The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-06-30
ISTHMIAN CANAL BILL
AMONG MOST IMPORTANT
Philippine Government Bill Measure
Has Probably Been Productive OF
More Debate Than Any Other
ouestion-General Resume.

WaSn1nRLOn, June ~ lie WOEh u
Congress is now practically closed, so
that 1t is possible TO sum up the record
of what has been accomplished during
the past seven months, which constitute
the first session of the Fifty-seventh con-
gress. The session has been marked by
exceptional business activity with many
questions of far-reaching interest en-
gaging attention. With the exception of
the Cuban reciprocity bill, most of the
larger subjects of general legislation
have been enacted as laws, or will be-
come such before the session closes.
Notable among these larger measures
Is the isthmian canal bill, which con-
summaries the efforts of a half century
to link together the waters of the At
lantic and Pacific oceans Aside from
its national and international Importance
this bill probably involves a larger sum
of money than covering any other single
undertaking by the government outside
of war expenditures The Philippine
civil government bill is another measure
of far-reaching Importance extending to
our remote Pacific possessions a sys-
tenn of internal government, together
with coinage, currency, banking, cor
porations timber and homestead laws.
Other important Laws.
Among the other important general
laws enacted are these repeating the
war revenue taxes; extending and max
ing more effective the Chinese exclusion
laws; establishing n tariff for goods to
and from the Philippines; extending the
charter Of national hanks for twenty
years; establishing a permanent census
bureau; restricting the sale Of oleomar-
garine by placing high tax on imtta-
tion buffers; providing "a consular and
diplomatic service for Cuba establishing
extensive systems by which the govern
ment will aid in the irrigation of the arid
sections of the west The repeal of the
war taxes reduced taxation $73 250,C00 and
is said to be the largest single reduction
of taxation ever made in this country.
BY this step the last of the taxes i'm
posed at the beginning of our war with
Spain was wiped out The Philippine tar
iff act imposes 70 per cent of the Dingley
tariff rates on articles coming from the
Philippines to the United States. and also
imposes On articles entering the Philip
pines from the United States rates Of
duty established by the Philippine com
mission. The oleomargarine act results
from several years of agitation. 1t places
Il tax of 10 cents pound ON substances
colored tc initiate butter.
Irrigation Act.
The irrigation act is of special import
ance to the development of the West
1t creates an irrigation fund in the treas
ury department into which Is to be paid
the proceeds of the sales of the public
lands in the arid States. This fund In
turn is to be used in storing water and
establishing irrigation systems, the irri-
cation sections to be open to homestead
uho n no charged DrODOrtiOn-
ate share of the cost of the Improvement
The Chinese exclusion law continues eX-
cusion until otherwise provided by law"
And also applies the exclusion Ito the
island territory under the jurisdiction of
the United States.
Aside from these important laws, there
are number of other measures of gen.
eral Importance which have passed one
or both Houses but have not progressed
to the final stage. These include the
anti-anarchist legislation which grew out
of the assassination of President Nc
Kinley. Bills restricting anarchy and
the throwing safeguards about the Pres
ident have passed both branches of Con-
gress, but 1t has been impossible to reach
an agreement in conference, SO that the
subject goes over.
Omnibus Statehood Bill.
A bill giving statehood to Arizona, New
Mexico and Oklahoma, known the On
nibus Statehood Bill, passed the House
and the Senate has determined to take
up the matter early In the next session.
The ship subsidy bill secured early
attention in the Senate but the end of
the session has come without the meas
ure being reported to the House. AS 1t
passed the Senate the bill grants graded
subsidies to steam and sailing vessels of
American build. In the House 1t has been
deemed desirable to let the subject go
over until the short session, when it is
expected that a bill on the subject will
be reported and urged to passage.
Forest Reserve.
The bill creatiag 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
December. Another bill passed by the
senate and likely to become a law
changes The marine hospital service to
q national health bureau and gives the
buIea larger powers and facilities for
cooperation with State health authori-
ties on the quarantine and health af
fairs.
The bin to establish a cable between
the United States, Hawaii and the Phil
ippines was retired by defeat in the
house of representatives.
Several other measures have advanced
10 a certain stage and have then halted
without much prospect for farther ad-
vanccIEent These include the bill for
the election OF United States senators by
direct vote of the people. 1t passed the
house BY practically unanimous vote,
lut in the senate has received little at
tention and Is not likely tc pass
The house passed bill relating to the
immigration laws, codiryIng and amend
ing those laws relating to important
changes 1t has been reported to the
senate, but there is not much prospect
of its passing at this session. The bill
defining the incoming of conspiracy in In
s..,-~.sen cases passed the touse of rep
.tives, but has not made much pro-
n the senate. The senate passed,