Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-07-09


buried in THE house. The bill for a
government cable to the Philippines
was also killed. more eK-
travagant congress never assembled
at the capitol.
| What congress has left undone may
be briefly summed up as follows:
Failed to relieve Cuba by means of
reduction.
Failed to enact a militia law
Refused to pass "a bill for a general
staff of the army.
Smothered all reciprocity treaties
with foreign countries.
Failed to provide for consular re-
form.
Passed no legislation for the regu-
Ilation of trusts.
Set its face against tariff revision
and tariff reform.
| Postponed action on the bill Great
ing the department of commerce.
| Placed no new restrictions on Eu-
ropean immigration.
Just before the opening of con-
gress it was predicted that it would
be history-making; that more i'm
pOrtant Legislation would be passed
than at any recent session. These
predictions have not been fulfilled.
1t has been a session prolific in live
Iy set-tos, surprising revelations and
unexpected reversals of the balance
of power. but these have been aside
from legislation. The house leaders,
the greatest federal machine ever
seen, have been overthrow and hui
Initiated.
| The introduction of the bill reduc-
ing the tariff on iron and steel pro-
ducts by Representative Babcock,
of Wisconsin, chairman of the re-
publican congressional campaign
committee, caused a sensation in the
party. The question of reducing the
tariff on these articles was thorough
| ~ agitated in the committee on ways
and means early in the session and
once escaped being favorably report
ed only through the fact that one of
the democratic members was not
present.
The anti-anarchy bill is the one of
all others which was expected to
have easy passage, in view of the
popular ferment about such legisla
ton when congress convened, so soon
after the death of President -McKin-
ley. 1t passed the senate, but the
popular clamor had already begun
to die down. There is now little de-
mand for it; it is dead. This bill
is the one which is more justly en-
titled the bill for protection of the
president. The real anti-anarchy
bill, one which was designed to sup
press the propaganda, never got out
of the committee.
The immigration bill passed the
house and is tied up in the senate.
The statehood bill, providing for
the admission of Arizona, New Mexi-
co and Oklahoma, passed the house.
1t did not pass the senate at this
session; but it is in better shape
than the other bills, for Senator
Quay has made it the unfinished bust
ness for December 10, and the pres
ent indications show that he's will be
able to pass it.
Among the other important meas
ures of general legislation not here
tofore 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 service and to
provide for the retirement of its Of
ficers; to refund the duties paid in
Porto Rico on articles imported from
the United States during the military |
occupations; appropriating 100000
for the relief of the volcano sufferers |
at Martinique; authorizing the cree |
ton of Y. NJ. G. y buildings on United |
States military reservations; regulat-
ing the introduction of game birds |
for purposes of propagation; pre-
pairing for the protection of game in
Alaska, particularly the large game,
such as moose, caribou, etc; extend
ing an invitation to the French gov
eminent to participate in the unveil-
ing in Washington of the statue of
Marshal de Rochambeau; reducing
the amount of legacy tax paid by
benevolent and eleemo-
synary institutions.
There have been several investiga-
tons during the session, which have
attracted much attention. An in
of conditions in the Phil
ippines, conducted by the Philippine
commission of the senate, has led to
the examination of many witnesses
high in the conduct of civil and
affairs in the islands.
Another senate inquiry has related
to the condition of affairs in Cuba,
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 dis
closed the groundless nature of the
charges.
Steel Trust and Protection.
The steel trust is an infant in
iustry." 1t claims it cannot get