Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-07-04

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doing so he said that no house of repre-
sentatives since the adoption of the con
stitution had done as much work as
this one.
congress is now practically closed, so
that it is possible to sum up the record
of what has been accomplished during
the past seven months, which constitute
the first session of the Fifty-Seventh
congress. The session has been marked
by exceptional cuisines activity, with
many questions of farreachng general
interest engaging attention. With the
exception of the Cuban reciprocity bill.
most of the larger subjects of general
legislation have been enacted as laws,
or will become such before the SEES
sion closes.
Notable among these larger measures
is the isthmian canal bill. which con-
summaries the efforts of a half century
to link together the waters of the At
lantic and the Pacific. Aside from its
national and international 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 an
other measure of far-reaching i'm
! portance, extending to our remote Pa
cifc possessions system of internal
civil government, together with coinage.
currency, banking, corporation, timber
and homestead laws.
Among the other important general
laws enacted are those repeating the
war revenue taxes; extending and maxi
ing more effective the Chinese exclusion
laws; establishing a tariff for goods to
and from the Philippines; extending the
charter of national banks for 20 years;
establishing permanent census office:
restricting the sale of OleOmargarine by
placing a high tax on imitation butter:
providing consular and diplomatic
service for Cuba; establishing an ex-
tensive system by which the govern
ment will aid in the irrigation Of the
arid sections of the west.
Aside from these important laws
there are number of other measures
OF general Importance which have
passed one or both houses. but have not
progressed to the final stage.
The bill to establish cable between
the United States, Hawaii and the
Philippines was retired by defeat in
! the house. Several other measures
have advanced to certain stage and
have been halted without much pros
pect for further advancement. These
include the bill for the election Of United
States senators by direct vote of the
people; bill relating to the immigra-
ton laws; defining the meaning of con-
Spiracy in injunction cases: creating n
department of commence, to be nrp-
sided over by a cabinet officer: the pure
food bill, which, after extended hear
lngs. was reported from the house COM
mittee on commerce, was NOT passed
Among the other important mea Surps
of general legislation not heretofore
named which have been finally enacted
as laws. are the following:
To prevent the sale of firearms.
opium and intoxicating liquors to the
natives of certain of the Pacific isl.
ands: to promote the efficiency of the
revenue cutter service, and to provide
for the retirement of its officers: to re-
fund the duties paid in Porto Rico on
articles imported from the United
States during the military occupation:
appropriating 100000 for the relief of
the volcano sufferers at MartniQue;
authorizing the erection of Y. NJ. C.. A.
buildings on United States military res
ervations; regulating the Introduction
OF eggs Of game birds for purposes of
propagation; providing for the protec-
ton of game in Alaska, particularly
the large game such as moose. caribou,
etc; extending an invitation to the
French government to participate in the
unveiling in Washington of the statue
of Marshal De Rochambeau: re funding
the amount of legacy tax paid by char
liable, benevolent and elemosinary in
situations
Inc 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 Il general estimate of ap-
preparations few weeks ago. lie made
the total up to that time $G91 ,4I5 900.
Since then the canal bill has passed,
carrying present appropriation of S40,-
100000 for the franchise and enough
more for the rights of Colombia and
for beginning the work to carry the
total up to S500O0,0OO. The entire cost
of the undertaking is approximately
SlS4OO0,OOO, Mr. CannOns est nate
also omitted contracts for future ex-
penditure, aggregating IA large amount.
This will carry the total for the ses-
sion. figuring in these future amounts.
almost, if not quite, upward to the bill
lion dollar mark.
The appropriation bills have con-
tanned little general legislation. being
confined chiefly 10 the regular needs Of
the various branches of the govern
ment.
There have been several investiga-
IL