Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-07-01
REVIEW OF CONGRESS-
What Has Bceen Accomplished BY
the First Session.
IMPORTANT BILLS.
Exceptional Business Activity Has Been
ON for sesss Months and Measures
or farreaching Interest Dis-
posed of--Atjournment.

Washington. June so.-The work OF
congress Is now practically closed. 50
that Il is possible TO sum up the re-
cord OF what has been accomplished
during the past seven months. which
constitute the FIRST session Of .ifty-
seventh congress. The session has
been marked by exceptional business
activity with many questions Of far
reaching general interest engaging at
tention. with the exception OF the
Cuban reciprocity bill most OF the
larger subjects Of general legislation
have been enacted as laws OF viii be-
come such before the session closes
Notable among these larger measures
is the isthmIan canal bill. which con-
summaries the efforts Of half century
to link together the waters Of the At
iantlc and the Pacific Aside from It's
national and international importance.
this bill probably involves a larger
sum of money than that covering apy
other single undertaking by the gov
ernment outside Of war expenditures
The Fhaiii,pshc civil government bill
Is another measure OF farreaching inn
portanee. extending 10 our remote Pa
clfc possessions a system OF inierna-
tional government, together with coin
age. currency. banking. corporations.
timber and homestead law.
Among the other important general
laws enacted are those repeating the
war revenue taxes: extending and
making more effective the Chlneses ex-
clusion laws: establishing a tariff for
goods 20 and from the Philippines; ex-
tending the chatter Of national banks
for twenty years: establishing a per-
manent census Office: restricting the
sale OF oieomarEarine shy placing
high tax on Imitation butter: providing
a consular and diplomatic service for
Cuba and establishing an extensive
system by which the government viii
aid In the Irrigation OF the arid sec
tions OF the west.
The repeal OF the war revenue taxrs
reduced taxation ss5.esO.000. and Ia
said 20 be the largest single reduction
of taxation ever made IN this country.
BY this step the last Of the taxes Inn
posed az the beginning Of our war with
Spain was wiped out
The Philippine tariff act imposes rs
per cent Of the Dingley tariff rates on
ARTICLES coming from the Philippines
from the United States the rates OF
duties established by the Philippine
commission.
The oleomargarine act results from
several years OF agitation. Il places
tax OF ten cents pound on substances
colored 20 Initiate butter.
The irrigation act il of special I'm
portance 20 the Developments OF the
west II creates an irrigation fund In
the treasury department Into which r.
TO be paid the proceeds OF the sale OF
public lands In the arid states. This
fund IN turn is % be used in storing
water and establishing irrigation sys-
TENS. the Irrigation sections to be open
10 homestcaders. who are to be charg-
ed a prop0rtlonate share OF the cost
OF the Improvement.
The Chinese exclusion law continues
exclusion until otherwise provided By
law aud 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 OF both houses. but have
not progressed TO the final stage.
These Include the anti.anarchlst iegis-
latiun which grew out OF the assassi.
nation OF President Mckinley. Bills
restricting anarchy and throwing
safeguards about the president have
passed bath branches of congress. but
Il has been possible to reach an agree
ment In conference. so that subject
goes over.
A bin giving statehood TO Arizona.
New Mexico and Oklahoma. known as
the omnibus statehood bill. passed the
house and the senate has determined
to take MP the matter early In the
next session.
The ship subsidy bill secured early
attention In the senate but the end OF
the session has come without the
measure being reported TO the house.
As II passed the senate the bill grants
graded subsidies to steam and sailing
vessels Of American build. la the
house Il has been deemd desirable 10
let the subject 20 over until the short
session. when Il Is expected that a bill
on the subject will be reported and
urged 90 passage.
The bill creating the Appalachian
forest reserve. including a vast tract
In the Appalachian mountains OF the
south. has received favorable attcn.
tlon IN both houses. but has gone over
for final adjustment OF differences rff
al next December.
Another bin fasssd by the sefn
and likely 70 become : law cha ~
he marine hospital service 10 -