed what is known as the Land-Grant Forfeiture bill. The land hereby declared forfeited is that which has been granted to some companies as a second subvention, after the failure of the companies to complete their roads in the first instance.

The Customs Administration bill passed the Senate by a vote of 35 to 18.

The purpose is to prevent undervaluations, and to settle more promptly disputed questions that may arise. It provides, in addition to a stricter form of invoice and severer penalties for frauds, that the old system of local appraisers be abolished, and in their place nine general appraisers appointed. Three of these nine are to constitute a Board of Appraisal, to sit in New York City. An importer may appeal from the Collector's rating to the Board of Appraisal, and from the Board of Appraisal to the Circuit Court, where the decision is final, unless the judge of that Court permits appeal to the Supreme Court. The Attorney General may appeal in any case if he thinks proper. The act is to take effect July 1, 1890.

HOUSE.

The conference report on the bill to provide a temporary government for the Territory of Oklahoma, was adopted.

The bill to Pension prisoners of war was called up by Mr. Morrill, under a suspension of the rules, but failed to receive the necessary two-thirds vote, and was defeated.

The Committee on Invalid Pensions has authorized a favorable report on the Senate bill to increase the rate of pensions for certain cases of deafness. This bill provides that any soldier or sailor who served in the late war, and contracted diseases which have resulted in total deafness, shall be entitled to a pension of $40 a month, and for severe deafness an equitable proportion of the full pension, to be determined by the Secretary of the Interior.

As a substitute to the Dependent Pension bill, the House has passed the Morrill bill, socalled, by a vote of 179 to 70.

The bill as passed, gives a pension of $8 a month to any officer or enlisted man sixty years old or over, who served ninety days and received an honorable discharge. The pension is to begin at the date of the application, and continue for the life of the beneficiary. All persons, without regard to age, who served ninety days or more, and who do now, or who may hereafter, suffer from mental or physical ills, are to receive $8 a month as invalid pensioners. Pensions are also granted to the widows sixty years old, or without other means of support than their daily labor. It is estimated that the bill will add 450,000 names to the pension list, making in all 950,000 pensioners, at an annual expense of $150,000,000.

The Anti-Trust bill passed the House vote, with one dissenting voice.

The bill makes illegal any combination or "Trust" which restrains trade between the States or commerce with foreign countries, and provides that persons engaged in such combinations shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $5,000, or imprisonment for one year, or both. The same penalty applies to individuals convicted of trying to monopolize any branch of trade or commerce. The Circuit Courts are given jurisdiction in the matter, and district attorneys are instructed to institute proceedings. The property of the "Trusts," or of individuals, may be seized in transit from State to State, or to a foreign country. Persons injured by the "Trusts" may recover three times the damages they have sustained.

The bill for an International Copyright was defeated in the House. The vote was, yeas 98; nays 126.

A bill to amend the Interstate Commerce law was introduced in the Senate by Mr. Vest, providing that all express companies, incorporated or other, shall be placed under the provisions of that law; that they shall annually make a report to the Commission of their financial condition, including dividends paid, the amount they pay each railroad for transportation, their schedules of rates for freight, and their receipts from all sources.

Another bill to amend the Interstate Commerce Act has been introduced (Mr. Grosvenor). The amendment requires common carriers to transport car-load lots of petroleum products, cotton seed oil or turpentine, in wooden packages or barrels, at the same rates respectively as are charged for those products in tanks or cylinder cars, no charge to be made in either case for carrying the tanks, cylinders, wooden packages or barrels.

Presumably in the interest of the laboring man, a bill has been introduced (Mr. McConnell) which declares that no person employed by the Government as a laborer, shall receive less than $2 a day; and in the same vein another bill fixing eight hours as a day's work for all workmen employed by the Government, or by contractors for Government work. Another bill, introduced by Mr. Morrow, provides that contractors for public work shall give, in addition to the usual bond, one for the prompt payment of all obligations incurred by them for labor or materials.

Apparently in the opinion of Mr. Hall of Minnesota, the revenue is too small. He has introduced a bill to levy a tax, after January 1st next, varying from of 1 per cent to 1 per cent, on Incomes from whatever source the income may be derived.

The bill to classify Worsteds as Woollens, passed the House by a vote of 138 to 0, the Speaker counting a quorum.

The text of the bill is as follows: "That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and hereby is, empowered and directed to classify as woollen cloths all imports of worsted cloth, whether known under the name of worsted cloth, or under the names of worsteds or diagonals, or otherwise."

During the debate in regard to the legislative appropriation bill, a motion was made to strike out the entire Civil Service clause. In the discussion that followed, many conflicting opinions of the value and efficacy of the Civil Service law were expressed by members of both parties. The motion was lost by a vote of 61 to 120.

The Committee on Post-Offices, etc., has completed the Post-Office Appropriation bill for the fiscal year 1891. It carries an appropriation of $71,850,982, which is $5,245,638 more than the appropriation for the current year.

The Committee on Pacific Railroads has finished consideration of the details of the pending bill to secure the indebtedness of the Pacific railroads to the Government. The only amendment of importance, recently made, is that which extends from 75 to 100 years, the period allowed for renewal of the first mortgage bonds of the Central Pacific Company.

