49th United States Congress

49th United States Congress
Congress	49th
Caption	The United States Capitol (c. 1906)
Start	March 4, 1885
End	March 4, 1887
President	Grover Cleveland
Vice president	Thomas A. Hendricks (until Nov. 25, 1885)
Pro tem	John Sherman
Speaker	John G. Carlisle
Senators	76
Reps	325
S-majority	Republican
H-majority	Democratic
Sessionnumber1	1st
Sessionstart1	December 7, 1885
Sessionend1	August 5, 1886
Sessionnumber2	2nd
Sessionstart2	December 6, 1886
Sessionend2	March 3, 1887

49th United States Congress convened from March 4, 1885, to March 4, 1887, during the first two years of Grover Cleveland's first presidency. It was a period of divided government, with the Democratic Party controlling the House of Representatives and the Republican Party holding a narrow majority in the Senate. This Congress is noted for significant debates over tariff reform, Native American policy, and labor relations, culminating in the passage of the landmark Interstate Commerce Act of 1887.

Major legislation

Key enactments included the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, which established the Interstate Commerce Commission to regulate the nation's railroads, marking the first major federal effort to oversee private industry. The Presidential Succession Act of 1886 revised the line of succession, replacing congressional leaders with cabinet officers. Other significant laws were the Dawes Act (or General Allotment Act), which authorized the breakup of tribal lands into individual allotments, and the Tenure of Office Act repeal, which restored presidential authority over cabinet appointments. The Naval Appropriations Bill of 1886 authorized the construction of the first modern steel warships, heralding the rebirth of the United States Navy.

Party summary

In the Senate, Republicans held a slim majority with 43 seats to the Democrats' 34; there were no other parties represented. The House of Representatives saw a stronger Democratic majority, with 183 Democrats, 140 Republicans, and 2 members of other parties. This partisan division between the chambers, coupled with a Democratic president in Grover Cleveland, set the stage for significant legislative friction, particularly on economic issues like the tariff.

Leadership

John G. Carlisle of Kentucky served as Speaker of the House. Senate leadership included President pro tempore John Sherman of Ohio and Republican Conference Chairman George F. Edmunds of Vermont. The Democratic minority in the Senate was led by James B. Beck of Kentucky. Key committee chairs who wielded considerable influence included William B. Allison of Iowa on Senate Appropriations and Roger Q. Mills of Texas on House Ways and Means.

Members

This Congress included many notable figures. The Senate roster featured future president Benjamin Harrison of Indiana, veteran legislators like John J. Ingalls of Kansas, and Henry M. Teller of Colorado. The House contained future president William McKinley of Ohio, as well as influential members such as Thomas B. Reed of Maine and Joseph G. Cannon of Illinois. The delegation from the Utah Territory included John T. Caine.

Major events

Major events included the death of Vice President Thomas A. Hendricks in November 1885, leaving the office vacant for the remainder of the term. The Great Southwest Railroad Strike of 1886 and the Haymarket affair in Chicago highlighted growing industrial labor unrest. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated in New York Harbor in October 1886. Furthermore, President Grover Cleveland's first annual message to Congress in 1885 launched a major campaign for tariff reduction, which became a central political battle of the session.

Committees

Prominent standing committees included the Senate Committee on Appropriations, chaired by William B. Allison, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led by John Sherman. In the House, the powerful Ways and Means Committee was chaired by tariff-reform advocate Roger Q. Mills. Select committees were also formed to investigate pressing issues, such as the Select Committee on Woman Suffrage and committees examining labor conditions and railroad affairs.

States admitted and territories organized

No new states were admitted or territories organized during the 49th Congress. However, the ongoing process of territorial development was evident, with delegates from existing territories like Dakota Territory, Montana Territory, Washington Territory, and Wyoming Territory serving in the House. The Dawes Act significantly affected the governance of Indian Territory by promoting the allotment of communal lands.

Category:49th United States Congress Category:1885 in American politics Category:1886 in American politics