Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-07-05
BUSY TERM OF CONGRESS.
Session Of Congress Just Closed Has
Seen Some Important Legislation
Enacted.
Canal Bill One of the Important Meas
ures of the Session Repeal Of
War Revenue.
Other Measures Of Unusual Importance
Passed at the SESSION. Washing
ton News.

This has been an important session
OF congress and notable among these
larger measures is the isthmian canal
bill, which consummates the efforts of
a half century to link together the
waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Aside from its national and interna-
tlonal Importance, this bill probably
involves a larger sum of money than
that covering any other single under
taking by the government outside of
wal expenditures. The Philippine civ
II government bill is another measure
OF far-reaching Importance, extending
TO our remote Pacific possessions a
system of internal civil government,
together with coinage, currency, bank
ing corporation, timber, and home
stead laws. Among the other impor-
tant general laws enacted are those
repeating the war revenue taxes; ex-
tending and making more effective the
Chinese exclusion laws; establishing
tariff for goods to and from the Phil
ippines; extending the charter of ma
tional banks for 20 years; establishing
a permanent census office; restricting
the sale of oleomargarine by placing
high tax on imitation butter; pro-
viding a consular and diplomatic serv-
ice for Cuba; establishing an extensive
system by which the government will
aid in the irrigation Of the arid sec
tions of the west.
The repeal of the war revenue taxes
reduced taxation $73,25O,OOO, 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
tariff act imposes IS per cent Of the
Dingley tariff rates on articles coming
from the Philippines to the United
States, and also imposes on articles
entering the Philippines from the
United States the rates of duties es-
tablished by the Philippine commits
sion. The oleomargarine act results
from several years Of agitation. It
places tax of ten cents pound on
substances colored to immitate butter.
The irrigation act is of special i'm
portance to the development of the
west. It creates an irrigation fund in
the treasury department, into which
is 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 sys-
TENS, the irrigated sections to be open
to homesteaders. who are to be charg-
ed a proportionate share of the cost
Of the Improvement.
The Chinese exclusion law continues
exclusion until otherwise provided by
law" and also applies the exclusion
ito the island territory under the ju-
risdiction of the United States.''
Aside from these important laws
there are number of other measures
OF general Importance which have
passed one or both houses, but have
not progressed to the final stage.
These include the anti-anarchy legis-
lation, which grew out of the assassi-
nation Of President Mckinley. Bills
restricting anarchy and throwing safe
guards about the president have pass
ed both branches of congress- but it
has been impo ossible to reach an agree
ment in conference, so that the subject
goes over until next December.
a bill giving statehood to Arizona,
New Mexico and Oklahoma, known as
the Omnibus 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
measure being reported to the house.
As it passed the senate the bin grants
graded subsidies to steam and sailing
vessels Of American build. In the
house it has been deemed desirable to
let the subject so over until the short
session, when 1t is expected that a bill
on the subject will be reported ani
urged to passage.
Several other measures have ad-
vanced to q certain stage and have
then halted without much prospect for
further advancement. These include
the bill for the election OF United
States senators by direct vote Of the
people. II passed the house by prac-