Waterbury Democrat., 1902-07-09
NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL.
A Glance at the Work Done by the
 Last Congress.

A Glance at the Work Done by the
 Last Congress.
 The adjournment of the national leg islature suggests a brief review of the first and long" session of the nfty seventh congress. Two vastly impor- tant measures stand out as the tangi> ble results of the session aside from the regular provisions of the budget. The question of an isthmian canal has. it is to be hoped, been solved by the passage of the Spooner amendment. Presumably the canal will be con structed from snama to Colon at an estimated cost of $140,0O0,000, and bonds to the amount of $130,000,O00 will be issued to defray the expense. The major portion of this sum will be expended outside the borders of the United States, it being provided that $4O000,O0O shall be paid, immediately upon the fulfillment Of certain condi- tions, to the French owners for. their unfinished canal.
 No less important and perhaps more contributory to the prosperity of the country, is the passage of the Hanns brough-N Newlands irrigation bill. By the provisions of this measure there will during the next half century, be opened up to settlement agricultural lands at an average rate of 1,O00.000 acres per annum. It is doubtful if a more per fectly conceived and drafted measure was ever enacted by congress, for it is automatic in that no further legislation and no appropriation will be required for it's fulfillment. Under the provis- ions of the bill fund, consisting of the receipts from the sale of public lands, which now aggregate upwards of $6,-
 100000, is already ayailable# as the nucleus of the irrigation fund" Ac- cretion to this fund will result from every sale of public land. Each reser- voir to be established and the land tributary thereto will be known as project and the cost of each "pro- ject' will be added, pro rata, to the statute price, SIPS per acre, of the ir- rigated land, the whole price to be paid in ten annual installments. Each sale will serve to reimburse the irrigation fund.- until the entire area estimated at from 50,000,000 to 60,0000OO acres, shall have been provided with water and the disposal of the last acre thus irrigated will leave a fund convertible into the treasury equal to the entire outlay, so that eventually the expense to the government will have been equal only to the interest on the money in vested while upwards of 50,000,000 acres of land, otherwise unstable. will have been disposed of.
 The Philippine bill, warmly advo- cated by the republicans and equally warmly opposed by the democrats. is, after all, preliminary and incomplete measure ana subsequent legislation will be required to carry out the present policy of the administration. It en- larges the powers of the Philippine commission and provides for a census and eventually for form of legisla- ture, and so may be said to extend civil government in the islands, but that it is largely tentative none can deny The establishment of q perma- nent census bureau, recommended by the president has been accomplished. and the oleomargarine law, ostensibly revenue measure, but really in the nature of pure food legislation, has been placed on the statutes
 The bills which congress failed to pass are numerous, and many impor- tant measures were lost in the maZes of parliamentary procedure or sacrf- feed to political exigencies. A com parison of the presidents message with the legislation accomplished shows glaring discrepancy, Mir Roosevelt's earnest words in regard to anti-anarch istfc legislation failed of issue. Bills passed by each chamber were left in conference and the over enthusiasm which expended itself In passing in the senate. too drastic measure, resulted i'll incipiency of purpose towards the close of the session. The history of cuban reciprocity" is too recent to re- quire repetition.
 Among other legislation recommend. GU by the president, and which failed of accomplishment, may be noted gov ernment supervision of and publicity Tor trusts. general reciprocity. aid to the shipping industry and the estab- ilshment Of department of commerce. An excellent militia law, reported by Genefal Dick of Ohio, failed of adoD, tloh. ana an army reorganization law. dfa1ted 1n accordance with the views Of Secretary Root, met a similar fate ln Tact, the comparison of the presi- ent's message with the record of legis- lation enacted furnishes some warrant Tor the suggestion that the compression. al leaders cherished no great desire to make the first administration of MT Roosevelt marked success nor to demonstrate to the country his ability as party leader
 On Tueday a most interesting cab. inet meeting was held. The Panama canal matter was referred to the at torney-general with instructions to submit plans for the verification of the title offered by the French company, The question of a Pacific cable was | brought up by Secretary Moody, who presented petition from the Commer- | cial Pacific company offering certain concessions in return for the cable sur, yey made by the United States steam. ship Nero. This, also was referred to Attorneyvheneral Knox for examina- I.tion and advice.