Gilpin observer., 1902-07-03
MUCH IMPORTANT WORK DONE
BY FIFTY.SEVENTH CONGRESS

over IOT unul adjustment Oh Oluexs
ences until next December.
Another bill passed by the Senate
and likely to become a law changes
the marine hospital service to a ma
tional health bureau and gives the bu-
reau large powers and facilities for CO.
operating with the state health author
tiles in quarantine and health affairs.
The bill to establish cable between
the United States, Hawaii and the
Philippines was retired by defeat in
the House.
Several other measures have ad-
yanced to a certain stage and have
then halted without much prospect for
further advancement. These include
the bill for the election of United
States senators by direct vote of the
people 1t passed the House by prac-
tically a unanimous vote, but in the
Senate has received little attention and
is not likely to pass.
The House passed a bill relating to
the immigration laws, codifying and
amending these laws relating to i'm
portant changes. 1t has been report
ed to the Senate, but there is not much
prospect of its passage at this session.
The bill defining the meaning of con-
spiracy 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 de
partment of commerce, to be presided
over by Cabinet officer, but it has
made no progress in the House, not
having been reported from the COM
mittee on commerce.
Another bill of interest to the COM
mercial world is the pure food meas
ure. which was drafted by the Pure
Food Congress. \and after extended
hearings was reported from the House
committee on commerce, but not
passed.
The Fowler bill probably was the
most important financial measure
which has. been brought before Con-
gress. After much discussion and sew
eral conferences 1t has gone over for
consideration until next December.
Another financial measure, known as
the Hill bill, providing for the coinage
of subsidiary silver and for the retire
ment of the present standard silver
dollar. has passed the House. but has
not been acted on in the Senate.
Among the other important measures
of general legislation not heretofore
named. which have finally been enact
ed as laws, are the following:
To prevent the sale of firearms. OPT
um and intoxicating liquors TO the ma
tives of certain of the Pacific islands;
to promote the efficiency of the reve-
nue. cutter service and to provide for
the retirement of its officers; to refund
the duties paid in Porto Rico on arti-
cles imported from the United States
during the military occupation; apprO-
priating 100000 for the relief Of the
| volcano sufferers at Martinique; au-
| thorizing the erection of Y. NJ. c. A.
buildings on United States military
reservations; regulating the introduc-
| tiOn of English game birds for the
purpose of propagation: providing for
the protection of game in Alaska, such,
as caribou, moose. etc: extending an
invitation to the French government
to participate in the unveiling in
Washington of the statue of Marshal
De Rochambeau; refunding the
, amount of legacy tax paid by chari-'
table. benevolent and eleemosynary in
stituticns.
The amount of appropriations for
the session will run unusually high,
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
$691 ,4.i5.OOO. Since then the canal bill
has passed. carrying a present appro-
priation of $4O.OOO.O0O for the fran
chise and enough more for the rights
of Colombia and for beginning the
work to carry the total up to $50, ,O0O.-
i 600.
The entire cost of the undertaking is
approximately $1S4, 100000 Mr.. Can
mons estimate also omitted contracts
for future expenditure included in the
omnibus claims and various other
hills, aggregating large amount This
will carry the total for the session. fig
uring In these future amounts. almost,
il not quite, up TO the billion dollar
mark.
The appropriation bills have con-
: tained little legislation. being con-
fined chiefly to the regular needs OF
the various branches Of the govern
ment. The naval bill provided for an
| addition of two armored cruisers, two.
battleships and two gunboats to the.
navy, and a provision Is still in contro-
versy as to whether one OF each class
of these ships shall be built in govern
ment yards.
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