The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-23
FAIRBANKS in THE CITY
SENATOR SAYS HE Is GLAD TO GET
BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS.
In an Interview He Reviews the More
Important Work of the Com
gress just Adjourned.

Senator Fairbanks arrived in the city
yesterday afternoon from Washington and
Is at his home on North Meridian street.
While his plans for the summer have not
been definitely arranged, he expects to be
in Indianapolis the greater part of the
time, giving his attention largely to his
private affairs. The senator is in excellent
health and expressed himself as very glad
to get back home.
II am always glad to get back to Indian
apolis and Indiana" he said last evening.
Continuing, he spoke Of the work of the
session of Congress just closed.
THE last Congress was an exceedingly
busy one" he said, land large amount of
important work was done. One of the i'm
portant matters was the amendment of the
bankrupt law in several essential particu-
lars which had been suggested by the ex-
perience under the old law We also passed
a very important immigration law. one of
the most important that has ever been en-
acted on the subject of immigration. 1t
was In many respects codification of the
existing laws. The head tax was increased
from 81 to 81 The excluded classes were
extended to embrace the exclusion Of pro-
fesional beggars and more stringent meas
ures were provided to prevent the bring
ing into this country of diseased persons.
The administrative features of the law have
been so strengthened and carefully framed
as to make it almost impossible for the
excluded classes to secure admission con-
trary to the-law. Provision was also made
by Congress for materially strengthening
the navy.
'At the special session of the Senate we
were able to ratify the treaty of reciprocity
trQafV hQNOma RmQC-
tive only when approved by Congress.
There was division of opinion as to wheth-
under the Constitution TO make treaties
which would affect the revenues of the
government without regard to the House
of Representatives, which is given power
under the Constitution to originate revenue
measures.
while a majority of the committee on
foreign affairs, which reported the treaty
believed that the President and Senate
had the constitutional power to make the
treaty, IL was regarded as wise policy to
make 1t subject to the approval of Con-
gress.
1.-The ratification of the treaty with
Colombia, under which the United States
Is given the right TO acquire the property
OF the new Panama Canal Company, and
TO construct and operate a canal between
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, is a most
important step. The construction of this
canal Will not only have far-reachfng and
beneficial effect upon the commerce of the
United States, but 1T will have impor-
tant influence upon the commerce of many
other nations.
"One of the most gratifying things locally
| is the bill passed by Congress increasing the
| limit Of cost of the federal building in
| this city 100000. This increase is to be
used. among other things, for making APP
propriate changes in the north elevation.
| The change will be made by the architects
| in charge Of the construction of the build
| ing. They were consulted before the in
| crease was asked, they were fully advised
as to the wishes Of the people in the mat
| ter. and gave us their assurance that with
| the increase they would construct the north
| front so that 1t would be as attractive from
! an architectural standpoint as the people
| could DESIRE
| Senator Fairbanks declined to discuss the
| local political situation. He said that he
was not informed to the situation and
| under the circumstances had nothing to say
| in regard to il.