Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-06-07
ach cases like that of Charles f. w

reach cases like that of Charles f. w.
Nicely
The Nicaragua canal bill and the ship
ping subsidy bill are notable instances of
LEGISLATION partly advanced during the
present session but not enacted into law
The canal bill has passed the House and
has been made the special order in tie
senate beginning December 10 next The
shipping bill L. ON the calendar of each
House with favorable rem menddtion from
a majority membership of the Senate and
House committees.
Antitrust legislation has como promi-
nentlY into attention in the House at the
close of the session the HOUSE having
passed a new antitrust bill and defeated
a cons titutional amendment
The Senate has passed Il bill for ca
Bic to the Philippines and beyond. to be
constructed and maintained under govern
mont control but no action has been talk
on on II in the House. The restriction Of
ol"nmarearinc has been productive Of
considerable agitation, maiuly iii commit
toes, and radical restrictive bill has been
reported to the House
The general pension laws have been
materially changed by the present con-
grcSs .l1rgeiy as a result Of the efforts of
the Grand Army of the Republic which
secured the passage of a bill amending the
law Of Juno y. 1890 so as to permit the
"agGtegating" of disabilities, and chang
Ing the provision as to widows 50 that n
widow may receive pension when she is
without means of support other titan her
daily labor, and has an actual net income
not exceeding $3.50" etc.
The free homes" act has at last become
law. 1t provides for tho patenting of
homestoads on the public lands acquired
from the Indians, on the payment of the
usual fees and no further charges. This
opens to- free homesteads entry many mil
lions Of acres of public lands in the West
heretofore sold at stated hSuics per acre.
Another measure passed of some Sen-
eral interest permits the secretary of agIi-
culture to restore game birds which are
becoming extinct and provides means for
the restriction of traffic in dead animals.
birds etc. from state to state, the latter
provision being i'm part designed to limit
the destruction of song birds for the sale
of their plumagc.
Among other miscellaneous acts of the
session are those for tho preservation Of
inc historic frigatc Constitution and for
extending the work of the 18th census.
Considerable general legislation is car
Rcd on appropriation bills
The provisions include the amendment
to the military academy bill, making the
commanding general of the army licu-
tenant general and the adiutant general
Of the army major general; also the
amendment to the sundry civil bill apprO-
priating 5000 Of0 for the St Louis cxposi-
The naval appropriation bill adds tU -
battleships three armored cruisers three
protected cruisers ana five submarine
boats to the naval strength and may in
cludc special legislation as to armor plate
and a government plant The other APP
preparation bills in the main carry the
usual government supplies
The Alaska code bill giving a complete
civil system of laws to the territory, has
passed both houses and undoubtedly will
become a 'aw. Other measures which have
passed one house or the other but ar"
still pending, including those for the cleo
lions of senators by the people authoriz-
ing 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 country from 100000 to
81 600 ono.