Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-06-08
FIVE CENTS

during the present session, but not
enacted into the law. The canal bill
has passed the house and has been
made the special order in the senate
beginning December 10 next. The
shipping bill is on the calendar of each
house with favorable recommendation
from majority membership of the
senate and house committees.
Antitrust legislation has come
prominently into attention in the
house at the close of the session, the
house having passed new antitrust
bill and defeated constitutional
amendment.
The senate has passed a bill for
cable to the Philippines and beyond,
to be constructed and maintained un-
der government control, but no action
has been taken on it in the house.
The restriction of oleomargarine has
been productive of considerable agita-
tion, mainly in commillees, and rad
ical restrictive bill has been reported
to the house. ~
The general pension laws have been
materially changed by the present con-
gress, largely as result of the efforts
OF the Grand Army of the Republic,
which secured the passage of bill
amending the law of June -, 1890, so
as to permit the ''aggregating" of dis
abilities and changing the provision
as to widows so that widow may re-
ceive a pension when she is without
means of support other than her daily
labor and has an actual net income not
exceeding $3.50" etc.
The free homes" act has at last be-
come law. 1t provides for the pat
enting of homesteads on the public
lands acquired from the Indians on the
payment of the usual fees and no other
further charges. This opens to free
homestead entry many millions of
acres Of public lands in the west here
tofore sold at stated figures per acre.
Another measure passed of some
general interest permits the secretary
of agriculture to restore game birds
which are becoming extinct, and pro-
vides means tor the restriction of
traffic in dead animals, birds, etc., from
state to state, the latter provision be-
ing, in part, designated to limit the
destruction of song birds for the sale
of their plumage.
Among other miscellaneous acts of
the session are those for the preser-
vation of the historic frigate Consti-
tuition, and for extending the work of
the twelfth census.
Considerable general legislation is
carried on appropriation bills. These
provisions include the amendment to
the military academy bill, making the
commanding general of the army
lieutenant general, and the adjutant
general of the army a major general:
also the amendment to the sundry civil
bill appropriating S5,O0O,OOO for the
st. Louis exposition. Both of these
bills are still pending. The naval ap-
preparation bill adds two battleships,
three armoreu cruisers, three protected
cruisers and five submarine boats to
the naval strength, and may include
special legislation as to armor plate
and government plant. The other
appropriation bills in the main carry
the usual government supplies
The Alaska code bill, giving COM
plete civil system Of laws to the terri
tory, has passed both houses, and un-
doubtedly will become law. Other
measures which have passed one house
or the other, but are still pending,
include those for the election of sena-
tors by the people; authorizing the
president to appoint a commission to
study commercial conditions in China
and Japan; for increasing the efficiency
of the army by making service in the
staff corps temporary; extending the
eight-hour law; increasing the annual
| allowance to the militia of the coun-
try from S4OO, 600 to $1,OOO,OOO.