Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-26
A LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
Less Than $50 Out of 1,4oo
Measures Passed Were
public Bills
ABSENCE OF FRACTIONAL DELAY
The House Made Reasonable Progress
In the Dispatch of Business-Impor-
tant Accomplishments of the Fifty
Eighth Congress Confined to Cuba
and Panama.

Washington. April 26.-The impor-
tant legislative accomplishments of the
sessions of the Fifty-eighth congress
We're confined to Cuba and Panama.
The reciprocity treaty between Cuba
and the United States, initiated by
President Mckinley, was made opera
tive by legislative enactment. The
ratification of the treaty by the senate
for the government of the canal zone
commit the United States to the con-
struction of the Panama canal connect
ing the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
A special session was called for the
express purpose OF carrying out the
pledge of the nation to Cuba. Panama 3
development was one which arose sud.
denly and received decisive and imme-
date action at the hands of President
Roosevelt and the senate.
The conservatism incident to the APP
preaching presidential campaign was
manifested by those responsible for the
acts of the national legislative body
The annual supply bills were made up
with an eye to economy. They were
passed with greater dispatch than
heretofore has been the case at the
long session.
The senate ratified the treaty nego-
tiated with Cuba to carry out the terms
of the Plat amendment and the Chi
nese commercial treaty which provides
for two open ports in Manchuria.
Chairman Hemenway. of the house
committee on appropriations, gives the
total of all supply bills as 1897. 500, 324,
to which must be added $s4.971.S20 for
interest on the public debt The esti-
mated revenues are $704.472,060. BY
these figures the expenses are $4,000,
600 less than the revenues.
While. 1.400 bills became laws during
the two sessions. fewer than $50 of
them were public" bulls, and of the
public bills half simply authorized the
bridging of rivers. damning of streams,
regulation of federal courts and ordi-
nances OF the District OF Columbia
Several amendments have been made
to facilitate the administration of the
public land laws.
The only direct dealings which con-
gress had with the postal scandals"
was the investigation of the house of
the connection of its members with
clerk hire increases in third and fourth
class postofiices and representations
regarding leases. This investigation
cleared every member from any i'm
proper conduct in the matter.
The house. by independent action. d.
rected the 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 by the last con-
gress for the prosecution of trusts, the
amount aggregating $475.000
In the house there has been remark
able progress made i'm the dispatch of
business. At no time in the two ses-
sions has there been factional delay
caused by desire TO filibuster on the
part OF the minority but there has
been considerable debate. and many
campaign speeches have been deliv-
cred
Senator Hanna and seven members
OF the house have died.
In the house there were 1898 bills.
$40 resolutions, 152 Joint resolutions
and sixty-one concurrent resolutions
introduced. or these 2.253 passed the
house. In the senate there were 5,645 |
ILLS introduced.