New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1904-04-27
congress HELD
A BUSY Session

BRIEF RESUME OF IMPORTANT
WORK ACCOMPLISHED By THE
SENATE AND HOUSE.
Over 1,4oo New Laws Have Been En-
acted-A Total of 81, sos Bills and
Resolutions introduced in Both
Branches-The Appropriations.
Washington, April 25.-The important
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
a 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-
velopm ent was one which rose suddenly
and received decisive and immediate &C
ton at the hands of President Roose-
vent and the senate.
More Than l 400 New Laws.
While total of over 400 bills became
laws during the two sessions, less than
$50 Of them were public bills.
In the house there were IL, 1893, bills, 349
resolutions, 1872 joint resolutions and
81 concurrent resolutions introduced
Of these 2,253 passed the house. In
the senate there were 5,645 bills intro
duced.
Appropriations.
Chairman Hemenway, of the house
committee on appropriations, in a state
ment compiled under his direction, gives
the total of all supply bills (subject to
slight changes in pending bills), as $780,
8O2 1884, to which must be added $64, 971,-
800 for interest on the public debt The
estimated revenues are s704. 472,060 By
these figures the'expenses are $22, O0O,0 900
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,S45,862.
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. 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 a deficiency appropria-
ton of $1,50O,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 Exposition.
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition
company received a loan of 81 900 900
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 1906 for the cOmmemoration
Of the one hundredth anniversary of
the exploration Of Oregon by the Lewis
and Clarke expedition, to the extent of
an exhibit to cost $3.50 900 and an Alas
kan exhibit to cost $4,000.
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 $475,000.
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 a majority
report from the committee favorins
! impeachment, the matter was sent
| back to committee and made a 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 asd report, and the
anti-injunction bill was postponed by
the committee until the next session
New States.
The ceration of two additional states
| in the union was nr0vi1ed for in hill