The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-25
CONGRESS HAS PASSED
MANY BILLS, BUT FEW
WERE OF MUCH WORTH
Real Accomplishments of the
Fifty-Eighth Congress Relate
to Cuba and Panama.
TOTAL OF SUPPLY BILLS
Mr.. Hemenway Estimates Them
at S5o7,So2. 324-Surplus OF
SEE, 900, 900 for Year.
TOTAL OF SUPPLY BILLS

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 Panama canal connecting the waters
of the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. The
special session, now denominated the first
session. was called for the express purpose
of carrying out the pledge OF the Nation TO
Cuba. The Panama development one
which arose suddenly and received decisive
and immediate action at the hands of
President Roosevelt and the Senate.
The conservatism incident to the ap-
preaching presidential campaign, as usual
was manifested by those responsible for
the acts of the national legislative body.
The annual supply bills were made up with
an eye 10 economy. Incidentally, they
were passed with greater dispatch than
heretofore had been the case at long ses-
sion.
The Senate ratified the treaty negotiated
with Cuba to carry out the terms of the
Platt amendment. it also ratified the Chi
nese commercial treaty which provides for
two open ports in Manchuria.
TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS.
Chairman Hemenway, of the House COM
mittee appropriations, in statement
compiled under his direction. gives the total
OF all supply bills Subject TO slight changes
in pending Bills as $50, S02. S2i. TO which
must be added sS4,91.s20 for interest on the
public debt The estiqmated revenues are
$704.472060. BY these figures the expenses
are s22,0oo,oo0 less than the revenues. The
estimates of the various government de-
partments on which the appropriation bills
were based, exceeded the total estimated
revenues by s42 S45. s62. No river and har-
Dor bill, making provision for new projects
of Improvement In the rivers and harbors
Of the country. was undertaken. Likewise
no omnibus measure carrying provision for
new public buildings allowed to pass
While a total of over ], 400 bills became
laws during the two sessions, less than
$50 of them were public bills. and of this
latter number one-half authorized the
bridging of rivers, the damming 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
in various sections of the country has been
provided for in a number of acts
in the direction of world peace
has been taken through the formation or
an American group affiliated with the inter-
Parliamentary union FOR internanona al ar, aTs
group" by the passage of a joint resolu-
ton extending an invitation 10 the union to
hold its next annual meeting at ST. Louis
and appropriating $4,000 for the expenses OF
the same. A joint resolution was enacted
providing for the transportation aboard a
government vessel of not exceeding 600 or
the public school teachers of Porto Rico to
the United States during the coming sum
mer for the purpose of broadening their
views by travel and course in the summer
schools for teachers in this country.
TO PROTECT FUR SEALS.
BY the terms of joint resolution the
&c 10 at
vention with Great Britain, to which the
assent of Japan and Russia are to be OBJ
tanned if possible, to protect the fur seals
of the north Pacific ocean and Boring sea.
Provision was made for the extension Of
the coastwise shipping laws of the United
States to the Philippine islands after July
!, 1906 Citizens of Newfoundland entering
the United States were made exempt from
the 81 head. tax prescribed against aliens by
the immigration laws.
Hawaii was granted the right to have a
superintendent of public instruction and to
have statistics compiled by the United
States commissioned of labor regarding
commercial, industrial, social, educational
and sanitary conditions, beginning next
year and every five years thereafter. The
director of the census was directed to CO.
operate with the secretary of state OF the
State of Michigan in the taking of manu-
featuring census of that State. 1T was
made a crime to "crimp" seamen of the
United States by soliciting them as dodgers
or charging a fee for shipping them.
The only general pension legislation which
| became law makes the pension of those
who totally lost their sight in the military
or naval service 500 month Agitation
for service pension bill resulted in the
introduction of many such bills. 1t was
decided. however. that no such action
should be taken at the present session, after
which the general order making age an evil
dence of physical disability TO perform
manual labor was issued by the secretary of
the interior and recognized by Congress in
deficiency appropriation of $l,Jo0,OJ0 10
The louisiana Purchase Exposition Com
many received loan of $4,6o000o from the
government of which 100000 is TO pay the
expenses of the board of lady managers
An act was passed to protect foreign ex-
hibitors al the exposition OF literary. artis-
tic and musical works through the copy
right laws of the country and provision
was made for the withdrawal free of duty
under bond from the exposition OF articles
or materials donated to Incorporated IN
stitutions of a religious. philosophical. edu-
cational scientific character
POSTAL SCANDALS.
The government is to participate in the
exposition TO be held in Portland. Ore, in
1906, for the commemoration Of the one
hundredth anniversary of the exploration
of Oregon by the Lewis and Clarke ex-
petition, to the extent of an exhibit to cost
$4,000 and an Alaskan exhibit to cost
SO, 900.
The only direct dealings which the Con-
gress mad with the postal scandals" was
the investigation by the House of the con-
nection of its members with clerk hire,
increases in third and fourth class post
offices aud representations regarding
leases. This investigation cleared every
member from improper conduct in the mat
ter
The House. by independent action. di-
rected an investigation of the alleged beef
and Labor. The attorney general was
priation made by the last Congress for
the prosecution of the trust, amount
aggregating $4,000.
The extension of the east front OF the
Capitol building was provided for in the
! sundry civil appropriation bill and pro-
vision was made for an Office building for
| office buildings for members of the House
| of Representatives. These buildings are
| 10 cost in the neighborhood OF 5000, 900
l each.
| Impeachment proceedings were begun in
| the House against Federal Judge Charles
| Swayne, of the Northern district of Florida,
| but after a majority of the committee
| favoring impea chment the matter was sent
/ back 10 committee and made a special or
der for the next session.
| 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 Territory were united
as OklahO Arizona and New Mexico