The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1902-07-05


congress Is now practically closed. u
that i l. possible TO sum up the rec
ord Of what has been accomplished
during the past seven months, which
constitute the iiFst session Of the Fiji
syTseSenth congress. The session has
been marked w exceptional business
activity. with many questions Of far
reaching general interest engaging II
tention. with the exception OF tbs
Cuban reciprocity bill most Of tbs
larger measures of general Legislation
have been enacted as laws o. will be
come such before the session closes
Notable among these larger meas
nfes Is the Isthmlan canal bill which
eoHsummates the efforts Of halt
century % link together the waters Of
the Atlantic aud Pacific. Aside from
10 national and international import,
ance. this bill probably Involves =
larger sam d money than has covered
any single undertaking b. the govern,
meat outside u war expenditures.
The Philippine eiYil government bin
Is another measure Of far-Fsaehlng ina
poftanca. extending 70 our remote Pa
eide possesslons \ system 0f internal
goveFnment. together With coinage.
currency. banking. corporation. timber
and homestead lava
Among the important laws enacted
are those repeating the war revenue
saxss; extending and making more e.
fcetisc the Chinese exclusion laws es.
tahilshing = taFia Tor goods 70 and
from the Philippines. extending the
charters u national hanks for 70
years; establishing a permanent cen.
aus once. rssgFieting the gal9 81 oleo.
margarine by placing high tax on
imitation butter. providing = consular
and diplomatic services for Cuba; astRh-
ilshlrg an extensive system b. which
The Eofagnment will aid in the irrlEa,
lion q the arid sections q the uest
The Erpeal ~ fke var revenue taxes
has reduced taxati6a lTa SO. 900. nnd
= said 10 be Tho largest slnglo reduc
tioH q TAXATION ever made In this
country. ny thia step the last u the
tnxe1 irHposrd ~ the beginning u our
war with Spain are Niped oas.
The Philippine tariff art imposes Is
prs cent u the utngiry tariff rates %
uFtielca enfalnR FROM the Philippines
10 The United States ard also imposes
90 artlelas catering the Philippines
from The United States the rates AZ
duties established BY the Philippine
commissions. Tho oicumaFgAFins act
resulted from several years agitation
u places a Tar q 10 esnsa = pound on
snbataaeea eolored 10 initiate butter
The irrigation act Il u special In
p0ftaRrn to the development ~ thu
wrsi. Il creates an Irrigation fund 10
the treasury department into which IL
"a bc paid the proceeds q the sales ~
public lands In ghc arid states. This
fund IN tufa u 10 - used In storing
water and establishing irrigation sys,
toms. tho irrlzagion uecsInna 10 b.
open 10 hpmestradeFa. who are To be
charged = pgopoFtianage share uf the
cost IL the improvement Tho Chi,
nsse exclusion Law continues exclusion
until otherwise provided by law and
aiHa applies the exclusion law ito this
island territory under the jurisdiction
Of the United States"
Aside frem these important laws
there are a number ~ other measures
u general importance which have
passed one or both houses. but which
have not progressed 10 tho final stage
These include the antianarchy legin.
iation. which grew out 81 The asaaa.
HiHasiun ~ President Mckinley. These
bills restricting anarchy and thrOw.
Ing safeguards about the president
have passed both houses. but It has
bren impossible TO reach an agreement
In conference. 30 that the subject goes
over until next December.
a bill giving statehood 10 New Mex.
leo. Arizona and Oklahoma. known rs
the omnibus statehood bill. passed the
tousc and the senate has determined
10 take Mp The matter early In the next
session.
The ship subsidy bill secured early
attention In the senate. but the end
~ the secretion has come without the
measure being reported 10 the house
A. Il passed the senate. the bin grants
graded snbaldies 10 steam and sailing
vessels Of American build. In the
house Il has been thought desirable 10
let the subject so over until the short
session. when Il Is expected that a
bin on The subject will be reported and
urged
A bin passed by the senate and likely
10 become a law changes the marine
hospital service 10 national health bu.
reau and gives the bureau larger pow
era aud facilities for cooperating with
the state health authorities In quaran
tine and health affairs.
A bill to establish a cable between
the United states. Hawaii and the
philippines was retired by defeat In
the house.
The Bill for the election Of United
States senators by direct vote OF the
people passed tho house by practically
an unanimous vote. but IN the senate
II has received little attention and N
likely 10 remain there
The bill defining the meaning OF
conspiracy In injunction cases passed
the house OF representatives. but has
not made much progress In the senate,
On the other hand. the senate passed
an important measure creating a dc.
partment % commerce. 20 be presided
over by cabinet officer, but It has
made no progress in the house, not
having been reported from the com.
miltee on commerce. Another bill Of