Gilpin observer., 1904-04-28
LATEST NEWS FRon WASHINGTON
Work Of Fifty-Elshth Congress.


The important legislative accom-
plishments Of the sessions of the Fiji
ty-Eighth Congress were confined to
two subjects, Cuba and Panama. The
reciprocity between the new island re-
public and the United States, initial
ed by President Mckinley, was made
operative by legislative enactment.
The ratification of treaty by the
Senate and the subsequent initiation
of legislation for the government OF
the canal zone commit the United
States to the construction of the Pan
anna canal connecting the waters of
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The Senate ratified the treaty ne
gotiated with Cuba to carry out the
terms of the Plat amendment.
It also ratified the Chinese CONNER
cial treaty, which provides for two
open ports in Manchuria.
Chairman Hemenway 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 $597.S02, 1924. to which must
be added $84.971. 800 for interest on
the public debt. The estimated reve-
nues are $704,472 ,060. By these figures
the expenses are $22,00O.o00 less than
the revenue. The estimates Of the va
rious government departments on
which the appropriation bills were
based. exceeded the total estimated
revenues by $42.s45,sc2. No river and
harbor bill was eiIaken, and no
omnibus measure carrying provision
for new public buildings was allowed
pass.
came laws during the two sessions.
less than $50 Of them were public bills
and OF this latter number one-half
simply authorized the bridging of riv-
ers, the damming of streams, the regu-
lation Of federal courts and the ordi-
nance Of the District OF Columbia.
Several amendments have been
been made to facilitate the administra-
ton of the public land laws. The al
lotment in severalty Of lands owned
collectively by Indian tribes in various
sections of the country has been pro-
vided for in number Of acts.
BY the terms of q joint resolution
the President Is authorized to arrange
q convention with Great Britain to
which the assent OF Japan and Russia
are to be obtained. II possible. to pro-
tect the fur seals Of the North Pa
cific ocean and Boring sea-
Provision was made for the extern
sion Of the coastwise shipping laws
of the United States to the Philip
pine islands after July 1, 1906.
The only general pension legisla-
ton which became q law makes the
pension of those who totally lost their
sight in the military or naval service
500 per month. Agitation for = serv-
ice pension bill resulted In the intro
duction of many such bills. II was
decided, however, that no such action
should be taken at the present session
after which the general order making
age an evidence Of physical disability
to perform manual labor was issued by
the secretary OF the interior and rec
ognized by Congress in . deficiency
appropriation Of $1,500,000 to mako It
effective.
The only direct dealings had with
the postal scandals was the investiga-
ton by the House OF the connection
OF its members with clerk hire IN
creases in third and fourth class post
leases. This investigation cleared ev-
cry member from any improper ccn-
duct in the matter.
The House, by independent action.
directed an investigation of the al
legged beef trust" by the Department
OF Commerce and Labor.
The attorney general was given the
benefit Of the unexpended appropria-
| ton made by Congress- for the prose-
cution OF the trust, an amount aggre-
eating $475.000.
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 ter
ritory were united as Oklahoma, and
Arizona and New Mexico as Arizona.
Legislation directly affecting the la
Dor interests of the country received
considerable consideration in the COM
mittees OF the two houses. but final &C
ton 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 the committees un-
til the next session. The right Of Sen
ator Reed Smoot OF Utah to his seat
in the Senate resulted in an investiga-
ton, still In progress. involving the
| Mormon religion and practices.
IN the House there were 1898 bills
349 resolutions. 1862 Joint resolutions.
| and sixty-one concurrent resolutions
introduced. or these 1888 passed the
House. In the Senate there were 5.646
bills introduced.