The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-07-04
THE WORK CONGRESS
RECORD OF WHAT HAS BEEN AC
coMPLISHED IN THE PAST
SEVEN MONTHS.
WAS A BUSINESS SESSION

With the Exception Of Cuban Reel.
procity, Most of the Larger Subjects
Of General Legislation Have Been
Enacted Into Law-TotaI Appropr-
atIons Very Close to the Billion Dol.
lar Mark.
Washington, June 30.-The work of
congress is now practically closed, so
that it is possible to sum up the
record of what has been accomplished
during the past seven months, which
constitutes the first session of the
Fifty-seventh congress. The session
has been marked by exceptional bust
ness activity, with many questions of
Tar reaching general interest engaging
attention. With the exception of the
Cuban reciprocity bill, most of the
larger subjects of general legislation
have been enacted as laws, or will be-
come such before the session closes.
Notable among these larger measures
Is the isthmian canal bill, which con-
to link together the waters of the At
lantic and the Pacific. Aside from it's
national and international Importance
this bill probably involves a larger
sum of money than that covering any
other single undertaking by the gov
ernment outside of war expenditures.
The Philippine civil government bill
In another measure of far reaching
Importance, extending to our remote
Pacific possessions a system of inter
Ral civil government, together with
coinage, currency, banking, corpora
hon, timber and homestead laws.
Among the other important general
laws enacted are those repeating the
war revenue taxes; extending and
making more effective the Chinese ex-
elusion laws; establishing tariff for
goods to and from the Philippines;
extending the charters of national
banks for twenty years; establishing
q permanent census office; restricting
the sale of oleomargarine by placing
high tax on imitation butter; provid-
Ing consular and diplomatic service
for Cuba; establishing an extensive
system by which the government will
aid in the irrigation Of the arid Sec
lions of the West.
Largest Single Reduction Ever Made.
The repeal of the war revenue taxes
reduced taxation $73,250,000 and is
said to be the largest single reduction
Of taxation ever made in this country.
By this step the last of the taxes i'm
posed at 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
TO the United States, and also imposes
on articles entering the Philippines
from the United States the rates of
duties established by the Philippine
commission.
The oleomargarine act results from
several years of agitation. 1t places a
tax of 10 cents pound on substances
eolored to initiate butter.
The irrigation act is Of special i'm |
portance to the development of the |
West. It creates an irrigation fund |
In the treasury department, into which |
Ia 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 sys-
TENS, the irrigated sections to be open |
TO homesteaders, who are to be charged
. proportionate share of the cost of the |
Improvement.
The Chinese exclusion law continues |
exclusion until otherwise provided by |
law" and also applies the exclusion
'to the island territory under the juris- |
diction 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 houses, but have not progressed |
to the final stage.
Z Close to the Billion Mark.
The amount of appropriations for !
the session will run unusually nigh, |
owing in part to the amount required !
to build the isthmian canal. When |
Mr.. Cannon submitted general esti- |
mate of appropriations few weeks |
ago he made the total up to that time |
s691, 445, 900. Since then the canal bill |
has passed, carrying a present appro- !
priation of $40,000,000 for the fran
chise, and enough more tor the rights |
Of Colombia and for beginning the |
work to carry the total up to $50,000,- |
900. The entire cost of the undertake |
ing Is approximately $184,000,000 Mr.. |
Cannon's estimate also omitted con-
tracts for future expenditure included |
In the omnibus public building, the |
omnibus claims and various other |
bills, aggregating large amount. This
will carry the total for the session, !
nguring in these future amounts, al |
most, if not quite, up to the billion !
dollar mark. The appropriation bills |
have contained little general legisla- |
ton, being confined chiefly to the reg
ular needs of the various branches Of j
the government.
There have been several investiga- |
dons during the session which have |
attracted much attention. An investi- I,
cation of conditions in the Philippines, /
conducted by the Philippine committee
of the senate, has led to the examina. |
ton of many witnesses high in the !
conduct of civil and military affairs
In the islands. Another senate in |
Quiry has related to conditions in Cuba, |
especially as to sugar. In the house |
sensational charges made in connec-
ton with the purchase of the Danish |
West Indian islands led to an investi- /,
cation which disclosed the groundless |
nature of the charges.
Biames British Captain for II.
st, Petersburg, June 30-In a dis !