Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-07-04
WORK OF CONGRESS-
SESSION NOW CLOSING WAS A
VERY ACTIVE ONE.
Canal Appropriations We're the Largest Ever
Made for Single Purpose, Except for
War-Reduction of $73,35e, 900 in War
Revenue Taxes Also Largest Ever Made
Many Other important Acts.

Washington, July 3.-The work OF
the first session of the 57th congress
has been marked by exceptional busi-
ness activity, with many questions OF
far-reaching importance and general
interest engaging attention. With the
exception of the Cuban reciprocity
bill, most of the larger subjects of gen.
eral legislation have been enacted as
laws. Notable among these larger
measures is the isthmian canal bill,
which consummates the efforts of half
. century to link together the waters OF
the Atlantic and Pacific. Aside from
its national and international import.
ance, this bill probably involves a larg-
er sum OF money than that covering any
other single undertaking by the govern
ment, outside of war expenditures.
The Philippine civil government bill is
another measure of far reaching import
ance, extending to our remote Pacific
possessions system of internal govern
ment together with coinage, currency,
banking, corporation, timber and home
stead laws.
Among the other important laws en-
acted are those repeating the war reve-
nue. taxes, extending and making more
effective the Chinese exclusion laws; !;
establishing tariff of goods to and
from the Philippines; extending the
charter of national banks for 20 years;
establishing permanent census office ;
restricting the sale of oleomargarine by
placing high tax on imitation butter !;
providing consular a nd diplomatic
service for Cuba; establishing an ex-
tensive system by which the govern
ment will aid in the irrigation of the
arid sections of the west.
The repeal of the war revenue taxes
has reduced taxation $73 $780, 900, and
is said to be the largest single reduc-
tion of taxation ever made in this coun-
try. By this step the last of the taxes
imposed at the beginning of our war
with Spain are wiped out. The Phil
ippine tariff act imposes 75 per cent of
the Dingley tariff rates on articles COM
ing from the Philippines to the United
States, and also imposes duty ON arti-
cles entering the Philippines from the
United States. The oleomargarine act
results from several years. agitation.
1t places a tax of 10 cents pound on
substances colored to initiate butter.
The irrigation act is of special i'm
portance to the West. - 1t creates an ir
rigation fund in the treasury depart
ment into which is to be paid the pro-
ceeds of the sales of public lands in the
arid states. This fund in turn is to be
used in storing water and blishing
irrigation systems, the irrigation sec
tions to be open to homesteaders, who
are to be charged proportionate share
of the cost of the improvement.
The Chinese exclusion law continues
exclusion "until otherwise provided
by law" and also applies the exclusion
"to the island territories under the jur-
isdiction of the United States.'
The amount of the appropriations of
the session will run unusually high,
owing in part to the amount required
to build the isthmian canal. When
Mr.. Cannon submitted a general esti-
mate of appropriations few weeks ago,
he made the total up to that time
$691 ,445 900. Since then the canal bill
has been passed, carrying present
appropriation of $40, 100000 for the
franchise and enough more for the
rights of Colombia and for beginning
the work to carry the total up to $5C,.
900, 900. The entire cost of the under
taking is approximately $1S4 900, 900
This estimate also omitted several con.
tracts and other expenditures which
will carry the grand total for the ses-
| sion almost if not quite up to the billion
dollar mark.