New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-25
The WORK OF CONGRESS-.
TREATIES RATIFIED.
Cuba and Panama the Principal Oh
iects of Tnterest-Nan4 Bills.

accomplishments OF the first and second sessions
of the LvIIIth Congress confined to two
subjects-Cuba and Panama. The reciprocity treaty
between the new island republic and the United
States. initiated by President Mckinley. made
operative by a legislative enactment The ratih-
cation of treaty by the Senate and the subse-
quent initiation of legislation for the government
of the canal commit the United States % the
construction of the Panama Canal. The special
session, denominated the first session. was
called for the express purpose Of carrying out the
pledge of the nation to Cuba The Panama devel-
opment was one which arose suddenly and received
decisive and immediate action at the hands of
President Roosevelt and the Senate
The conservatism incident TO the approaching
Presidential campaign. usual. was manifested
by those responsible for the acts OF the national
legislative body. The annual supply bills were
made up with eye TO economy. Incidentally
they were passed with greater dispatch than here
tofore has been the case at long session.
The Senate ratified the treaty negotiated with
Cuba carry the terms Of the Plat amend
ment It also ratified the Chinese commercial
treaty. which provides for two open ports in Man
churia.
Chairman Hemenway of the House Committee
Appropriations. in a statement compiled under
his direction gives the of all supply bills
Subject slight changes In pending bills) as $751;
2324. to which must be added S49lS20 for inter-
est the public debt. The estimated revenues are
S0i.i72.0eO BY these figures the expenses are w.
600 less than the revenues. The estimates OF
the various government departments on which the
appropriation bills were based exceeded the total
estimated revenues by t42Si5.S2. No river and
harbor bill making provision for new projects OF
Improvement the rivers and harbors of the coun-
try was undertaken. Likewise. omnibus meas
ure carrying provision for public buildings
allowed pass
MORE THAN 1,4co BILLS PASSED.
While total of more than 1.4oo bills became laws
during the two sessions less than one hundred and
fifty Of them were public bills. and of this latter
zed he OF
rivers. the dsmming of streams. the regulation Of
federal courts. and the ordinances of the District
of Columbia.
Several amendments have been made TO facilitate
the administration Of the public land laws. The
allotment In severalty of lands owned collectively
by Indian tribes various sections OF the country
has been provided for in number OF acts.
step in the direction OF world peace has been
taken through the formation of American group
affiliated with the Notwithstanding Union for
International Arbitration and the official recOgni-
ton OF this group by the passage OF a joint reso-
luton extending invitation to the union to hold
its next annual meeting at ST. Louis and appro-
priating $4,000 for expenses.
A Joint resolution enacted providing for the
transportation aboard government vessel OF not
exceeding hundred OF the public school teachers
OF Porto Rico to the United states in the coming
summer for the purpose OF broadening their views
by travel and a course in the summer schools for
teachers in this country.
By the terms OF join: resolution the President
Is authorized TO negotiate convention with Great
Britain TO which tho assent OF Japan and Russia
IS to be obtained II possible. to protect the fur
seals Of the North Pacific Ocean and Behring Sea.
Provision made for the extension Of the coast
wise shipping laws OF the United States to the
Philippines Islands after July l. 1906
The citizens Of Newfoundland entering the United
States were made exempt from the 81 head tax
prescribed against aliens by the immigration laws
The right to have a superintendent OF public in
struction and TO have statistics compiled by the
United States Commissioner Of Labor regarding
commercial. Industrial. social, educational and
sanitary conditions. beginning next year and every
FIVE years thereafter. was granted TO Hawaii The
Director Of the Census was directed 70 cooperate
with the Secretary OF State Of Michigan In the
taking OF n manufacturing census OF that state
'CRIMPING" MADE A CRIME.
1t was made q crime to "crimp'' seamen OF the
Unit>d States by soliciting them as dodgers or
charging n fee for shipping them
The only general pension legislation which be-
came law makes the pension Of those who totally
lost their sight in the military naval service
500 n month. Agitation for service pension bill
resulted in the introduction OF many such bills
II was decided. however. that no such action
should taken at the present session. after which
the general order making evidence OF physi-
cal disability perform manual labor was issued
by the Secretary Of the Interior and recognized
by Congress in a deficiency appropriation OF $780,
O00 make II effective
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company re-
which 10000 is pay the expenses Of the board OF
lady managers. An act was passed TO protect
foreign exhibitors at the exposition of literary
artistic and musical works through the copyright
laws Of the country. and provision made FOR
the withdrawal. free of duty, under bond. from
the exposition Of articles materials given to in
corporaed institutions Of religious, philosophical
cational or scientific character.
The government is to participate In the exposition
to be held Portland. Ore. I'm 1906 for the COM
Of OF he
ploration of the Oregon country by the Lewis and
Clark expedition to the extent OF exhibit to
cost S450Oco and an Alaskan exhibit S25 COO
The only direct dealings which the Congress had
with the postal scandals the investigation by
the House o. the connection OF its 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
The House, by independent action. directed
investigation of the beef trust by the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor. The Attorney Gen
eraI receives the benefit OF the unexpended appro-
priation made by the last Congress for the prose-
cution OF the trusts amount aggregatng $4,000
CAPITOL IMPROVEMENTS.
Tho extension of the east front of the Capitol
was provided for the Sundry civil Appropriation
bill and provision made for Office building
for Senators. correspond with the proposed office
building for members OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives. These buildings to cost In the
neighborhood of 100000 each.
impeachment proceedings begun IN the
House against Federal Judge Charles swayne OF
the Northern District of Florida. but after
majority report from the committee favoring I'm
parchment the matter was back committee
and made a special order for the next session.
The creation Of two additional States in the
Union was provided for In bill which passed the
House but not the Senate oklahoma and the
Indian Territory united oklahoma Ari-