The evening Republican., 1902-06-30
DOINCS OF CONGRESS
Result Of the Fifty-seventh's
First Session.
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION ENACTED.

Cuban Reciprocity the Only Notable
Failure In the Work Mapped Out.
| Appropriation Reach Nearly
the Billion Dollar Mark.
| WASHINGTON, June aO.-The work
Of congress is now practically closed
so that it is possible to sum up the rec
ord of what has been accomplished
during the past seven months, which
constitute the first session of the Fifty
seventh congress. The session has been
marked by exceptional business activ-
ity, with many questions of faTeach-
ing general interest engaging atten-
tion. With the exception of the Cuban
reciprocity bill, most of the larger SUBJ
jects Of general legislation have been
enacted as laws OF will become such
before the session closes. Notable
among these larger measures Is the
isthmian canal BILL which consum-
mates the efforts of half century to
link together the waters of the At1an.
tic and the Pacific. Aside from its ma
tional and international importance,
this bill probably involves larger
sum of money than that covering any
other single undertaking by the gov
ernment outside of war expenditures.
The Philippine civil government bill
is another measure of farreaching i'm
portance, extending to our remote Pa
ciiic possessions a system of internal
civil government, together with COIN
age, currency. banking, corporation,
timber and homestead laws. Among
the other important general laws enact
ed are those repeating the war revenue
taxes.
By this step the last of the taxes i'm
posed ut the beginning Of our war with
Spain was wiped out. The Philippine
tariff act imposes rs per cent of the
Dingley tariff rates on articles coming
from the Philippines to the United
States and also imposes on articles en-
tering the Philippines from the United
States the rates of duties established
by the Philippine commission. The
Oleomargarine act results from several
years Of agitation. 1t places tax of
10 cents pound on substances colored
to initiate butter.
The irrigation act is of special i'm
portance to the development of the
west.
The Chinese exclusion law continues
exclusion until otherwise provided by
law and also applies the exclusion ito
the island territSty under the jurisdic-
tion of the United States.'
Aside from these important laws
there are a 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 antianarchy legislation,
which has passed both branches of
congress, but it has been impossible to
reach an agreement 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 received early
attention in the senate, but the end Of
the session has come without the meas
ure being reported to the house. AS it
passed the senate the bill grants graded
subsidies 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 that bill Oh the
subject will be reported and urged to
passage.
The bill creating the Appalachian for
est reserve, including vast tract in
he Appalachian mountain section Of
he south, has received favorable atten.
lion in both houses. but has gone over
for final adjustment of differences.
The bill to establish a cable between
he United States, Hawaii and the Phil
ppines was retired by defeat in the
lousc of representatives.
Several other measures have adj
7anced to a certain stage and have
hen halted, without much prospect for
urthCr advancement T&cse include
he bill for the election of United States
enators by direct vote of the people.
t passed the hou"e by practically 4
unanimous vote, but in the senate has
eceived little attention and is not like
y to pass.
The amount of appropriations for the
ession will run unusually high, owing
n part to the amount required to build
he isthmian canal When Mr.. Cannon
ubmtted general estimate of ap-
roprations few weeks ago, he made
he total up to that time $S91 ,445, 900.
ince then the canal bill has passed,
arrying a present appropriation of
for the franchise and
nough more for the rights of Colon.
la and for beginning the work to car.
y the total up to $50,000,OOO. The ell
re cost of the undertaking is approx.
lately $1S4,0G0,0O0. Mr.. Cannon's es.
mate also omitted contracts for fu.
ire expenditure included in the omni.
us public building the omnibus claims
nd various other bills, aggregating
rge amount. This will carry the to-
Il for the session, figuring In these fl.
ire amounts, almost If not quite up 10
lie billion dollar mark.
street Cl.rs Stoned In Pawtucket.
r. L. June 3O--