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The 1776 Philadelphia ConstitutionThe laws of the land, set down plainly — and put to the people, one provision at a time.

The Register

Every law Congress has passed

97,863 laws from 1789 to 2026, as printed in the Statutes at Large, the official record of every act of Congress. 51,799 are public laws; 46,064 are private laws, which apply to named people or places, such as pensions, land claims and relief from debts.

Clear

1,824 laws of the 50th Congress, 1887–1889

  1. An Act granting a pension to Elisha Wilkins.

    Ch. 669 · 25 Stat. 1131 · July 17, 1887 · Private law · Original text

  2. Joint resolution authorizing and directing the payment of the salaries of the officers and employees of Congress for the month of December eighteen hundred and eighty-seven.

    Public Resolution 1 · 25 Stat. 617 · December 22, 1887 · Original text

  3. An Act to amend the law concerning the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries.

    Ch. 1 · 25 Stat. 1 · January 20, 1888 · Original text

  4. An Act relating to permissible marks, printing or writing, upon second, third, and fourth-class matter, and to amend the twenty-second and twenty-third sections of an act entitled “An act making appropriations for the service of the Post-Office Department for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and eighty, and for other purposes.

    Ch. 2 · 25 Stat. 1 · January 20, 1888 · Original text

  5. An Act to authorize the construction of a railroad, wagon, and foot-passenger bridge across the Mississippi River, at or near Burlington, Iowa.

    Ch. 3 · 25 Stat. 2 · January 31, 1888 · Original text

  6. An Act making appropriations to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, and for prior years, and for other purposes.

    Ch. 4 · 25 Stat. 4 · February 1, 1888 · Original text

  7. An Act making an appropriation to carry into effect the provisions of an act approved March second, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, entitled “An act to establish agricultural experimental stations in connection with the colleges established in the several States under the provisions of an act approved July second, eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and of acts supplementary thereto.

    Ch. 5 · 25 Stat. 32 · February 1, 1888 · Original text

  8. Relating to the invitation of the British Government to the Government of the United States to participate in the international exhibition at Melbourne to celebrate the founding of New South Wales.

    Public Resolution 2 · 25 Stat. 617 · February 1, 1888 · Original text

  9. For the relief of Joseph Cox. administrator of Charles Pasters, deceased.

    Ch. 6 · 25 Stat. 1025 · February 1, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  10. An Act to make additional appropriation for the printing of the eulogies delivered in Congress on the late John A. Logan.

    Ch. 7 · 25 Stat. 33 · February 6, 1888 · Original text

  11. Joint resolution for the removal of all political disabilities imposed by the fourteenth amendment to the Constitution of the United States upon Abram C. Myers.

    Private Resolution 3 · 25 Stat. 1247 · February 8, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  12. An Act for the relief of Henry H. Marmaduke, of Missouri.

    Ch. 8 · 25 Stat. 1026 · February 14, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  13. An Act to grant an American register to the foreign-built bark “Nordstjernen.”

    Ch. 9 · 25 Stat. 33 · February 15, 1888 · Original text

  14. An Act to punish robbery, burglary, and larceny, in the Indian Territory.

    Ch. 10 · 25 Stat. 33 · February 15, 1888 · Original text

  15. Joint resolution appointing Andrew D. White a member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

    Public Resolution 4 · 25 Stat. 617 · February 15, 1888 · Original text

  16. An Act for the relief of John Snoddy.

    Ch. 11 · 25 Stat. 2026 · February 15, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  17. An Act authorizing the construction of a bridge across the Missouri River at some accessible point in the County of Saint Charles in the State of Missouri, below the city of Saint Charles.

    Ch. 12 · 25 Stat. 34 · February 17, 1888 · Original text

  18. An Act to authorize the Choctaw Coal and Railway Company to construct and operate a railway through the Indian Territory, and for other purposes.

    Ch. 13 · 25 Stat. 35 · February 18, 1888 · Original text

  19. An Act to authorize the construction of a bridge over the Missouri River, at or near the city of Lexington, Missouri.

    Ch. 14 · 25 Stat. 39 · February 18, 1888 · Original text

  20. An Act to amend section four thousand eight hundred and eighty-three of the Revised Statutes to enable the Assistant Secretary of the Interior to sign patents.

    Ch. 15 · 25 Stat. 40 · February 18, 1888 · Original text

  21. An Act to relinquish the interest of the United States in certain lands in Kansas.

    Ch. 16 · 25 Stat. 41 · February 20, 1888 · Original text

  22. An Act to carry into effect the International Convention of the fourteenth of March, eighteen hundred and eighty-four, for the protection of submarine cables.

