The Delta independent., 1902-07-04

"aShlngton, July 1.-The work OF
Congress is now practically closed, SO
TT 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, mos; 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
1sthmian canal bill, which consuln-
mates the efforts OF half century to
link together the waters OF the Allan
tic and Pacific. Aside from its nation
al and interna tional Importance, this
bill probably involves a 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
government together with coinage,
currency. banking. corpora ton. timber
and homestead Laws. Among the 9th
~ important general laws enacted are
those repeating the war revenue taxes:
extending and making more effective
the Chinese exclusion laws: establish
ing n tariff for goods 10 and from the
Philippines: extending the charter OF
national banks for twenty years; es-
tablishinx a permanent census offlce'
restricting the sale OF oleomargarine
by placing n high tax on imitation but
Ter; providing a consular and diplo-
matte service for Cuba: e<sta blishing 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 xT33O.UDO, 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 iarif ac1 imposes sew
enty-fve per cent OF the Dingley tarir
rates on. articles coming from the Phil
ippines TO the United States and also
imposes on articles entering the Phil
ippincs from the United States the
rates Of duties established by the
Philippine Commission.
The olcomargarinc act results from
several years agitation. IL places a
tax OF 10 cents n pound on substances
colored so initiate butter.
The irrigation act Is OF special i'm
portance 10 the development OF the
West. II creates an irrigation fund In
the Treasury Department. into which
is TO bc paid the proceeds OF the sale or
public lands In the arid states. This
fund In turn Is to he used In storing
water and establishing Irrigation sys-
tens. the irrigation sections To he
opened To homs%tcaders, who are to is'
charged proportionatc share OF the
cost OF the Improvement.
The Chinese exclusion law confinucs
exclusion until othcrwis. enacted by
law" and also applies the exclusion
TO the islands and territory under the
Jurisdiction OF the United States
Aside from these important laws
there are number OF other measures
OF general Importance which have
passed one or both houses, bu, 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 and throwing safeguards
about the President have passed both
branches OF Congress, but II has been
impossible TO reach an agreement IN
conference. so that the subject goes
over until next December.
4 hill giving statehood 10 Arizona.
New Mexico and oklahoma. known as
the omnibus statehood bill, passed the
House and the Senate has determined
10 take up the matter early in the
next session.
The ship subsidy bill secured early
attention In the Senate. but the end oi
the session has come without ih"
measure being reported 10 the House.
As II passed the Senate the bill grants
graded subsidies TO steam and sailing
vessels OF American build. In the
house IL has been deemed desirable to
let the subject go over until ih" short
session. when It 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 srtion
Of the South. has received favorable at
iention in both houses. but has gone
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