The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-07-04

thorities In quarantine 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.
Fell by the Waysfde.
Several other measures have advanced
to a certain stage and have then halted
without much prospect for further adj
yancement. These INCLUDE the bill for
the election of United States senators by
direct vote of the people. 1t passed the
house by practically a unanimous vote
but in the senate has received little at
tention and Is not likely to pass.
The house passed a bill relating 10 the
immigration laws, codifying and amend
ing these laws relating to important
changes. It has been reported to the sem
ate, but there is not much prospect of its
passage at this session. The bill defining
the meaning Of conspiracy In injunction
cases passed the house Of representatives,
but has not made much progress in the
senate On the other hand, the senate
passed an important measure creating a
department of commerce., to be presided
over by a cabinet officer, but 1t has made
no progress in the house, not having been
reported from the committee on COM
merce.
Another bill Of interest to the CONNER
cial world is the pur food measure, which
was drafted by the pure food congress,
and after extended hearings was reported
from the house committee on commerce,
but not passed.
The Fowler Bill
probably was the most important financial
measure which has been brought before
congress. After considerable public dis
cussion and several conferences by the
member Of the house it has gone over
for consideration next December. An
other financial measure, known as the
Hill bill, providing for the coinage of sub
sidiary silver and for the retirement Of
the present standard silver dollars, has
passed the house. but has not been acted
on in the senate.
Among the other important measures
Of general legislation not heretofore
named which have been finally enacted as
laws are the following:
To prevent the sale of firearms, opium
and intoxicating liquors to the natives of
certain of the Pacific islands; to promote
the efficiency of the revenue cutter serv-
ice and to provide for the retirement of it's
officers; to refund the duties paid in Porto
Rico on articles imported from the United
States during the military occupation;
ap%propriating 5000, 900 for the relief of the
volcano sufferers at Martinique; author
izing the erection of Y. M. c. A. buildings
in United States military reservations;
regulating the Introduction of eggs of
game birds for purpose Of propagation:
providing for the protection of game in
Alaska, particularly the large game, such
as moose, caribou. ETC.; extending an in
v~itation to the French government to par
ticipate In the unwilling in Washington
of the statue OF Marshal De R~ochambeau;
refunding the amount of legacy tax paid
by charitable, benevolent and eleemosy-
nary Institutions.
The Amount of Appropriations
for the session will run unusually high,
owing In mart RI tho amount ron11irp1 fn
build the isthmian canal. When Mr.. Can
non submitted a general estimate Of APP
preparations a few weeks ago he made
the total up to that time $691, AS, 600.
Since then the canal bill has passed, car
rying a present appropriation of $40, O00,-
600 for the franchise, and enough more
for the rights of Colombia and for begin
ming the work to carry the total up to
$50. 0O0, 600. The entire cost of the under
taking is approximately 1854, 600, 900. Mr..
Cannon's estimate also omitted contracts
for future expenditure included in the
omnibus public building, the omnibus
public building, the omnibus claims and
various other bills, aggregating a large
amount. This will carry the total for the
session, figuring in these future amounts.
almost, if not quite, up to the billion
dollar mark. The appropriation bills
have contained little general legislation,
being confined chiefly to the regular
needs OF the various branches or the gov
eminent. The naval bill provided for an
addition of two armored cruisers, two
battleships and two %gunboats to the navy.
and a provision is still in controversy as
to whether one of each class Of these
ships shall be built in government yards.
There nave been several Investigations
during the session which nave attracted
much attention. An investigation of con-
ditions in the Philippines, conducted by
the Philippine committee of the senate,
has led to the examination Of many wit
nesses high in the conduct of civil and
military affairs in the islands. Another
senate inquiry has related to the condi-
ton Of affairs in Cuba, especially as to
sugar. In the house, sensational charges
made in connection with the purchase OF
the Danish West Indian islands led to an
investigation which disclosed the ground
less nature Of the charges.