Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1890 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

Congress has much important business before it, a very small proportion of which will likely be disposed of before its expira tion at noon on the 4th of March. There are the necessary appropriations, without which the business of the government would be suspended, at least in part, and ♦he reapportioument bill, which has as yet received consideration in neither bouse, but which the Republicans in both house 8 have said must be passed at this session Then there are many measures of importance on the calendars, which bave passed one house, and are, therefore,half through the legislative journey. The most important of these is the Federal election bill, which passed the House at the first session’ and which was resisted in the Sen. ate by the Democrats so firmly that it was necessary for the Republicans to agree to a postponement of its consideration in order to bring about the passage of thetariff bill and an adjournment of the first sess sion.-There are also on the calendar of the Senate the national bankruptcy bill, which is being pushed by the representatives of the commercial convention: the bill to transfer the revenue marine service from the Treasury to the Navy Department, which was debated at some length during the first session; the bill to discontinue the coinage of the $1 and S 3 gold pieces; and the Conger lard bill. These measures have passed the House. On the House calendar are the subsidy and shipping brils which- have passed the- Senate; A number of other measures of great importance are on the calendars of both bouses which have received final action in neither.

Mr. Lodge, of Massachusetts, introduced Monday, a bill to regulate immigration. The first section of the bill excludes from the United States any person who is obnoxious in any way to the existing laws of the United States, including what is known as the “alien contract labor law.’’ The main point, however, of the proposed bill is in the succeeding sections, which require that every immigrant shall obtain a certificate from some consul or diplomatic representative of the United States, and that without such certificate he can not land in this country. The certificate thus required certifies that the holder is a person of good character, not obnoxious to any law of the United States self-supporting, not assisted by charity or otherwise to emigrate and able to read and write his native language and to read the Constitution of the United States either in his native language or English. To this consular certificate the law requires that a medical certificate testifying to the physical and mental soundness of the holder be appended. These certificates are to be verified and examined by the port officers of the United States by whom they shall be copied and after indorsement returned to the holder. Any alien who arrives in the country after the passage of this law will be required when he applies for naturalization to present this consular certificate indorsed by the port officers for a certified copy. This provision, of course, isintended toprotect tbehonestimmlgrant and prevent persons who have evaded the law and entmed the country fraudulently or illegally from benefiting by their fraud.