Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-06-13


powers shall, until otherwise provided by
Congress, be carried on under the direc-
ton Of the President, formed the basis
of the senatorial debate on the Philip
pines, but was fruitless Of action.
The only legislation as to Cuba is ora
comparatively minor character. relating
to Cuban shipping, The extradition bill,
applying to ali insular possessions and
dependencies, has passed both houses,
and doubtless will become law. 1t is
designed mainly to reach cases like that
of Charles F. w. Nicely.
Bills Partially Advanced.
The Nicaraguan canal bill and the ship
ping subsidy bill are notable instances Of
legislation partly advanced 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 Dec. 10 next. The
shipping bin is on the calendar of each
house with favorable recommendation
from a majority membership of the Sen
ate and House committees.
Antitrust legislation has come promi-
nently into attention in the House at the
close of the session, the House having
passed a new antitrust bill and defeated
a constitutional amendment.
The Senate has passed bill for a ca
bic to the Philippines and beyond, TO be
| constructed and maintained under gov
eminent control, but no action has been
taken on it in the House.
The restriction of oleomargarine has
been productive of considerable agitation,
/ iplr in mi nd
strictive 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 81, 1890, so as to permit
the "aggregating" of disabilities and
changing the provision as to widows so
that a widow may receive pension
when she is without means of support
other than her daily labor and has an
actual net income not exceeding $3.50"
etc.
TIE "free homes" act has at last be-
come law. 1t provides for the patent
ing of homesteads on the public lands
acquired from the Indians on the pay
ment of the usual fees and no other OF
further charges This opens TO free
homestead entry many millions of acrCs
of public lands in the West heretofore
sold at stated figures per acre.
Another measure passed of some gen.
eral interest permits the Secretary of Ag-
riculture to restore game birds which are
becoming extinct, and provides means for
the restriction of traffic in dead anime Is,
birds, etc, from State to State, the lat
ter provision being, in part, designed to
limit the destruction of song birds for
the sale of their plumage.
Miscellaneous Bills Pending.
Among other miscellaneous acts of the
I session are those for the preservation of
the historic frigate Constitution, and for
extending the work of the twelfth cen
sus.
Considerable general legislation is car
ried on appropriation bills. These provis-
ions include the amendment to he mill
tary academy bill, making the command
ing general of the army a lieutenant gen
eral, and the adjutant general of the ar
my major general; also the amendment
to the sundry civil bill appropriating 49,
600 600 for the ST. Louis Exposition. The
latter has been passed by both houses,
but the former is still pending. The naval
appropriation bill adds two battleships,
three armored cruisers, three protected
cruisers and FIVE submarine boats to the
naval strength, and may include special
legislation as to armor plate and a gov
eminent plant. The other appropriate
bills in the main carry the usual govern
ment supplies.
The Alaska code bill. giving a complete
civil system of laws to the territory, has
passed both houses, and undoubtedly
will become law. Other measures which
have passed one house or the other, but
are still pending, include those for the
election of Senators by the people; au-
thorizing the President to appoint a com
mission to study commercial conditions in
China and Japan; for increasing the eff
cheney of the army by making service in
the staff corps temporary; extending the
eight-hour law; increasing the annual al
lowance to the militia of the country from
$500 600 to 81 600 600