Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-03-12
IMPORTANT MEASURES PASSED
BY THE CONGRESS.
the ACTS OF MOST IMPORTANCE
A Summary Of the Legislation Enact
ed During Their Two Sessions
Make an Interesting
Showing.

seventh congress, is practically at an
end. A summary of the legislation
enacted during these two sessions
makes an interesting showing. The
Fifty-seventh has been a busy con
gress, and important results have
been obtained.
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, at its head, is now in
process of organization. The bill
creating this department was intro
duced by Senator Nelson, and was
passed by the senate in the last SEES
sion, passing the house during the
present session, when an amendment
proposed by Mr.. Nelson was incorDor-
ated This amendment contained a
publicity clause. Another important
piece of legislation enacted at this
session is the anti-rebate act, COM
monty known as the Elkins law.
Another bill was passed which en-
ables the attorney general to expedite
suits brought under the Sherman anti
trust law and incorporated in the
legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation act is a provision which
places at the immediate disposal Of
the attorney general the sum Of u
million dollars to better equip him
for the enforcement of the antitrust
law 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 Littlefield anti
trust BILL which contained publicity
feature as we'll as an anti-rebate
clause. The bill failed of passage in
the senate. One of the first acts of
this session was the removal of the
tariff on coal of all kinds coming from
any foreign country
Legislation of Importance to the
army and navy was enacted A gen.
eral staff corps has been provided for
the United States army, the duties OF
which are to prepare plans for the de-
Tense of the country and for the
mobilization of the armies of the
United States in times of war, as well
as to render professional aid to the
secretary of war and the general Off
GERS of the army This measure was
proposed by the secretary Of war.
The militia bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Dick of Ohio, which pass
ed the house during the first session,
passed the senate during this session
and has become law. This act pro-
vides for the general organization Of
| TIE Iullllld VI lnC Oullcu OldtCo anu
makes it available when its 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 de-
mands for officers and men; also for
an increase in the number of war
ships.
Measures of great Importance to
the Philippines have been adopted at
this session. An appropriation Of 3
million dollars was made to relieve
the distresses and suffering caused by
the ravages of disease among the
water buffalo in the islands, upon
which the natives are almost wholly
dependent in the pursuit Of agricul-
ture, and to relieve the distress re-
sulting from the shortage OF crops
due to war and other causes. A cur
rency system has been provided for
the Philippine islands. Another act
promoted the efficiency of the Philip
pine constabulary and still another
provided for the extradition of Grim
inals to and from the islands. The
house passed bill to reduce the Phil
ippine tariff, and the senate has been
urged by the president to complete
that act.
OF importance to Hawaii is the act
passed at this session for the redemp-
ton by the United States of Hawaiian
silver money and the appropriation to
pay judgments growing out Of the sup
preston of bubonic plague.
The sundry civil service bill soon to
to become a law makes appropria-
tons for the carrying forward river
and harbor work and federal building
construction, while the omnibus pub
lie building bill authorizes a large
number of new buildings throughout
the United States.
The anarchy bill providing for the
protection Of the president has passed