The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-04-30
oorseNT SESSION NEARINF FL
NAL HOURS.
~,,ef Work Has Been the Negoti-
alton of Treaties With Panama
and Cuba-Usual Economy and
conservatism Previous to Pres.
;dential Election.

Panama. Inc IcCiPfooAey eA"u0 eiooS
between the new island republic and
.bo limited States, initiated by presi-
dont Mckinley, was made operative
nv legislative enactment. The ratifi-
oot;on of a treaty by the senate and
the subsequent initiation of legislation
fonr the government Of the canal zone
Commits the United States to the con.
struction of the Panama canal connect
ing the waters of the Atlantic and Pa
cifc oceans.
The special session, now demnOmi-
mated the first session, vase allied for
the express purpose of carrying out the
nledge of the. nation to Cuba. The
Panama development was one which
rose suddenly and received immediate
action at the hands of the president.
Economy Is Shown.
The conservatism incident to the ap-
preaching presidential campaign was
manifested by those responsible for the
acts of the national legislative body.
The annual supply bills were made
with an eye to economy. Incidentally
they were passed with greater dispatch
than heretofore has been the case with
long session.
The senate ratified the treaty with
Cuba to carry out the terms of the
Plat amendment.
1t also ratified the China commercial
treaty, which provides for two open
ports in Manchuria.
ChairmanH Hemmenway, of the
house committee on appropriations, in
statement compiled under his direc-
ton, gives the total of all supply bills
Subject to slight changes in pending
bills) as 1897, 500, 1924, to which must
be added $S4,971,8 $40 for interest on
the public debt. The estimated reve-
nues are $7O4, ZAP 900. BY these fig
ures the expenses are $22 900, 900 less
than the revenues.
Few Public Bills.
While a total of over 1, 400 bills be-
came laws during the sessions, less
than 100 of them were public bills,
and of this latter number one-half
simply authorized the bridging of riv-
ers, the damming of streams, the reg
ulation of federal courts and the ordi-
nances of the District of Columbia.
Several amendments have been made
to facilitate the administration Of the
public land laws.
joint resolution was enacted pro-
viding for the transportation aboard a
government vessel of not exceeding 800
Of the public school teachers Of Porto
Rico to the United States during the
coming summer, for the purpose of
broadening their views by travel and
course in the summer schools of
teachers in this country.
Provisions were made for the extern
sion of the coastwise shipping laws of
the United States to the Philippines
after July /, 1904.
1t was made a crime to "crimp"
seamen Of the United States by solicit
ing them as dodgers or charging a fee
for shipping them.
The house, by independent action,
directed an investigation of the alleged
beef trust by the department of
commerce and labor.
The extension of the east front of
the capitol building was provided for,
and provision was made for an Office
building for senators to corresI ond
with the proposed Office building for
members of the house of representa-
ives. These buildings are to cost in
the neighborhood of 81, 600, 900 each.
The creation Of two additional states
IN the Union was provided for in a bill
which passed the house, but not the
senate. Oklahoma and Indian Terri
tory were united as Oklahoma; Ari-
iona and New Mexico as Arizona.
Labor Legislation Deferred.
Legislation directly affecting the la
DOR interests of the country received
consideration in the two houses, but
maj action was not taken. The eight
hour bill was referred to the depart
ment Of commerce and labor for in
Vestgation and report and the anti
injunction bill was postponed by the
committees until the next session.
In the senate the confrmatin of Gen
eral Leonard Wood was accomplished
after much inquiry and objection.
The right of Senator Reed Smoot, OF
otah, to his seat in the senate resulted
IN an investigation still in progress,
Involving the Mormon religion and
practices.
In the house much business has been
transacted. At no time has there been
ueiay caused by desire to filibuster
pn the part of the minority, but there
nas been considerable debate and many
campaign speeches have been deliver
n. In the house there were 1888
oiiis, $40 resolutions and 162 joint
resolutions and 81 concurrent resolu-
klOQE llfHAdxaaad OF Ahozo