Gilpin observer., 1902-07-03

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Congress is now practically closed, so
t1.ct it is possible to sum up the rec
ord Of what has been accomplished
during the past seven months, which
constitute the first session of the Fif-
ty-seventh Congress.
The session has been marked by ex-
ceptional business activity, with many
questions Of far-reaching general in
terest engaging attention.
With the exception of the Cuban re-
ciprocity bill, most of the larger sub
jects of general legislation have been
enacted as laws, or will become such
before 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 Allan
>tc and Pacific. Aside from its nation
al and international Importance, this
bill probably involves q larger sum of
money than that covering any other
single undertaking by the government
outside of war expenditures.
The Philippine civil government bill
Is another measure of far-reaching i'm
portance, extending to our remote Pa
cific possessions system of internal
government, together with coinage,
currency, banking, corporation, timber
and homestead laws. Among the 9TH
er important general laws enacted are
those repeating the war revenue taxes;
extending and making more effective
the Chinese exclusion laws; establish
ing a tariff for goods to and from the
Philippines; extending the charter of
national banks for twenty years; es-
tablishiDg permanent census office;
restricting the sale Of OleOmargarine
by placing high tax on imitation but
ter; 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.
The repal Of the war revenue taxes
reduced taxation $73.3JO.OOO, and is
said to be the largest single reduction
Of taxation ever made in this county.
By this step the last of the taxes i'm
posed at the beginning of our war
with Spain are wiped out.
The Philippine tariff act imposes sew
enty-five per cent. of the Dingley tariff
rates ON articles coming from the Phil
ippines to the United States and also
imposes on articles entering the Phil
ippines from the United States the
ates of duties established by the
Philippine Commission.
The oleomargarine act results from
several years agitation. 1t places a
tax of 10 cents a pound on substances
colored to initiate butter.
The irrigation act is of special i'm
portance to the development Of the
West. 1t creates an irrigation fund in
the Treasury Department into which
| t. ~ a <,ft t1ra sol 10 nf
| public lands in the arid states. This
| fund in turn is to be used in storing
water and establishing irrigation sys
TENS, the irrigation sections to be
opened to homesteaders, who are to be
charged a proportiOnate share of the
cost of the Improvement.
| The Chinese exclusion law continues
exclusion until otherwise enacted by
law" and also applies the exclusion
Ito the islands and 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 or both houses. but have
not progressed to the final stage. These
include the anti-anarchy legislation.
which grew out of the assassination of
President Mckinley. Bills restricting
| anarchy anu throwing sdleS udIur
about the President have passed both
branches of Congress. but it has been
impossible to reach an agreement In
conference. so that the subject goes
over until next December.
| 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 session has. come without the
measure being 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 II has been deemed desirable to
let the subject go over until the short
session. when 1t is expected that a
bill on the subject will be reached and
urged to passage.
| The bill creating the Appalachian
forest reserve. including vast tract
in the Appalachian mountain section
OF the South, has received favorable at
tention in both houses, but has gone
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