Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-04-27

OF IMPORTANCE
Busy Session Of the Flfty-Eiehth Con-
gress, Which Has About conclud.
ed Its labors.
TWO GOOD TREATIES RATIFIED
The Canal Treaty With Panama and
the Reciprocity Treaty With Gu.
ba Both Noteworthy.

NhSnlnblOn, ApIH 81 Tue llnpol
tant legislative accomplishments of
the session of the Fifty-eighth con
gress were confined to two subjects
Cuba and Panama. The reciprocity
treaty between the new island repub-
lie and the United States. initiated
by President Mckinley, was made
operative by legislative enactment.
The ratification of treaty by the
senate and the subsequent initiation
of legislation of the government for
the canal zone commit the United
States to the construction of the
Panama canal connecting the waters
of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The special session, now denomi-
mated the first session. was called for
the express purpose Of carrying out
the pledge of the nation to Cuba. The
Panama development was one which
arose suddenly and received decisive
and immediate action at the hands
of President Roosevelt and the SEN
ate. The conservatism incident to
the approaching presidential campaign
as usual was manifested by those re-
sponsible for the acts of the national
legislative body.
The annual supply blIls were made
with an eye to economy. Inciden
tally they were passed with greater
dispatch than heretofore has been the
case with long session. The senate
ratified the treaty negotiated with Gu
ba to carry out the terms of the Platt
amendment. IL also ratified the China
commercial treaty which provides for
open ports in Manchuria.
Chairman Hemenway, of the house
committee on appropriations, in a
statement compiled under his drec-
tion. gives the total of all supply
bills tsublect to slight changes in
pending bills) as s597 .S02, 1924, to
which must be added sS4,97l 800 for
interest on the public debt. The es-
timated revenue are s7Oi,472,060. By
the figures the expenses are S22 ,0OO,-
00o less than the revenues.
The estimates of the various gov
ernment departments on which The
appropriation bills were based, ex-
ceeded the total estimated revenue
by s42,S45,S62. No river and harbor
sbill was undertaken and no omnibus
measure carrying provision for new
public buildings was allowed to pass.
While a total OF more than ! 400
bills became laws during the two ses-
sions less than $50 OF them were pub
lie bills and of this latter number
one-half simply authorized the bridg-
ing of rivers, the damming of streams
and 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 allot.
ments in severalty of lands owned
collectively by Indian tribes. in var
ious sections OF the country, has been
provided for In a number OF acts. A
step in the direction Of world peace"
has been taken through the formation
of an American group affiliated with
the inter-parliamentary union for In.
ternational arbitration and the offi-
cial recognition of this group" by
the passage of a Joint resolution ex-
tending an invitation to the union to
hold its annual meeting at st. Louis
and appropriating $4,000 for the ex-
penses OF the same.
A joint resolution was enacted pro-
viding for the transportation aboard
government vessel OF not exceed
ing 600 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 a course in the summer
schools for teachers In this country.
BY the terms OF joint resolution,
the president is authorized to ar
range convention with Great Brit.
ain to which the assent of Japan and
Russia are to be obtained, II posi-.
BILE. to protect the fur seals of the
north Pacific ocean and Bering sea.
| Provisions were made for the ex.
tension of the coastwise shipping
laws OF the United States to the Phil.
ippine islands after July l, 1906. Ha.
wall was granted the right TO have a
superintendent of public instruction
and TO have statistics compiled by
the United States commissioner OF
labor regarding commercial, indus.
trial. social, educational and sanitary
conditions, beginning next year and
every four years thereafter.
II was made a crime to 'crimp'
seamen OF the United States by so.
liciting them as dodgers or charging
a fee for shipping them.
| The only general pension legisla
tion which became a law makes the
pension of those who totally lost
their sight in the military or naval
service 800 a month. Agitation for
a service pension bill resulted in the
introduction OF many such bills. II
was decided, however, that no such
action should be taken at the pres
ent session. after which the general
order making age an evidence of ply
sical disability to perform manual la
Dor, was issued by the secretary oi
the interior and recognized by con
gress in a deficiency appropriation
OF s1.500,000 TO make II effective.
The Louisiana Purchase exposition
company received a loan OF $4,000,
900 from the government; s450,O0C
was appropriated for government
exhibition in the Lewis and Clark,
exposition at Portland. and $25,OOC
for an Alaskan exhibit at the lattel
fair
The only direct dealings had will
the postal scandals was the investi
CATION by the house of the connection
of its members with cierk hirse, in
creases in third and fourth class post