The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-07-03
RECORD Of LAST CONGRESS
REVIEW OF WORK OF CONGRESS
Owinx~ Ior seven Nonths-larEer
M~aaar~s Have B~~n Enacted
law&-I.ah milan Canal the Most
NetaSIe-Th~ Philippine Hin Also
Other Important Bills.

Washington. July 1.-The work Of
congress- is now practically closed. so
that 1t is possible To sum up the rec
ord of what has been accomplished
during the past seven months, which
constitute the first session Of the Fiji
ty-seyenth congress. The session has
been marked by exceptional business
activity, with many questions OF far
reaching general interest engaging at
aention. With the exception OF the
Cuban reciprocity bill. most Of the
larger measures Of general legislation
have been enacted as laws or will be-
come such before the session closes.
Notable among these larger meas
ures h the isthmian canal bill. which
consummates the efforts OF a half
century ID link together the waters OF
the Atlantic and Pacific. Aside from
its national and international import
Ance. this hill probably involves 4
larger sum Of money than has covered
amy single undertaking by the govern
ment outside Of war expenditures.
The Philippine civil government bill
In another measure OF far-reaching i'm
portanee, extending to our remote Pa
ci1c possessions system Of internal
Yovcfnment. together with coinage,
currency. banking corporation. timber
and homestead laws
Among the important laws enacted
are those repeating the war revenue
taxes: extending and making more ef-
4ective the Chinese exclusion laws; es-
fablishing taritf for goods to and
from the Philippines: extending the
charters OF national banks for 30
Year,. establishing = permanent cen
Mlsa once. restricting the sale OF cleo
margarine by placing q high tax on
dmitation butter; providing q consular
and diplomatic service for Cuba: estab-
lixhing an extensive system by which
The government win aid In the irriga-
sion II the arid sections Of the west.
The repeal az the war revenue taxes
INNS reduced taxation 373.530. 900. and
Nv sAid To be the largest single reduc-
zion of taxation ever made In this
country. by this step the last OF the
takes imposed at the beginning OF our
war with Spain are wiped out.
Tbs Philippine tariff act imposes u
DER cent OF the Dingley tariff rates on
articles coming from the Philippines
~ the United States and also imposes
Dn articles entering the Philippines
from the United States the rates Of
duties established by the Philippine
commission. The oleomArgarine acl
resulted from several years agitation
m places tax OF 10 cents pound on
Substances colored 10 initiate butter
The Irrigation act Ia Of special i'm
p0rtAnce to the development OF this
west II creates an irrigation fund In
the treasury department into which Il
! 10 b. paid the proceeds Of the sales oi
public landa Ia the arid states. This
Fund In turn ID to be used In storinr
water and establishing irrigation sys
TENS. the irrigation sections TO b.
open 10 homesteAders. who are to b.
charged pr0portionate share OF the
cont u the improvement. The Chi
Mase exclusion law continues exclusior
until otherwise provided by law" and
also applIca the exclusion law ito the
island Territory under the Jurisdiction
NJ the United States.h
Aside from these important laws
NherW are number Of other measures
ct general importance which have
pAssed one or both houses. but which
have not progressed To the ilnal stage
These include the anti.anarchy legis
Nation. which grew out Of the assas
ssinatiUn Of President Mckinley. Thes.
nills restricting anarchy and throw
Ing safeguards about the preaiden
have paused both houses. hut II ha.
been Impossible to reach an agreement
IN conference. SO that the subject goei
over until next December.
A bin giving statehood to New Mex
leo, Arizona and Oklahoma. known a,
the onnibus statehood bin. passed IN,
house and the senate has determines
10 take up the matter early In the mex
mesnion.
The ship subsidy bin secured earl.
/ attention In the senate. but the emf
OF the session has come without tn,
measure being reported TO the house
Al It passed the senate. the bill grantl
1raded subsidies to steam md sailing
veasels OF American build. In III,
hcuse 1t has been thought desirable Il
aet the subject 20 over until the shor
Mession. when It Is expected that +,
blll on the subject win be reported ans
urged.
A bill passed by the senate and hkel,
TO become law changes the marin,
hospital service TO national health bu
reau and gives the bureau larger pow
'ers and facilities for cooperating with
the state health authorities In quaran
tine and health affairs.
A bill to establish cable betweer