The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-30
WORK OF CONGRESS
Closing Session Has Been One Of
Business Activity. :,
MANY IMPORTANT BILLS PASSED
Canal Measure Stands First-War
Tax Repeal, Irrigation, OIeO-
nlaEEarin Come Next.

Washington, June 30.-The work Of con-
gress is now practically closed. so that it
is possible to sum up the record OF what
has been accomplished.
The session has been marked by excep-
tional business activity, with many ques-
tions Of far-reaching general interest en-
gaging attention. With the exception of
the Cuban reciprocity bill most of the
larger subjects of general legislation have
been enacted as laws or will become such
before the session closes.
Isthmian Canal Bill.
Notable among these large measures is
the isthmian canal bill, which consum-
mates the efforts Of a half century, to
link together the waters of the Atlantic
and the Pacific. Aside from its national
and International Importance, this bill
probably involves a larger sum of money
than that covering any other single un-
dertakng by the government outside or
war expenditures.
The Philippine civil government bill is
another measure of far reaching lmpor-
tance, extending to our remote Pacific
possessions system of internal civil gov
ernment. toget her with coinage, currency,
banking, corporation, timber and home
stead laws. ~
Other Legislation.
laws enacted are those repeating the war
revenue taxes. extending and making
more effective the Chinese exclusion
laws; est ablishing tariff for goods to
and from the Philippines, extending the
charter Of national banks for twenty
years; establishing a permanent census
office; restricting the sale of OleOmar-
garn by placing high tax on imitation
butter providing a consular and diplo-
matte service for Cuba; establishing an
extensive system by which the govern
ment will aid in the irrigation OF the
arid sections of the west.
War Taxes Repealed.
The repeal of the war revenue taxes re-
duces taxation $73, ,250OOO 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 at the be-
ginning of our war with Spain was wiped
out. The Philippine tariff act imposes Is
per cent of the Dingley tariff rates on
articles coming from the Philippines to
the United States, and also imposes on
articles entering he Philippines from the
United States the rates OF duties estab
lished by the Philippine commission. The
oleomargarin act results from several
years OF agitation. 1t places a tax of 10
cents pound on substances colored to
initiate butter.
The Irrigation Bill.
The irrigation act is of special i'm
portance to the development of the west.
1t creates an irrigation fund in the treas
urv department, into which is to be paid
the proceeds of the sales of public lands
IN the arid states This fund in turn is to
be used in storing water and establishing
irrigation systems, the irrigated sections
to be open to hOmesteaders,. who are to
be charged proportionate share Of the
cost of the improvement.u.s..-.- =. -
- The Chinese exclusion law continues
exclusion until otherwise provided by
law and also applies the exclusion ''to
the island territory under the jurisdic-
tion of the United States.''
Aside from these important laws there
are number of other measures of gen.
eral Importance which have passed one
or both houses but have not progressed
to the final stage. These include the
anti-anarchy legislation, which grew out
OF the assaSsinatio of President McKin-
ley. Bills restricting anarchy and throw
Ing safeguards about the president have
passed both branches of congress- but 1t
has been impossible to reach an agree
ment in conference, so that the subject
goes over until next December.
bill giving statehood to Arizona, New
Mexico and Oklahoma; known as the ON
nibus statehood bill, passed the house
and the senate has determined to take up
the matter early in the next session.
Ship Subsidy Goes Over.
The ship subsidy bill secured early at
tention in the senate but the end of the
session has come without the measure be-
ing 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 subject go over until
the short session, when it is expected that
bill on the subject will be reported and
urged to passage. -.~
The bill creating the American forest
reserve, including vast tract In the Ap-
palachian mountain section of the SOUTH
has received favorable attention in both
houses. but has gone over for final ad-
austment Of differences. until next De-
cember. Another bill passed by the
senate and likely to become law changes
the marine hospital service to a national
health bureau and gives the bureau larger
powers and facilities for cooperating
with the state health authorities in quar-
antine and health affairs. The bill to
establish a cable between the United
States, Hawaii and the Philippines was