Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-03-06
CONGRESS AND ITS WORK.
A Review of the Most Important Leg
isIntion Enacted mt This
Session.


the appropriation bills now pending
and these are in the final stages. A
limited number of other measures may
be passed during the last hours, but
the number will be very small.
Among the acts of this session is
that creating the department of com
merce and labor and adding another
cabinet officer to the presidents Off
cial family. That department, with
George b. Cortelyou, late secretary to
the president. as it's head, is now in
process of organization.
Another important piece of legisla-
tion enacted at this session is the anti
rebate act, commonly known as the
Elkins law. Another bill was passed
which enables the attorney general to
expedite suits brought under the Sher-
man antitrust law, and incorporated
in the legislative, executive and judi
cial appropriation act is u provision
which places at the immediate dis
posal of the attorney general the sum
of $500,000 to better equip him for the
enforcement of the antitrust laws
now existing. A further provision is
made in the general deficiency bill for
two assistants to the attorney general
and additional clerks.
The house also passed the Littlefeld
antitrust bill, which contained publi-
city feature as well as an anti-rebate
clause. The bill failed of passage in
the senate.
One of the first acts of this session
was the suspension of the tariff on
coal of all kinds coming from any for
eign country.
Legislation of Importance to the
army and navy was enacted. A general
United States army, the duties of
which are to prepare plans for the de-
fense of the country and for the mob
ilization of the armies of the United
States in times of war, as well as to
render professional aid to the secre-
tary of war and the general officers of
the army. This measure was proposed
by the secretary of war.
The militia bill, introduced by Rep
resentative Dick, of Ohio, and which
passed the house during the first ses-
sion, passed the senate during this ses-
sion and has become a law. This act
provides for the general organization
of the militia of the United States and
makes it available when its services
may be required by the government.
The naval appropriation bill, which
has passed both houses, provides for
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 war ships.
Measures of great Importance to
the Philippines have been adopted at
this session. An appropriation of
$3,000,00O was made to relieve the dis
tress and suffering caused by the raw
ages of disease among the water buff
falo in the islands, upon which the
natives are almost wholly dependent
in the pursuit of agriculture, and dis
tress resulting from the shortage of
crops due to war and other causes, A
currency system has been provided for
the Philippine islands. The house
passed bill to reduce the Philippine
tariff, and the senate has been urged
by the president to complete that act.
The sundry civil bill soon to become
law makes appropriations for carry
ing forward river and harbor work
and federal building ngconstruction, while
the omnibus public building bill, now
pending, authorizes a large number of
new buildings throughout the United
States.
The anarchy bill, providing for the
protection of the president, has passed
both houses and conferees have agreed
upon it.
Among the acts of the Fifty-seventh
congress which were adopted at the
first session are the following:
Authorizing the construction of an
isthmian canal; providing civil govern.
ment for the Philippines; providing
revenue for the Philippines; extend
ing Chinese exclusion laws; repeal OF
war taxes; extending charters of ma,
tional banks; creating permanent
census bureau; providing a system fol
the irrigation of the arid lands of the
west; providing consular and diplo
matte service for Cuba.
Five of the general appropriation
bills have been signed by the presiden
and two others-the Indian and TIL,
army-have passed both houses. Will
one or two exceptions all the Others
have been sent to conference. Thos,
approved are the pension, the legisla
tive, executive and judicial, the diplo
matte and consular and two urgent de
ficiency bills. Those in conference ar
the District of Columbia, the agricul
ture, military academy, post office, sun
dry civil, naval and fortification bills
Wants Canal Abandoned.
Springfield, ILL.,, March, 2.-Aban
donment of the Illinois and Michiga
: canal will be demanded of the legisla
| ture by Snnatnr RnineN The eNnense q