Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-03-04

on beer and in the removal OF the
stamp taxes on bank checks, tele-
grams, commercial papers, life IN
surance policies, proprietary medl-
cines, and many other articles. In
the senate an entirely new substitute
was passed. This, however, retained
| the main features of the house Dill,
but materially changed the rates
throughout, adding reductions on to-
bacco in various forms and restoring
the tax on bank checks.
A Bigger House
The act apportioning to the several
states their representation IN the
house of representatives as result
of the twelfth census, as finally enact
ed the total representation is fixed at
1856 members, or twenty-nine more
than in the present house.
HaZing at West Point has received
attention at the present session as the
result of the death of Oscar L. Booz OF
Pennsylvania, a former cadet, who
had suffered severely from hazing, An
Investigating committee was appointed
by the house and an elaborate inquiry
made. The report of the investigation
severely arraigned hazing, and recon-
mended stringent laws for dismissal
of cadets from West Point for any
brutal practices.
st. Louis Fair Favored.
| Government participation and aid in
the Louisiana purchase exposition is
assured.t At the first session a senate
amendment to the sundry civil bill
pledged the government to appropriate
S. 100000 when st. Louis had raised
$10,000,000. The bill passed but the
show must remain closed Sundays.
Among the other general measures
enacted are those giving free homes"
on the public lands acquired from the
Indians; providing a system of extra
dition for insular possessions, under
which G. F. w. Nicely was extradited
to Cuba for alleged postal frauds;
authorizing the "aggregating" of pen
sion disabilities and increasing to
$3.50 the allowance to widows in GER
tain cases on the lines of recommends
tons by the G. A. r.; authorizing the
veteran member of congress, as cap
tain on the retired list of the navy;
providing for the centennial celebra-
tion of the establishment of the per-
manent seat of government at Wash
ington; extending the mining laws to
saline lands; providing criminal
code Of laws for Alaska; allowing en-
- L. ~
fifteen days annual leave.
At the first session Brigham Fl.
Roberts of Utah was expelled from the
house after an exciting contest; Sena-
tor Quay of Pennsylvania was refused
seat in the senate on the appoint
ment of Governor Stone; sensational
charges against Senator Clark of Mon
tana were investigated by senate
committee; the exciting mining riots
in the Occur d'Alene district of Idaho
were investigated by committee of
the house. The senate also appointed
Cuban inquiring committee, but lit
tie has been accomplished on that line.
Legislation Not Completed.
Four Of the most important meas
ures before congress-namely: the
Nicaraguan canal bill, the shipping
subsidy bill, the Pacific cable bill, and
the oleomargarine bill, have occupied
much time, although their enactment
is not probable The canal bill was
passed in the house of representatives
and authorized expenditures of $780,
100000, with a present appropriation
of $10,000,000. The measure was ia
vorably reported to the. senate, but
owing to the complications arising
over the Hay-Pauncefote treaty the
senate has not considered the bill
and it is likely to be one of the meas
ures to die with the congress.
The ship subsidy bill has been an
active subject of controversy in the
present congress, and particularly in
the senate. The house has taken no
action on the bill pending the contest
in the senate.
The Pacific cable bill passed the
senate at the first session and has
been pending in the house since.
The oleomargarine bill was passed
by the house early in the present ses-
sion It's chief feature is that placing
tax of 10 cents per pound on oleo-
margarine when colored in imitation
of butter In the senate its passage
is still in doubt.
Measures of general legislation pend
ing include the joint resolution propos-
ing a constitutional amendment for the
election of United States senators by
the vote of the people; bills to estab-
lish the department of commerce and
industry; to endow state schools OF
mining with a portion of tie proceeds
of public land sales; authorizing the
president to appoint a commission to
study the commercial and industrial
conditions of China and Japan, and
to regulate trusts and other Organiza-
lions in restraint of trade
Besides the antitrust bill passed by
the house and not acted upon by the
senate, a resolution proposing con-