The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-30
Many Important Measures Have
Been Enacted This Session.
WEST HAS BEEN BENEFITED
IRRIGATION BILL WILL BE OF
GREAT VALUE TO UTAH.

sion of the ffty-seventh congress. The
session has been marked by exceptional
business activity, with many questions
OF far reaching general interest en-
caging attention. With the exception
Of the Cuban reciprocity bin most Of
the larger subjects Of general ltgisla-
ton have been enacted as laws, or will
become such before the Session closes
Notable among these larger meas
ures is the isthmian canal bill, which
cOnsUmmates the efforts of a half
century to link together the waters of
the Atlantic and Pacific, Aside from
its national and international import
ance. this bill probably involves a
larger sum Of money than that COW
ering 'ny other single undertaking
by the government outside of war ex-
penditures. The Philippine civil gov
eminent bin is another measure Of
far-reaching Importance, extending to
our remote Pacific possessions a sys-
tenn Of international government. to-
gether with coinage, currency, bank
ing, corporation, timber and homestead
laws.
Stricter immigration Laws.
Among tie other important laws
enacted are those repeating the war
revenue taxes, extending and making
more effective the Chinese exclusion
laws; establishing q tariff for goods
to and from the Philippines; extending
the charter OF national banks for TWEEN
" years; establishing a permanent
census office; restricting the sale Of
oleomargarine by placing a high tax
on imitation butter, providing consular
and diplomatic service for Cuba: es-
tablishing an extensive system by
which the government VIII aid in the
irrigation Of the arid sections of the
west. The repeal OF the war revenue
taxes has reduced taxation S73, $50, 900,
and Is said to be the largest single
reduction Of taxation ever made in this
country.
BY this step. the last of the taxes
imposed AZ the beginning Of our war
with Spain are wiped out. The Philip
pine tariff act imposes 20 per cent OF
the Dingiey 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
established by the Philippine commits
son. The oleomargarine acts results
from several years agitation. It
places tax Of 10 cents a pound on
substances eolored to initiate butter.
Importance Of Irrigation Bill.
The irrigation act is OF special i'm
portance to the department of the
west. It creates an irrigation fund i'm
the treasury department, into which
is 10 be paid the proceeds Of the sales
OF public lands in the arid states This
tund in turn Is to be used i'm storing
water and establishing irrigation sys-
TENS the irrigation sections TO be omen
10 homesteaders who are to be charged
a prop0rtiOnate share OF the cost OF
the improvement. The Chinese exclu-
sion law continues exclusion until
otherwise provided by law" and also
applies the exclusion "to the island
territory under the jurisdiction 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, but which have not
to the final stage. These in
csude the anti-anarchy legislation.
which grew out Of the assassination Of
president Mckinley. Bills restricting
and throwing safeguards
about the president have passed both !
houses, but IL has been impossible TO ]
reach an agreement in conference. so !
that the subject goes over until next |
December.
Statehood For Territories.
A bill giving statehood to Arizona,
New Mexico and oklahoma. Known as /
lhe omnibus statehood bill, passed the /
n4rfun he
TO take up the matter early in the /
next session.
The ship subsidy bin secured early /
attention In the senate, but the end |
p the session has come without the /
measure being reported to the house
As 1T passed the senate, the bill
grants graded subsidies 10 steam and
sailing vessels of American build. IN /
he house it has been desirab to let
he subject go ever until the short
session, when il IS expected that a bin /
Pm the subject viii be reported and !
lrgeG 10 passage
A biz passed By the senate and likely
% become a law changes the marine
hospital service to a national health
bureau and gives the bureau larger
powers and facilities for cooperating
Win the state health authorities i'm
quarantine and health affairs.
The bin TO establish a cable between
ne United States, Hawaii and the
saiilPpines was retired by defeat in
he house,
Election Of Senators.
The bin for the election Of United
-tates senators by direct vote of the /
PEOPLE passed the house by practically /
b unanimous vote. but in the senate
received little attention. and is not |
kelly to pass. The house passed a bill !
.elating 10 the immigration laws, codi-
yng and amending these laws relat-
ng to important changes, 1t has been
exported to the senate. but there is
lot much prospect Of its passage at this
session.
The bill defining the meaning Of con-
plfacy IN injunction cases passed the
house Of representatives but has not
made much progress in the senate. on
ne other hand, the senate passed an
important measure creating a depart
nent Of commerce, to be presided over
~ cabinet officer, but 1t has made
10 progress I'm the house. not having
'een reported from the COMMITTEES on
commerce. Another bin of interest to
ne commercial world is the pure food
measure, which was drafted by the
'ure food congress, and after extended
BEARINGS. was reported from the house
Committee on commerce, but not
lassed.
The Fowler bill was probably
he most important financial meas |
Ire which has been brought before |
After much discussion and
eVeral conferences, it has gone over
or consideration until next December. !
mother financial measure, known as
ne Hill bin, providing for the coinage /
4 subsidiary silver and for the retire
nent of the present standard silver /
'ouar, has passed the house, but has /
lot hnnV IN,