266 



CONGRESS. (CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.) 



received a discharge from the regiments in 

 which they had previonsly served. 



Authorizing the construction of a building 

 for the accommodation of the Congressional 

 Library. 



Providing that after July 1, 1886, no fees 

 shall be charged to American vessels for meas- 

 urement of tonnage, issuing of licences, grant- 

 ing of certificates of registry, etc., and amend- 

 ing the laws relative to the shipping and dis- 

 charging of crews, the liability of owners of 

 vessels, the licensing of vessels, etc. 



To provide that surveyed lands granted to 

 railroads conterminous with completed por- 

 tions of such roads, and in organized counties, 

 shall not be exempt from local taxation on ac- 

 count of the lien of the United States upon 

 them for the costs of surveying, selecting, or 

 conveying them; also making provision for 

 selling such lands on the refusal or neglect of 

 the companies to pay costs of survey. 



To give the receiver of a national bank the 

 power to buy in any property of the bank sold 

 under foreclosure when necessary to protect 

 his trust. 



To reduce the fees on domestic money orders 

 for sums not exceeding $5, from eight cents to 

 five cents. 



To allow steam-towing vessels to carry, in 

 addition to their crews, as many persons as 

 the supervising inspector may authorize. 



And a clause was inserted in the Agricultural 

 Appropriation bill directing the Commissioner 

 of Agriculture to purchase and destroy diseased 

 animals whenever, in his judgment, it is essen- 

 tial to prevent the spread of pleuro-pneumonia 

 from one State into another. 



Constitutional Amendments. More than the usual 

 number of amendments to the Constitution of 

 the United States were proposed in the Forty- 

 ninth Congress: 



Dec. 8, 1885, by Mr. Plumb, of Kansas, an 

 amendment prohibiting forever the manufact- 

 ure, importation, or sale of all distilled and fer- 

 mented intoxicating liquors as a beverage. 



Dec. 9, 1885, by Mr. Blair, of New Hamp- 

 shire, an amendment declaring that the right 

 of citizens to vote shall not be denied or 

 abridged on account of sex. 



Dec. 9, 1885, by Mr. Blair, of New Hamp- 

 shire, an amendment forbidding the manufact- 

 ure, sale, importation, or exportation of dis- 

 tilled alcoholic intoxicating liquors, except for 

 medicinal, mechanical, chemical, and scientific 

 purposes after the year 1900. 



Dec. 15, 1885, by Mr. Jackson, of Tennessee, 

 an amendment, making the presidential term 

 six years, and declaring the President ineligible 

 to re-election, and the Vice-President ineligible 

 in cases where he has succeeded to the presi- 

 dency. 



Dec. 19, 1885, by Mr. Browne, of Indiana, an 

 amendment providing for the election of Presi- 

 dent and Vice-President, and the counting of 

 the electoral votes, based on the principle of 

 allowing the people in each State to vote di- 



rectly for President and Vice-President, and 

 then apportioning the electoral vote of the 

 State among the candidates according to the 

 popular vote of each, multiplying the number 

 of votes cast for any candidate by the number 

 of electoral votes to which the State may be 

 entitled, and dividing the product by the whole 

 popular vote, and allowing each candidate the 

 benefit of any fraction expressed within three 

 decimal places. 



Dec. 21, 1885, by Mr. Springer, of Illinois, 

 an amendment providing that the presidential 

 term shall be six years; that the President 

 shall be ineligible to re-election ; that the peo- 

 ple of each State shall vote directly for candi- 

 dates for President and Vice-President; and 

 that the share of each in the electoral vote of 

 a State shall be determined by dividing the 

 popular vote cast in a State by the number of 

 electoral votes to which it is entitled, to find a 

 presidential ratio, and then dividing the vote 

 cast for each candidate by this ratio to obtain 

 the number of electoral votes to which he is 

 entitled, the odd electoral votes to go to the 

 candidate having the largest fraction. Also an 

 amendment providing for holding congressional 

 elections in November, and having the first ses- 

 sion of the new Congress begin in the January 

 following. Also an amendment prohibiting 

 local, private, and special legislation by Coi 

 gress. 



Dec. 21, 1885, by Mr. Townshend, of Illinois 

 an amendment providing that the Senators 

 each State shall be elected by the people of the 

 State. 



Dec. 21, 1885, by Mr. Thomas, of Illinois, an 

 amendment prohibiting bigamy or polygamy. 



Dec. 21, 1885, by Mr. Payson, of Illinois, an 

 amendment allowing the President to veto or 

 approve separate items in appropriation bills. 



Dec. 21, 1885, by Mr. Matson, of Indiana, 

 an amendment enabling Congress to provide 

 for the election of postmasters by the people. 



Dec. 21, 1885, by Mr. Weaver, of Iowa, an 

 amendment classifying the Senate so that one 

 third of the Senators shall be chosen every two 

 years directly by the people. 



Dec. 21, 1885, by Mr. Blanchard, of Louisi- 

 ana, an amendment forbidding the President, 

 by and with the consent of the Senate, 

 make reciprocity treaties affecting the revenu( 

 until Congress, by a bill originating in the 

 House of Representatives, agree to the pro- 

 posed changes. 



Jan. 5, 1886, by Mr. McComas, of Maryland, 

 an amendment providing that the clause for- 

 bidding States to pass any law impairing the 

 obligation of a contract shall not be construed 

 as prohibiting States from taxing the capital 

 stock or property of any corporation created 

 by a State. 



Jan. 5, 1886, by Mr. Collins, of Massachu- 

 setts, an amendment adding "nativity" to the 

 causes on account of which the right of citizens 

 of the United States to vote shall not be 

 abridged by the action of any State. 



