River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-07-03
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Commemorative Summary of Lee-isIa.
ton Enacted During the Session
Measures Which Failed.

DOSElDle
been accomplished during the past seven
months. which constitute the first session
of the 9th congress. The session. has been
marked by exceptional business activity,
with many questions of far-reaching gem
eral interest engaging attention. With the
execution of the Cuban reciprocity bill most
of the Iargerssubjects of general legislation
have been enacted as laws or will become
such before the session closes.
Notable among these larger mea sures is
tho isthmian canal bill, which consummates
the efforts of half century to link together
the waters of the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Aside from its national and interna tional
Importance, this bill PROBABLY involves
larger sum of money than that covering
any other single undertaking by the govern
ment outside of war expenditures. The
Philippine civil government bill is another
measure of far-reaching Importance, ex-
tending to our remote Pacific possessions
a system of internal civil government to-
gether with coinage, currency, banking cor
Doration. timber, and homestead laws
Among the other important general laws
enacted are those repeating the war rsve-
rue taxes; extending and making more
effective the Chinese exclusion laws; estab-
fishing a tariff fer goods to and from the
Philippines; extending the charter of ma
tional banks for 20 years; esta blishing
permanent census office; restricting the
sale of oIeomargarine by placing high tax
on imitation butter; providing consular
and diplomatic service for Cuba; esta blish-
ing an extensive system by which the gov
eminent will aid in the irrigation of the
arid sections of the west
The repeal of the war revenue taxes re-
duced taxation 3,250,00O, and is said to be
the largest single reduction of taxation ever
made in this country by this step the last
of the taxes imposed at the beginning of
our war with Spain was wiped out. The
Philippine tariff act imposes 70 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 Philip
pine commission The oleomargarine act
results from several years OF agitation. 1t
places a tax of ten cents pound on sub
stances colored to initiate butter.
The irrigation act is of special Importance
To the DEVELOPMENT of the west. Itcreates
an irrigation fund in the treasury depart
ment. 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 sections to be open
to homesteaders, who are to be charged
proportionate share of the cost of the i'm
provement.
The Chinese exclusion law continues ex-
clusion until otherwise provided by law"
and also applies the exclusion ito the
island 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 leg
islation, which grew out>of the assasslna-
ton of President Mckinley. Bills restrict
ing anarchy and throwing safeguards 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 omnl-
bus 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 atten-
ton in the senate, but the end of the session
has come without the measure being re-
ported to the house. AS it passed the sen
ate the bill grants graded subsidies to
steam and sailing vessels of American
build. In the house it has been deemed de-
sirable to let the subject go over until the
short session, when it is expected that
bill on the subject will be reported and
urged to passage.
The house passed a bill relating to the
immigration laws, codifying and amending
these laws relating to important changes.
1t has been reported to the senate, but there
is not much prospect of its passage a this
session. 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 meas
ure ting department of commerce, to
be presided over by cabinet officer, but it
has made nc progress in the house, not hav-
ing been reported from the committee on
commerce.
Another bill Of interest to the commercial
world is the pure food measure 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 congress After considera-
BILE public discussion and several confer
ences by the members of the house it has
gone over for consideration next December.
Another financial measure, known as the
Hill bill, providing for the coinage of sub
sidiary silver and for the retirement of the
present standard silver dollar, has passed
the house but has not been acted on in the
senate.
The amount of appropriations for the ses-
sion will run unusually high, owing in part
to the amount required to build the 18TH
milan canal. When Mr.. Cannon submitted
a general estimate of appropriations few
weeks ago, he made the total up to that
time 1891, AS 900. Since then the canal bill
has passed, carrying a present appropria-
tion of $40 O0000 900 for the franchise, and
enough more for the rights of Colombia
and for beginning the work to carry the
total up to $50 900. The entire cost of the
undertaking is approximately 1854, GO0, 0C0.
Mr.. Cannon's estimate also omitted con-
tracts for future expenditure included in
the omnibus public building, the omnibus
claims and various oth:r bills, aggregating
a large amount. This will carry the total
for the session, figuring in these future
amounts, almost if not quite, up to the bill
lion-dollar mark. The appropria ton bills
have contained little general legislation,
being confined chiefly to the regular needs
of the various branches of the government
There have been several Investigations
during the session which have attracted
much attention. An investigation of con-
ditions in the Philippines conducted by the
Philippine committee of the senate, has led
to the examination Of many witnesses high
in the conduct of civil and military affairs
in the islands. Another senate inquiry has
related to the condition of affairs in Cuba,
especially as to sugar. In the house sensa-
tional charges made in connection with the
purchase of the Danish West Indian islands
led to an investigation which disclosed the
groundless nature of the charges.
Murder in Chicago.
Chicago, June 3o.-Harry Murphy
shot and instantly killed William Hall
(colored) at 1907 Ashland avenue
Hall was abusing a 14-year-old boy
when he was ordered to desist by
Murphy. Hall then drew a knife and
tried to stab Murphy, when the latter
fired, killing him instantly.
Again Convicted.
Eldorado, Kan, June 80. = Jessie
Morrison was convicted of numbering