    Ch. 17 · 25 Stat. 41 · February 29, 1888 · Original text

  23. An Act authorizing the appointment of two additional division superintendents of Railway Mail Service.

    Ch. 18 · 25 Stat. 43 · February 29, 1888 · Original text

  24. An Act to authorize the purchase of additional ground in Newark, New Jersey, adjoining the customhouse and post-office building, and for the improvement of the building thereon, and the erection of additions thereto.

    Ch. 19 · 25 Stat. 43 · March 1, 1888 · Original text

  25. An Act to authorize the removal of the quarantine station from Ship Island, Mississippi.

    Ch. 20 · 25 Stat. 43 · March 5, 1888 · Original text

  26. An Act granting to Edwin Libby Post, Grand Army of the Republic, permission to erect a soldiers’ monument on vacant land adjoining customhouse at Rockland, Maine.

    Ch. 21 · 25 Stat. 44 · March 5, 1888 · Original text

  27. An Act to authorize the Secretary of War to convey to the city of Austin, Texas, a tract of land in said city for educational purposes.

    Ch. 22 · 25 Stat. 44 · March 5, 1888 · Original text

  28. An Act for the purchase of a site, including the building thereon, also for the erection of the necessary storehouses, for the use of the office of the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, at the city of Washington, District of Columbia.

    Ch. 23 · 25 Stat. 44 · March 5, 1888 · Original text

  29. Joint resolution authorizing the Secretary of War to appoint a board of three engineers to examine and report in relation to the Delaware river between the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Camden, New Jersey, and for other purposes.

    Public Resolution 5 · 25 Stat. 618 · March 5, 1888 · Original text

  30. An Act to carry out the findings of the Court of Claims in the case of James H. Ayres.

    Ch. 26 · 25 Stat. 1026 · March 5, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  31. An Act for the relief of R. R. Tinsley.

    Ch. 24 · 25 Stat. 2026 · March 5, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  32. An Act for the relief of Sarah C. Morrison.

    Ch. 25 · 25 Stat. 2026 · March 5, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  33. An Act for the relief of L. B. Townsend. Louis S. Lovel, W. C. Page, Alonzo Sessions, Hampton Rich, Harvey Harter, Benjamin Harter, and Peter Hackett.

    Ch. 27 · 25 Stat. 1027 · March 7, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  34. An Act for the relief of Andrew J. Lindsay.

    Ch. 28 · 25 Stat. 1027 · March 7, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  35. An Act authorizing the Secretary of War to transfer to the trustees of the Porter Academy certain property in the city of Charleston, South Carolina.

    Ch. 29 · 25 Stat. 45 · March 8, 1888 · Original text

  36. An Act amend an act to restrict the ownership of real estate in the Territories to American citizens, and so forth, approved March third, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven.

    Ch. 30 · 25 Stat. 45 · March 9, 1888 · Original text

  37. Joint resolution providing for the disposition of undistributed copies of the Rebellion Records and other public documents.

    Public Resolution 6 · 25 Stat. 618 · March 10, 1888 · Original text

  38. An Act granting a pension to Hannah C. De Witt.

    Ch. 31 · 25 Stat. 1027 · March 10, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  39. An Act for the relief of S. D. Barclay, G. D. Adams, and William H. Kimbrew.

    Ch. 32 · 25 Stat. 1027 · March 14, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  40. Joint resolution directing the Secretary of the Interior by means of the Director of the Geological Survey to investigate the practicability of constructing reservoirs for the storage of water in the arid region of the United States, and to report to Congress.

    Public Resolution 7 · 25 Stat. 618 · March 20, 1888 · Original text

  41. An Act for the relief of A. B. Norton.

    Ch. 33 · 25 Stat. 1028 · March 20, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  42. An Act to fix the charge for passports at one dollar.

    Ch. 34 · 25 Stat. 45 · March 23, 1888 · Original text

  43. An Act granting a pension to John Humes.

    Ch. 37 · 25 Stat. 1028 · March 23, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  44. An Act granting a pension to Mary Everingham Brown.

    Ch. 38 · 25 Stat. 1028 · March 23, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  45. An Act to increase the pension of Hubert M. Potter.

    Ch. 39 · 25 Stat. 1029 · March 23, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  46. An Act to amend chapter one hundred and ninety-one of the private acts of the Forty-ninth Congress, passed at the second session thereof, concerning James H. Young.

    Ch. 40 · 25 Stat. 1029 · March 23, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  47. An Act increasing the pension of John C. Johnston.

