The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-02-25

This measure was drafted by leaders
of both houses, prior to the meeting OF
congress. After its passage some cues
ton arose as to the maintenance of the
parity Of metals under the terms of the
bills. At the present session, bills to
rectify this feature have been reported,
specifically requiring the exchange or
gold for standard silver dollars. No
action has been taken on them, how
ever.
The revenue legislation has been con-
fined to an effort to reduce the taxa
ton imposed ~ hen the war with Spain
began. Prior to the opening OF the
present session a comprehensive plan
of revenue reduction was framed by
the Republican members Of the ways
and means committee This plan was
introduced on the opening of the ses-
sior and passed before the holidays
It aroused little party opposition, as the
minority supported the reduction and
urged also an income tax
The bill as it passed the house re
duceG the revenues about $40, GOO, co., the
chief reductions being on beer, and in
the removal of the stamp taxes on bank
checks, kilograms, commercial papers,
life insurance policies, proprietary med
icines and many other articles. In the
senate an entirely new substitute was
passed. This, however, retained the
main features of the house bill, but
out, adding reductions on tobacco IN
various forms and restoring the tax on
bank checks This revenue reduction
measure is still in controversy between
the two houses.
More representatives in Congress.
The tweifth census disclosed various
increases in the states and a bill pro-
viding for new basis of representa-
ton was enacted The total represen-
two
ty-nine more than in the present house.
Hazing at West Point has received
attention at the present session, with
the prospects that strong restrictive
legislation viii be enacted. The senate
adopted anti-hazing provisions in the
military academy appropriation bill.
This has aroused a counter movement,
however, and it will remain for the last
days of the session to determine just
what restrictions on hazing are to be
imposed.
Government participation and aid in
The Louisiana purchase exposition
seems assured A senate amendment
to the sundry civil bill pledged the gov
eminent to appropriate $4,000, 600 when
St Louis had raised $4,000, 0OO- The bill
is now pending and is likely to become
a law The enterprise viii have an in
ternatiOnal as well as a national scope
and will take on the dimensions of the
>
CagO
Among the other important general
measures enacted are those giving free
homes on the public lands acquired
from the Indians, and known as the
free homes act; providing a system
of extraditiOn for insular possessions,
under which Q. Z. w. Neeley was ex-
tradited to Cuba for alleged postal
frauds; authorizing the '.aggregating'
of pension disabilities and increasing
TO $3.50 the allowance 10 widows in GER
tain cases, on the lines of recommended
tons by the @. A. R; extending the
mining laws to saline lands; providing
a criminal code of laws for Alaska; al
lowing the employees of the navy
yards, arsenals, etc, fifteen days an
nual leave.
Aside from legislation, the two houses
have seen several animated personal
controversies. Charles of treason were
made against Delegate Wilcox of
Hawaii, but on inquiry by the house
committee the delegate was upheld in
his right to his seat on the ground that
the charges referred to action before
the Hawaiian territorial act.
Case of B. 4. Roberts.
Brigham H. Roberts of Utah was ex-
PEELED from the house after an eXCit-
ing contest. Senator Quay of Pennsyl-
Vania was refused a seat in the senate
Sensational charges against Senator
Clark e. Montana were investigated by
a senate committee and the exciting
mining riots in the Occur d Alene dis
trict of Idaho were Investigated. The
senate algO appointed a Cuban inquir-
ing committee, but little has been ac-
cOmplished in that line.
Four of the most important measures
before the present congress. namely the
Nicaraguan canal bin, the shipping
subsidy bill, the Pacific cable Dill and
the OleOmargaTine bin, have occupied
much time andshave aroused great pub
lie att entiOn. The canal bill was passed
in the house of representatives and au-
thOriZed expenditures Of Sl4O,OO0,OO
with a present appropriation of $10,-
600 600. The measure was favOrably re-
ported to the senate. but owing to the
complica tons arising over the Hay
FaUncefOte treaty the senate has not
considered the bill and it is likely to
be one Of the measures to die with the
congress. The ship subsidy bill has
been a subject of active controversy
which in the senate has been very bit
ter. The house has taken no action on
the bill, pending the contest in the SEN
ate, so that according to present indlca-
tons the bill viii not have a parlia
mentary status as having passed either
branch OF congress.
The Pacific cable bill passed the SEN
ate at the first session and has been
pending in the house since. 1t provides
for a cable TO Hawaii and the Philip
pines, under government management.
The bill as reported TO the house was
favorable To private construction of the
cable. The house has failed TO act,
however, and the prospects are that the
measure VIII fail.
The oleonargarine bill was passed by
the house early in the present session
It's chief feature s placing a tax of 10
cents per pound on OleOmargarine when
colored in imitation Of butter The bill
has met sharp opposition in the senate
and its passage is still in doubt.
Bills That VIII Die.
\ number of other measures of more
or less Importance have received a Ger
tain degree OF consideration, but will
not pass at this session. They include
the joint resolution proposing an
amendment for the election of United
States senators by direct vote of the
people, which was passed in the house.
but has remained Enacted upon by the
senate, and bills TO establish the &c
partment of commerce and industry, to
endoW state schools OF mining with a
portion of the proceeds of public land
sales authorizing the president to ap-
point a committee to study the COM
meFcial and Industrial conditions of
China and Japan, and to regulate