The Committee on Agriculture has acted favorably upon the Senate bill to provide for an Inspection of Meat to be exported, and to prohibit the importation of adulterated articles of food or drink. The bill also authorizes the President to issue a proclamation excluding all importations from any foreign country that discriminates against importations from the United States.

Mr. Bland, of Missouri, has introduced a bill to reduce taxes, by placing on the free list all imported goods exchanged in foreign countries for American farm products. The bill provides that in all cases where it can be shown by proof satisfactory to the Secretary of the Treasury, that any merchandise imported into the United States has been given abroad in exchange for farm products of this country, or has been bought with the proceeds of the sale of American farm products in foreign countries, such merchandise shall be imported free of duty. Mr. Bland seems to have foreseen the danger of the establishment abroad by American importers of branch houses for the sale of American farm produce, so he submits as part of his bill a proposition to levy a tax upon all incomes of $2,000 or over, to make good the deficiency in the revenue which may be thus caused.

The National strong box, which was recently shown to be so easily accessible, is to be made burglar proof, the House having passed the bill appropriating $333,500 to provide vaults for the security of the money in the custody of the Treasurer.

There is also a report to the effect that Mexico is prepared to retaliate in the matter of excluding the products of her mines. The Government has subsidized a company for the erection of five smelting works, so that its ores may be treated at home, thus depriving American smelting companies of part of their busi

ness.

STATE LEGISLATURES.

Massachusetts.-The House, by a vote of 174 to 20, favored the constitutional amendment which abolishes the poll-tax as a condition of suffrage. The amendment now goes to the Senate; a two-thirds vote for two successive years is necessary in the Legislature before the people can vote directly upon the amendment.

The Public Service Committee has favorably reported the Caucus Reform Bill. The bill is drafted in a new form, and provides that the present caucus act shall be enforced in towns only. In cities the caucus is to be held open at least one hour, and a check list must be used. The request of ten qualified voters renders the use of a ballot-box compulsory. The Australian system of voting is permitted.

The House passed the bill making the attendance of children at school compulsory for 30 weeks in each year. This is one of the most radical of the so-called school laws which have passed our legislatures.

New York.-The Fassett Rapid Transit Bill has been made operative in New York city alone, by the Assembly, and has practically become Mayor Grant's bill by the substitution of the five commissioners, to be appointed by him, in the place of those first named in the bill. Another commissioner is added, and the bill has become distinctly a home-rule measure.

The Governor let the bill repealing the Twodollar-a-day Act, become a law without his signature.

The Linson Registration Bill, which extends the present personal registration law of New York and Brooklyn to the other cities of the State, and provides for registration in the towns and villages similar to that in force in the smaller cities, passed the Senate by a vote of 29 to 3. In the House the bill passed with an amendment changing the date of the last day of registration from three days to ten days before the election.

The Saxton Ballot Bill, after many reverses, has at last become a law, with the approval of the Governor.

The House passed a bill abolishing the death penalty, by a vote of 74 to 29. The bill, upon being sent to the Senate, was referred to the Judiciary Committee, which is said to favor it.

The Assembly passed a bill appropriating $063,000 for the maintenance of the canals. This is about two thirds of the sum originally proposed.

Ohio.- The Senate has passed the House bill which requires stewards and managers of State institutions to purchase native live stock for asylums, hospitals, etc.

The Senate passed the bill making the opening of the polls at 6 o'clock A. M. obligatory on the part of the Judges of the election.

The law requiring annual registration in the smaller cities having been repealed, a substitute measure has just been passed by both House and Senate, requiring registration once in four years.

The bill making the noon hours of election day-from 12 M. to 2 P. M.-legal holiday, has become statute. The employer who violates the provisions of the Act shall be condemned to pay from $10 to $25 forfeit to the employee. The supposition is that this law will tend to prevent the exercise of pressure and intimidation, to keep employees away from the poll.

The School Text-book Bill has become a law. It establishes a commission, whose business shall be to select text-books for use in the public schools of the State, and contract with publishers to furnish them. If the bids received in answer to advertisement do not fall to 75 per cent below the prices paid at present, the duty of the commission is to establish a printing office and proceed to turn out the necessary books.

Maryland.-Conspicuous among the laws enacted by the Legislature now adjourned, are the following:

To prohibit pool-selling, book-making, and gambling on races and other contests, except the selling of pools during agricultural fairs upon the fair grounds, and upon the tracks of trotting or racing associatians.

To make the criminal jurisdiction of the justices of the peace concurrent in all counties of the State, with that exercised by the circuit courts. This is somewhat limited, as, for example, where a misdemeanor is one punishable by confinement in the penitentiary, the rule does not obtain. To hold guilty of a misdemeanor any person instigating or engaging in cruelty to animals-the word "animal" to include every living creature except man.

There were many laws passed to further protect minors, such as making it unlawful to sell tobacco (or cigarettes?) to a minor under fifteen years of age, or purchase tobacco in any form for such a minor. It is also made a criminal offense for a minor to falsely represent himself of age in order to obtain liquor.