    Ch. 35 · 25 Stat. 2028 · March 23, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  48. An Act granting a pension to Mrs Eliza L. Mace.

    Ch. 36 · 25 Stat. 2028 · March 23, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  49. An Act granting a pension to Mary C. Knight.

    Ch. 41 · 25 Stat. 1029 · March 24, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  50. An Act to provide for payment of the funeral expenses of the late Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

    Ch. 42 · 25 Stat. 46 · March 26, 1888 · Original text

  51. An Act to provide for the leasing of premises for the Washington; City post-office.

    Ch. 43 · 25 Stat. 46 · March 26, 1888 · Original text

  52. Joint resolution to enable the Secretary of the Interior to utilize the hot-water now running to waste on the permanent reservation at Hot Springs, Arkansas, and for other purposes.

    Public Resolution 8 · 25 Stat. 619 · March 26, 1888 · Original text

  53. An Act for the relief of Charlotte Caroline Hackleman.

    Ch. 44 · 25 Stat. 1029 · March 26, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  54. An Act for the erection of a public building at Springfield. Missouri.

    Ch. 45 · 25 Stat. 46 · March 29, 1888 · Original text

  55. An Act granting a pension to Theresa B. Hoffmann.

    Ch. 46 · 25 Stat. 1030 · March 29, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  56. An Act to provide for certain of the most urgent deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, and for other purposes.

    Ch. 47 · 25 Stat. 47 · March 30, 1888 · Original text

  57. An Act to correct an error in and to further amend “An act to authorize the Georgia Pacific Railroad Company to construct bridges across the Sunflower. Yazoo, and Tombigbee Rivers, in Mississippi,” approved March third, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven.

    Ch. 48 · 25 Stat. 72 · April 2, 1888 · Original text

  58. An Act appropriating twenty thousand dollars for expenses of special and select committees of the Senate.

    Ch. 49 · 25 Stat. 73 · April 2, 1888 · Original text

  59. An Act To reward the Esquimaux natives of the Asiatic coast of the Arctic Ocean for acts of humanity to shipwrecked seamen.

    Ch. 50 · 25 Stat. 73 · April 2, 1888 · Original text

  60. An Act to change the location of a certain alley in the city of Washington.

    Ch. 51 · 25 Stat. 73 · April 2, 1888 · Original text

  61. An Act to construct a road to the national cemetery at Corinth, Mississippi.

    Ch. 52 · 25 Stat. 73 · April 2, 1888 · Original text

  62. An Act regulating the construction of bridges over the Muskingum River, in Ohio.

    Ch. 53 · 25 Stat. 74 · April 2, 1888 · Original text

  63. An Act to amend section four hundred and sixty-one of the Revised Statutes, regulating fees for exemplifications of land patents, and for other purposes.

    Ch. 54 · 25 Stat. 76 · April 2, 1888 · Original text

  64. Joint resolution to print Executive Document numbered fifty-one, first session of the Forty-ninth Congress, on the subject of cattle and dairy farming.

    Public Resolution 9 · 25 Stat. 620 · April 2, 1888 · Original text

  65. An Act for the relief of R. G. Huston and Company.

    Ch. 55 · 25 Stat. 1030 · April 2, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  66. An Act for the relief of importers of animals for breeding purposes in certain cases.

    Ch. 56 · 25 Stat. 76 · April 4, 1888 · Original text

  67. An Act authorizing the Little Rock and Alexandria Railway Company to build certain bridges in the State of Arkansas.

    Ch. 57 · 25 Stat. 76 · April 4, 1888 · Original text

  68. An Act to provide for holding terms of the United States courts at Mississippi City.

    Ch. 58 · 25 Stat. 78 · April 4, 1888 · Original text

  69. An Act to enable the Secretary of the Interior to pay certain creditors of the Pottawattomie Indians out of the funds of said Indians.

    Ch. 59 · 25 Stat. 79 · April 4, 1888 · Original text

  70. An Act to confirm New Madrid location survey, numbered two thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine, and to provide for issue of patent therefor.

    Ch. 60 · 25 Stat. 79 · April 4, 1888 · Original text

  71. An Act to amend the laws relating to navigation, and for other purposes.

    Ch. 61 · 25 Stat. 80 · April 4, 1888 · Original text

  72. An Act for the relief of Peter Marck, Thomas J. Wright, administrator, and others.

    Ch. 62 · 25 Stat. 1030 · April 4, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  73. An Act making an appropriation to construct a road and approaches from Pineville, Louisiana, to the national military cemetery near that town.

