Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-07-03
THE SESSIONS WORK
The IOS1 IMPORTANT BILLS PASSED
Many Measures Also Have Passed both
Houses bat Have Not Progressed b
the Final ssgs-Appfopristioas WIN
Foot Up Billion DollafA

Washington, June 30.-The work
Of congress is now practically closed,
so that 1t Is possible to sum up the
record Of what has been accom-
plished during the past seven months,
which constitute the first session Of
the Fifty-seventh congress. With
the exception Of the Cuban reciproc-
ity bill, most Of the larger subjects
Of general legislation have been en-
acted as laws or will become such be-
fore 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
Atlantic and Pacific. The Philippine
civil government bill Is another meas
ure Of far-resching Importance ex.
tending to our remote Pacific posses
sions system Of International gov
eminent together with coinage, cur
rency, banking, corporation, timber
and homestead laws. Among the
other important general laws are
those repeating the war revenue
taxes; extending and making more
effective the Chinese exclusion laws;
establishing tariff for good to and
from the Philippines; extending the
charter Of national banks for 20
years; establishing a permanent CEN
sus office; restricting the sale of
oleomargarine by placing high tax
on imitation butter; providing con-
sular and diplomatic service for
China; establishing an extensive sys.
TEN by which the government will
aid in the irrigation Of the arid Sec
tions Of the west.
There are number OF other meas
ures of general Importance which
have passed one or both houses, but
have not progressed to the final
stage. These include the anti-an-
archy legislation, which grew out Of
the assassination Of President Nc
Kinley. 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 secured early attention
in the senate, but the end of the ses-
sion has come without the meas
ure being reported to the house.
The creating the Appalachian forest
reserve has received favorable at
tention in both houses, but has gone
over for final adjustment of differ
ences until next December Another
bill passed by the senate and likely
| to become law changes the marine
hospital service to a national health
bureau.
Several other measures have adj
vanced to certain stage and have
been halted without much prospect
for further advancement. These in
clude the bill for the election OF
United States senators by direct vote
of the people. 1t passed the house
by practically unanimous vote, but
in the senate has received little at
tention and is not likely to pass.
The house passed bill relating
to the immigration laws, codifying
and amending these laws relating to
important changes. 1t has been re-
ported to the senate, but there is
not much prospect Of It's passage at
this session. The bill defining the
meaning of conspiracy in injunction
cases passed the house of representa-
tives, but has not made much prog
ress in the senate. On the other
hand the senate passed an important
measure creating department OF
commerce, to be presided over by a
cabinet officer, but it has made no
progress in the house.
Another bill Of interest to the COM
mercial world is the pure food meas
ure, 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 con-
gress. After considerable public dis
cussion and several conferences by
the members Of the house, 1t has
gone over for consideration next De-
cember. Another financial measure,
known as the Hill bill, providing for
the coinage Of subsidiary silver and
for the retirement Of the present
standard silver dollar, has passed
the house, but has not been acted
on In the senate.
Several other measures of general
legislation, not so important as those
named, have been finally enacted as
laws.
The amount Of appropriations for
the session will almost, II not quite,
come up to the billion dollar mark.
A Large Gold Surplus In the Treasury
Washington July L. United
States Treasurer Roberts calls az
| 4.u4:.r %c cha foct that the grOgn