Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-03-05
SEVENTH CONGRESS.
Brief Summary of the Important
Legislation Enacted by the
National Assembly.
RECORD MADE PASSED into HISTORY.
Establishment of Department of
Commerce One of the Most Notable
Acts-Laws on Subjects of Trusts,
Army, Navy and Philippines Are
Full of Interest.

Washington, March 2.-The work
| of this session of congress, the clos
| ing of which marks the expiration OF
| the Fifty-seventh congress, is pract1c-
| ally at an end,s and a summary OF the
| legislation enacted during the two
! SESSIONS makes an interesting show
| ing The Fifty-s eventh mas been
busy congress 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 OIL
! cial family. That department, with
| George B. Cortelyou, late secretary
to the president, at it's head, is now in
process of organization.
Anti-Rebate Law.
Another important piece of legis-
| lation is the anti-rebate act, COM
| monty known as the Elkins law. An
| other bill was passed which enables
| the attorney general to expedite suits
| brought under the Sherman anti
| trust law, and incorporated in the
| legislative, executive and judicial APP
| preparation act is a provision which
| places at the immediate disposal OF
| the attorney general the sum of
| $5OO,OOO to better equip him for the
| enforcement of the antitrust laws
now existing.
| Coal Duty Suspended.
| One of the first acts of this session
was the. suspension 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
era1 staff corps has been provided for
| the United States army, the duties OF
which are to prepare plans for the
defense 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
officers of the army.
The militia bill provides for the
| general organization of the militia
| of the United States and makes 1T
available when it's 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 de-
| mands for officers and men; also for
| an increase in the number of war
ships.
Relief for Philippines.
Measures of great Importance to
the Philippines have been adopted.
An appropriation of 100000 was
made to relieve the distress and suf-
| fering caused by the ravages of dis
! ease among the water buffalo in the
| islands, upon which the natives are
almost wholly dependent in the pur-
suit of agriculture. and distress re-
| sulting from the shortage of crops
| rency system has been provided for
the Philippine islands.
Another act promoted the efficiency
of the Philippine constabulary, and
still another provided for extradition
| of criminals to and from the islands.
Hawaii Aided.
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 appropria ton
| to pay judgments growing out of the
suppression of bubonic plague.
The sundry civil bill makes appro-
priations for carrying forward river
and harbor work and federal build
| ING construction, while the omnibus
public building bill. now pending, au-
| thorizes a large number of new
| buildings throughout the United
| States.
Anarchy Law Passed.
The anarchy bill. providing for the
protection of the president, has
passed both houses and conferees
have agreed upon it.
The bankruptcy law was amended,
and a number of bills affecting public
lands were passed. In addition,
large number of bills of interest to
different localities have been passed,
| TOGETHER with a considerable number
| of private pension bills. A new build
fnc to cost $1,5O0,OOO has been author
lied for the department of agricul
| ture.
Adopted at First Session.
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 gov
eminent for the Philippines; provid
ing revenue for the Philippines; ex-
tending Chinese exclusion laws; re
peal of war taxes; extending char
tiers of national banks; creating
permanent census bureau; providing
a system for the irrigation of the
arid lands of the west; providing
consular and diplomatic service for
Cuba.
Senator's Elected at Last.