    Ch. 63 · 25 Stat. 80 · April 5, 1888 · Original text

  74. An Act to authorize the purchase of a site for a public building at Buffalo, New York.

    Ch. 64 · 25 Stat. 81 · April 5, 1888 · Original text

  75. An Act for the relief of William G. Galloway, late captain Fifteenth, United States Army.

    Ch. 65 · 25 Stat. 81 · April 5, 1888 · Original text

  76. Joint resolution to supply the Department of State with copies of bills and other documents.

    Public Resolution 10 · 25 Stat. 620 · April 5, 1888 · Original text

  77. An Act granting a pension to Mary S. Logan..

    Ch. 66 · 25 Stat. 1031 · April 5, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  78. An Act for the relief of Frank Baker.

    Ch. 67 · 25 Stat. 1031 · April 5, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  79. An Act to increase the pension of Mrs. Apolline A. Blair.

    Ch. 68 · 25 Stat. 1031 · April 6, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  80. An Act to authorize the construction of bridges over the rivers Saint Mary’s, Satilla, Little Satilla, and Crooked, in the States of Georgia and Florida.

    Ch. 69 · 25 Stat. 82 · April 9, 1888 · Original text

  81. An Act for the erection of a public building at Lowell, Massachusetts.

    Ch. 70 · 25 Stat. 83 · April 9, 1888 · Original text

  82. An Act for the relief of Charles Murphy.

    Ch. 71 · 25 Stat. 1031 · April 9, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  83. An Act for the relief of Grovenor A. Curtice.

    Ch. 72 · 25 Stat. 1032 · April 9, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  84. An Act for the relief of John K. Le Baron.

    Ch. 73 · 25 Stat. 1032 · April 9, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  85. An Act for the relief of Captain John Burkhart.

    Ch. 74 · 25 Stat. 1032 · April 9, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  86. An Act for the relief of the widow of John A. S. Tutt, deceased.

    Ch. 75 · 25 Stat. 1032 · April 9, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  87. Joint resolution in favor of J. Q. Barton.

    Private Resolution 11 · 25 Stat. 1247 · April 9, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  88. An Act to remove the political disabilities of William W. Mackall, of Virginia.

    Ch. 76 · 25 Stat. 1033 · April 10, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  89. An Act for the relief of Stephen M. Honeycutt.

    Ch. 77 · 25 Stat. 1033 · April 10, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  90. An Act for the relief of Joel J. Goss.

    Ch. 78 · 25 Stat. 1033 · April 10, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  91. An Act declaratory of the meaning of the act entitled “An act for the relief of Maria Syphax.”

    Ch. 79 · 25 Stat. 1033 · April 10, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  92. An Act for a public building at Helena, Arkansas.

    Ch. 80 · 25 Stat. 84 · April 11, 1888 · Original text

  93. An Act to amend an act entitled “An act to provide for holding terms of United States courts at Vicksburg Mississippi.”

    Ch. 81 · 25 Stat. 84 · April 11, 1888 · Original text

  94. Joint resolution appropriating twenty-five thousand dollars for the International Exhibition in Barcelona, Spain.

    Public Resolution 12 · 25 Stat. 620 · April 11, 1888 · Original text

  95. An Act for the relief of Joseph Casson.

    Ch. 82 · 25 Stat. 1034 · April 11, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  96. An Act for the relief of the legal heirs of Fidus Livermore, deceased.

    Ch. 83 · 25 Stat. 1034 · April 11, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  97. An Act for the relief of W. W. Screws.

    Ch. 84 · 25 Stat. 1034 · April 11, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  98. Joint resolution in relation to the claim of John B. Read against the United States for the alleged use of projectiles for rifled ordnance, claimed as the invention of said Read, and by him alleged to have been used pursuant to a contract or arrangement made between him and the War Department in eighteen hundred and fifty-six, for which no compensation has been made.

    Private Resolution 13 · 25 Stat. 1247 · April 11, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  99. An Act granting a pension to William C. Wait.

    Ch. 85 · 25 Stat. 1035 · April 12, 1888 · Private law · Original text

  100. An Act granting a pension to Abbie S. Hutchinson.

    Ch. 86 · 25 Stat. 1035 · April 12, 1888 · Private law · Original text

By Congress

From the U.S. Statutes at Large, volumes 1 through 138, published by the Government Publishing Office on GovInfo; laws signed since the latest printed volume come from GovInfo’s public and private law files. Treaties, proclamations and concurrent resolutions, which share those volumes, are not laws and are left out. The oldest volumes were digitized from print, so a few dates could not be read; for those we show the year from the laws printed alongside. Short names come from each law’s own “may be cited as” clause.