Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-10
WORK OF CONGRESS-
Many Important Bills Passed by
Fifty-Seventh.
RESUME OF MEASURES OF SESSION
iowans Take Prominent Place in shap.
ing and Passing Laws-Department
of Commerce and Antitrust Laws
Take Important Place.


Take important Place.
[BY H. j. MAHIN.1
Washington, d. c., March 3.-When
President Roosevelt congratulated
Speaker Henderson on the fact that
more important legislation had been
enacted while he presided over the
house than at any time since the civil
war, he undoubtedly had in mind the
work of the session which, with the
exception of a short extra session OF
the senate, passed into history for
ever at noon today. The f%ifty-seventh,
which closed its work today, has been
a busy congress, and important re-
suits have been obtained. AS usual,
Iowa men have had much to do in
shaping these results. The summary
of the legislation enacted during the
two sessions, and especially that of the
short session just concluded, makes a
good showing.
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. This is only the fourth
time that the cabinet has been en-
larged since the constitution was
adopted. This department, with Geo.
B. Cortelyor, late secretary to the
President, at it's head, is now in the
process of organization. The bill Gre.
ating this department was introduced
by Senator Nelson and vas passed
by the senate at the long session, pass
ing the house during the present ses-
sion, when an amendment proposed
by Mr.. Nelson was incorporated. This
amendment contained a publicity
clause in regard to trusts and corpo-
rations.
Another important piece of legisla-
ton enacted at this session in the
anti-rebate act, commonly known as
the Elkins law.
Another bill passed which enables
the attorney general to expedite suits
brought under the Sherman antitrust
law, and Incorporated in the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial appropri-
alton act, is a provision which places
at the immediate disposal of the at
torney general the sum of $500, 900 to
better equip him for the enforcement
of the antitrust laws now existing.
This law is modelled exactly after the
bill presented during the first part of
the session by Congressman Hepburn
of Iowa. A further provision is made
in the general deficiency bill for two
4 assistants to the attorney general and
additional clerks.
The house also passed the Littlefielt
i antitrust bill, which contained a pub
licity feature, as well as an anti-rebate
clause. This bill failed of passage In
the senate.
One of the first acts of the session
was the removal of the tariff on Goa,
of all kinds coming from any foreign
country for a period of one year. This
inc.
Legislation of Importance to the ar
my and navy has been enacted. a
general staff corps has been provided
for the United States army, the du-
ties of which are to prepare plans fol
the defense of the country and for the
mobilization of the armies of the Unit
, ed States in time of war, as well as t.
render professional aid to the secre-
tary of wal and the general officers O
. the navy. The measure was proposed
} by the secretary of war but no one il
} Washington deserves more credit TO,
, it's successful termination than Con
!, gresham Hull, of Iowa, chairman o
the house committee on military al
fairs.
; The militia bill introduced by Rep
} resentative Dick of Ohio, which pass
!, ed the house during the first session
passed the senate during this session
[ ard has become "a law. This act pro
J vides for the general organization o
, the militia of the United States, ant
makes it available Immediately whel
it's services may be required by tn
governm ent.
) The naval appropriation bill, whicl
has passed both houses, provides for
1 material increase in the personnel o
; the navy to meet the growing de
5 mands for officers and men; also TO
I an increase in the number of wa
3 ships.
1 Measures of great Importance to tn
Philippines have been enacted at thi
session. An appropriation of $4,000
900 was made to relieve the distres
and suffering caused by the rayage
of disease among the water buffalo i
the islands, Upon which the native
are almost wholly dependent in tn
pursuit of agriculture, and the di.
: tress resulting from the shortage @
: crops due to war and other causes
A currency system has been provide
5 for the Philippine islands. Another &C
5 promotes the efficiency of the Philip
pine c~anstabulary, and still anothe
:, provides for extradition of criminal
to and from the islands.
u The house passed a bill to reduc
g the Philippine tariff and the senat
e was urged by the President to com
5 plete the act, but did not do so.
OF Importance to Hawaii is the az
y passed at this session for the +,