River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-04-28
CONGRESS DOES
MUCH BUSINESS
REVIEW OF IMPORTANT WORK
OF THE SESSION.
OVER 1,4oo LAWS ENACTED
A Total of 21,6O5 Bills and Resolu-
tions Introduced-Cuba and Pan
anna Receive Much Attention
The Appropriations.

legislative accomplishments of the first
and special sessions of the Fifty eighth
congress were confined to two subjects
Cuba and Panama. The reciprocity
treaty between the new island republic
and the United States, initiated by Presi-
dent Mckinley, was made operative by
legislative enactment. The ratifica-
ton of a treaty by the senate and the
subsequent initiation of legislation for
the government of the canal zone com
nit the United States to the construc-
ton of the Panama canal connecting the
waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The special session, now denominated
the first session, was called for the ex-
press purpose of carrying out the pledge
of the nation to Cuba. The Panama de-
velopment was one which arose suddenly
and received decisive and immediate &C
ton at the hands of President Roosevelt
and the senate.
Conservatism Apparent.
The conservatism incident to the ap-
preaching presidential campaign, as
usual, was manifested by those respon-
sible for the acts of the national legisla-
tive body. The annual supply bills were
made up with an eye to economy. Incl
dentally, they were passed with greater
case at a long session.
Appropriations.
Chairman HemenWay, of the house
committee on appropriations, in state
ment compiled under his direction, gives
the total of all supply bills (subject to
slight changes in pending bills), as $751;
S02, 1874, to which must be added $64, 971,-
$40 for interest on the public debt. The
estimated revenues are $704, ,060. BY
these figures the expenses are $22 900 900
less than the revenues. The estimates OF
the various government departments on
which the appropriation bills were
based, exceeded the total estimated reve-
nues by $42, 845, 1862. No river and harbor
bill, making provision for new projects
of Improvement in the rivers and har-
bors of the country, was undertaken.
Likewise, no omnibus measure carry
ing provisions for new public buildings
was allowed to pass.
IMOT0 1udu I,4OO NSW AdWSs
While total of over 400 bills became
laws during the two sessions, less than
$50 of them were public" bills, and of
this latter number one-half simply au-
thorized the bridging of rivers, the dam
ming of streams, the regulation of fed
eral courts and the ordinances of the
District of Columbia. Several amend
mnts have been made to facilitate the
administration of the public land laws.
The allotment in severalty OF lands
owned collectively by Indian tribes in
various sections of the country has been
provided for in number of acts.
Pension Legislation.
The only general pension legislation
which became a law makes the pension
of those who totally lost their sight in
the military or naval service 500 per
month. Agitation for service pension
bill resulted in the Introduction of
many such bills 1t was decided, how
ever, that no such action should be
taken at the present session, after
which the general order making age an
evidence of physical disability to per-
form manual labor was issued by the
secretary of the interior and recognized
by congress in deficiency appropria-
ton of $1,5OO,000 to make it effective.
The Postal Scandals.
The only direct dealings which con-
gress had with the postal scandals"
was the investigation by the house of
the connection of it's members with
clerk hire increases in third and fourth
class post Offices and representations
regarding leases This Investigation
cleared every member from any i'm
proper conduct in the matter.
Aid for Expositions.
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition
company received a loan of $4,000, 900
from the government, of which 100000
is to pay the expenses of the board of
lady managers.
The government is to participate in
the exposition to be held at Portland,
Ore, in 1905, for the commemoration
of the one hundredth anniversary of
the exploration of Oregon by the
Lewis and Clarke expedition, to the
6XIGuI Vi oil tAulD1L W SOoI P1COBOOV
and an Alaskan exhibit to cost $25, 900.
Beef Trust Investigation.
The house, by Independent action,
directed an investigation of the alleged
"beef trust" by the department of com
merce and labor. The attorney general
was given the benefit of the unexpend-
ed appropriation made the last con-
gress for the prosecution of the trust,
an amount aggregating s475,000.
The Swayne Case.
impeachment proceedings were be-
gun in the house against Federal Judge
Charles Swayne of the northern dis
trict of Florida, but after majority
report from the committee favoring
impeachment the matter was sent
back to committee and made special
order for the next session.
Labor Legislation.
Legislation directly affecting the Ia
Dor interests of the country received
consideration in the committee of the
two houses, but final action was not
taken. The eight-hour bill was referred
to the department of commerce and labor
for investigation and report, and the
anti-injunction bill was postponed by