The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1902-07-10
WORK OF CONGRESS.
IMPORTANT LAWS ENACTED IN
FIRST SESSION..
Scope of Legislation Covers Singular
Problems - Philippine Government
Engrosses Worlds Attention-Cana
Measure Climax of Fifty Years Effort.

Congress has been marked by exception
al business activity, with many questions
of far-reaching general interest engag-
ing attention. With the exception of the
Cuban reciprocity bill most OF the larger
subjects of general legislation have been
enacted as laws.
Notable among these is the isthmian
canal bill, which consummates the efforts
Of half century to link together the wat
ers Of the Atlantic and the Pacific. Aside
from its national and international inn
portance this bill probably involves a larg-
er sum of money than that in any other
single undertaking by the government
outside OF war expenditures.
The Philippine civil government bill Is
another measure of far-reaching impor-
tance, extending to our remote Pacific
possessions Isystem of internal civil gov
ernment, together with coinage. currency.
banking. corporation, timber and home
stead laws.
Among the other important general
laws enacted are the following:
Pepealing the war revenue taxes.
Extending and making more effective the
Chinese exclusion law.
Establishing tariff on goods to and from
Extending the charter Of national banks
for twenty years.
Establishing permanent census Office.
Restricting the sale Of oleomargarine by
placing high tax on imitation butter
Providing diplomatic and consular serv-
Ice for Cuba.
Establishing an extensive system by which
the government Will aid In the irrigation of
the arid sections Of the West.
The repeal Of the war revenue taxes
reduced taxation S73.250.OOO and is said
to be the largest single reduction of tax
alton ever made in this country. By this
step the last of the taxes imposed at the
beginning of our war with Spain was
wiped out.
Philippine Tariff Act.
The Philippine tariff act imposes 75
per cent Of the Dingley tariff rates on
articles coming from the Philippines to
the United States and also imposes on ar
tcles entering the Philippines from the
United States the rates of duty es.ab
lished by the Philippine commission.
The oleomargarine act results from sew
eral years of agitation. 1t places a TAX
OF 10 cents pound on substances col
ored to initiate butter.
The irrigation act is of special impor-
tance to the development of the West.
1t creates an irrigation fund in the Treas
ury Department into which are to be
paid the proceeds Of the sales Of public
lands in the arid States. This fund in
turn is TO be used in storing water and
establishing irrigation systems, the irri-
gated sections to be open to homestead
ers, who are to be charged q proportion
ate 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 territory under the jurisdic-
ton Of the United States"
Bills Still In Progress.
Aside from these important laws there
are a number of other measures Of gen
eral impoytance which have passed one
or both(houses. but have not progressed
to theS6n stage.
These include the anti-anarchy legisla-
tion Which grew out of the assassination
of Hesident Mckinley. Bills, restricting
anarchy and throwing safeguards about
the President have passed both branches
Of Congress. but it mas been impossible to
reach an agreement in conference, SO that
the subject goes over until next Decem-
Der.
A bill giving statehood to Arizona, New
Mexico and Oklahoma. known as the ON
nibus statehood bill, passed the House
and the Senate has determined to take |
up the matter early in the next session. |
Other Important Laws.
The ship subsidy bill secured early at |
tention in the Senate, but the end of the |
session has come without the measure
being reported to the House. As it pass
ed the Senate the bill grants graded SUBJ |
sides to steam and sailing vessels Of |
American build. In the House it has
been deemed desirable TO let the sub |
ject go over until the short session, when |
it is expected a bill on the subjec. will |
be reported and urged to passage.
The bill creating the Appalachian for |
est reserve. including a vast tract in the |
Appalachian mountain section of the
South. has received favorable attention |
in both houses, but has gone over for final |
adjustment Of differences until next De-
cember.
Another bill passed by the Senate and |
likely to become a law changes the ma
rine hospital service to a national health |
bureau and gives the bureau larger pow
ers and facilities for cooperating with
the State health authorities in quaran-
tine and health affairs
The bill to establish a cable between the
United States. Hawaii and the Philip
pines was retired by defeat in the House
Of Representatives.
Halt by the Way.
Several other measures have advanced
to a certain stage and have then halted
without much prospect for further ad-