The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-03-05
DONE IN CONGRESS
c,,mMARY OF LEADING WORK
THIS SESSION.
c.sation of New Department OF La
bor and Commerce Among the
Most Observation-Disclosures Mea-
sures, Isthmian Canal Appropri-
.tion and Others Of Importance.

.ho present session of congress, the
closing of which marks the expiration
II the Fifty congress, is practi-
sally at an end, except for the passage
If the appropriation bills.
A summary of the legislation enacted
drring these two sessions makes an in
taresting showing. The Fifty-seventh
has been busy congress, and import
ant results have been obtained. Among
.be acts of this SESSION is that creating
tho department of commerce and labor,
and adding another cabinet officer to
the presidents official family. That
denartment, with George B. Cortelyou
late secretary to the president, at the
head. is now in process of organization.
The bill creating this department was
introduced by Senator Nelson, of Min
nesota. and was passed by the senate
during the last session, passing the
house during the present session, when
an amendment proposed by Mr.. Nell
son was Incorporated. This act con-
tains a publicity clause. Another i'm
nortant piece of legislation enacted at
This session is the anti-rebate act COM
monty known as the Elkins law.
Still another bill was passed which
enables the attorney general to expe-
djte suits brought under the Sherman
antitrust act and incorporated in the
legislative, executive and judicial ap-
propriation act is provision which
places at the immediate disposal of the
attorney general the sum of 500, 900 to
better equip him for the enforcement
of the antitrust laws now existing A
further provision is made in the gener-
al deficiency bill for two assistants to
the attorney general and additional
clerks.
The house also passed the Littlefeld
antitrust bill, which contained pub
llcity feature as we'll as an anti-rebate
clause. The bill failed of passage in
the senate.
Legislation of Importance to the army
and navy was enacted. A general staff
and corps has been provided for the
army, the duties of which are to pre-
pare plans for the defense of the coun-
try and for the mobilization of the az
mics of the United States in times If
war, as we'll as to render professional
aid to officers of the army. This mea-
sure was proposed by the secretay of war.
The military bill introduced by Rep
resentative Dick, of Ohio, and which
passed the house during this session
and has become law. This act pro-
vides for tie general organization Of
the militia of the United States, and
makes it available when it's services
may be required by the government.
The naval appropriation bill, which
has passed both houses, provided for a
material increase in the personnel of
the navy to meet the growing demands
for officers and men; also for an in
crease in the number of warships.
Measures of great Importance to the
Philippines have been adopted at this
session. An appropriation of $3,OOO.-
600 was made to relieve the distress
and suffering caused bv the ravages of
disease among the water buffalo in the
island, upon which the natives almost
wholly depend in the pursuit of agri-
culture and to relieve the distress re-
sulting from the shortage of crops dur
ing the war and other ravages. A cur
rency system has been provided for the
Philippine islands. Another act pro-
noted the efficiency of the Philippine
constabulary, and still another provid-
ed for extradition of criminals to and
nom the islands. The house passed a
bill to reduce the Philippines tariff and
the senate has been urged by the pres
ldent to complete that act.
The sundry civil bill makes appro-
priations for carrying forward the river
and harbor work and federal building
construction, while the omnibus public
building bill authorizes large number
OF new buildings throughout the United
States.
The anarchy bill, providing for the
protection of the president, has passed
both houses.
Among the acts of the Fifty-seventh
congress which were adopted at this
session are the following:
AUTHORIZING the construction of an
lsthmian canal, providing civil govern
ment for the Philippines, providing
revenue for the Philippines, extending
t,le Chinese exclusion laws, repeating
'he war taxes, extending charters of
national banks, creating permanent
census bureau, providing a system of
irrigation for the arid lands of the
west, providing for diplomatic and
consulra service for Cuba.