Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-07-09
Session Came to an End Last Tues.
day, Amid Scenes Rlvalling in
Spirit Those OF War Times.
GREAT MEASURES ARE ENACTED
Probably More Important Business
Transacted Than During Any Pre-
vious Single Session.

Washington, July l.-Amid scene,
Of enthusiasm that has not been par
alleled since the existing and stirrin,
days of the Spanish war, Speaker
Henderson, at $50 O'Clock this after
noon, declared the house of represen
tatives adjourned sine die. In doinl
so he said that no house of represen
tatives since the adoption of the con
stitution had done so much work al
this one. The audience to which h,
made his address was brilliant one
The galleries we're packed to the doorl
and almost two-thirds of the mem
bers were In their seats on the floor
The speakers appreciative words L
members, in thanking them for thei
cooperation during the session. ha,
touched a responsive chord, and the,
gave him a remarkable demonstration
of their friendship and good will
While the cheering and applause wer,
still in progress the members on tn,
floor began singing MY Country, Til
of Thee" 1t was taken up by tn,
correspondents in the press gallery
over the speakers chair, anu by tn,
spectators in the surrounding CALLER
les. and soon the vast hall was ring
ing with the swelling chorus. Othe
patriotic airs followed as the members
exchanged farewells, THE Star-Spang
led Banner" alternating with Dixie.
The speaker came down from hi
rostrum, his appearance on the foo
being greeted with For He's a Joll!
Good Fellow" and a perfect rush o
members to grasp his hand. Stand
ing In the area in front of the clerk
desk, he joined in the songs. and ther'
was a wild scene when Gen. Hooke
of Mississippi. an old one-armed con
federate veteran, took his place b.
the side of the speaker and togethe
they sang Dixie" Mr.. Gambler o
Missouri, a Democrat. jumped iron
the desk and let out yell of jubila
tion that tairly shook the ratters. Fo
almost an hour the jubilation contin
ued. All this time the spectators re
manned standing in the galleries
watching the animated scene below
and joined in the singing.
The session has been marked by ex
ceptional business activity with man.
questions of far-reaching general in
terest engaging attention. With tn,
exception of the Cuban reciprocit,
bill most OF the larger subjects o
general legislation have Deen enact
ed as laws. Notable among thes,
large measures is the isthmian cana
bill, which consummates the effort!
of a half century to link together tn,
waters of the Atlantic and Pacific
Aside from its national and interna
tional Importance this bill proDabl,
involves a larger sum of money thar
that covering any other single under
taking by the government outside o.
war expenditures. The Philippin,
civil government is another measure
of far-reaching importance extending
to our remote Pacific possessions {
system of international civil govern
ment together with coinage. currency
banking, corporation, timber and home
stead laws.
Among the other important gener
al laws enacted are those repeating
the war revenue taxes. extending ant
making more effective the Chinese ex
clusion laws, establishing tariff fol
goods to and from the Philippines
extending the charter of nationa
banks for 20 years. establishing q
permanent census office, restricting
the sale of oleomargarine by placing
high tax on imitation butter. pro
viding a consular and diplomatic ser
vice for Cuba, establishing an exten
sive system by which the government
will aid in the irrigation of the arid
sections of the west.
The repeal of the war revenue tax
es, reduced taxation s73,250,000 AM
is said to be the largest single reduc
tion ever made in this country.
BY this step the last of the taxes
imposed at the beginning of the wal
with Spain was wiped out. The Phil
ippines tariff act imposes 75 per cent
of the Dingley tariff rates on articles
coming from the Philippines to the
United States and also imposed or
articles entering the Philippines from
the United States the rates of duties
established by the Philippine com
mission.
The oleomargarine act results from
several years of agitation. IL places
tax of 10 cents a pound on the sub
stances colored to initiate butter.
The irrigation act is of special i'm
portance to the development Of the
west. II creates an irrigation fund
in the treasury department into which
is 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 systems; the irrigated sec
tions to be home to homeseekers, who
are to be charged a proportionate
share OF the cost OF the improvement
The Chinese exclusion law continues
exclusion until otherwise provided by
law" and also applies the exclusion
ito the island territory under the jur
isdictlon of the United States" Aside
from these important laws there are
a number OF other measures of great
er importance which have passed one
or both houses. but have not progress
ed to final stage.
These include the anti-anarchy leg
islation, which grew out OF the assas