The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-03-02
WHAT HAS BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED
Work of the Fifty-ssvsnth Con-
gress Up 10 Date.
FAILURE OF TRUST BUSTERS
LITTLEFIELD BILL WAS KILLED
IN THE SENATE.


Of 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 win be very small.
A summary Of the legislation enacted
during these two sessions makes an in
teresting showing. The Fifty-seventh
has been a busy congress, and impor-
tant results have been obtained. Among
the acts Of this session is that creating
the department Of commerce and labor
and adding another cabinet officer to
the presidents official family. That de-
partment. with George B. COrtelyou.
late secretary 70 the president, at its
head is now in process Of organiza-
ton. The bill creating his department
was introduced by Senator Nelson. and
was passed by the senate during the
late session, passing the house during
the present session. when an amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Nelson was in
corporated. This amendment contained
a publicity clause. Another important
piece Of legislation enacted at this ses-
sion is the anti-rebate act, commonly
known as the Elkins law
Antitrust Fiasco.
Another bill passed. which en-
ables the attorney general to expedite
suits brought under the sherman anti
trust law. and incorporated Ia the legis-
lative. executive and judicial appropria-
/ ton act, is a provision which places at
the immediate disposal of the attorney
general the sum of 100000 TO better
equip him for the enforcement Of the
antitrust laws now existing. A fur
Their 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 bin, which contained { pub
Lefty feature as well as an anti ebate
clause. The bill failed Of passage in
the senate.
one of the first acts Of this session
was the removal Of tariff on coal Of all
kinds coming from foreign countries.
Army and Navy Legislation.
Legislation Of importance to the army
and navy was enacted. A general staff
corps has been provided for the United
States army the duties of which are 10
prepare plans for the defense Of the
country and for the mobilization OF the
armies of the United States in times
Of war, as we'll as to render profession
al aid to the secretary of war and the
general officers Of the army. This meas
ure was proposed by the secretary Of
war.
The militia bill introduced by Repre-
sentative 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, provided for
material increase in the personnel Of
the navy to meet the growing demands
for officers and mem 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 $3,00O00O
was made 10 relieve the distress and
suffering caused by the ravages of dis
ease among the water buffalo in the
islands, upon which the natives are al
most wholly dependent in the pursuit
Of agriculture. and 70 relieve the dis
tress resulting from the shortage or
crops during war and other ravages. A
currency system has been provided for
the Philippine islands. Another act
promoted the efficiency of the Philip
pines cOnstabulary and still another
provided for eXtradition Of criminals
to and from the islands. The house
passed a bill to reduce the Philippines
tariff and the senate has been urged
by the president to complete the act.
Miscellaneous Laws.
OF Importance to Hawaii is the act
/ passed at this session for the redemD-
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 bill soon to become
a law makes appropriations for carry
ing forward river and harbor work and
federal building construction, while the
omnibus building bill now pending au-
thorizes a large number of new build
ings throughout the United states.
The anarchist BILL providing prOtec-
ton Of the president has passed both
houses and conferees have agreed
upon it.
The bankruptcy law was amended
and a number Of bills affecting the pub
lie lands were passed. In addition,
large number of bills Of interest to diff
ferent localities have been passed, to-
gether with a considerable number of
private pension bills. A new building
TO cost Sl,500.O 900 has been authorized for
the department of agriculture
Among the acts of the Fifty-seventh
congress which were adopted al this
session, are the following;
Authorizing the construction Of an
isthmian canal; providing civil govern
ment Ia the Philippines. providing rev.
enue for the Philippines; extending the
/ Chinese exclusion laws; repeating the
war taxes: extending charters Of ma
tional banks; creating a permanent
/ census bureau; providing a system Of
/ irrigation for the arid lands Of the
west: providing a consular and diplo-
matte service for Cuba.
Five of the general appropriate bills
/ have been signed by the president, and
I two others, the Indian and the army,
| have finally passed both houses. With
one or two exceptions all the others
! have been sent 10 conference. Those
approved are the pension the legisla
tive. executive and judicial and the
diplomatic and consular and two urgent
! deficiency bills. Those in conference
are the Distril of Columbia, the agri-
culture, the military academy, post
Office. sundry civil, naval and tortidca-
I tions bills.
/ Owing to the difference between the
/ figures I'm the bills as passed by the
/ house and as amended by the senate. il
as difficult at this time 20 give an esti-
mate of the aggregate OF the appropri-
/ atoms carried by the general bills.