The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-25
RESUME OF
 LEGISLATION What Was Done By
 Congress. TWO TREATIES RATIFIED Those With the Republics of Panama and Cuba.
TWO TREATIES RATIFIED
Hemenway Gives Total of Supply Bills as $5e7, ,sos, ,324-All Ex- penses s2e, 100000 Less
 Than Revenues.

Washington. April 24-The important executive accomplishments of the pres ent session of the 18th Congress were con lined to two subjects-Cuba and Panama. The reciprocity treaty with the new Re- public and the United States, initiated by President Mckinley. was made operative by Legislative enactment.
 The ratification by the senate and the subsequent of legislation for the govern ment of the canal zone commit the Uni ted States to the construction of the Pan- anna canal connecting the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans at The special sesion now denominated the first session. was called for the express purpose of carrying out the pledge of the nation of Cuba. The Panama develop ment was 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- reaching Presidential campaign as usual was manifested by those responsible for the acts of the National Legislative body. The annual supply bills were mad up with an. eye to economy. Incidentally they were passed with greater ease than ever before has been the case ff
 Treaties in Senate.
 The Senate ratified the treaty to carry out the terms of the Platt amendment. T It also ratified the Chinese commercial treaty. which provides for two open ports in Manchuria Chairman sHemenway, of the House committee on appropriations on a state ment compiled under his direction, gives the total of all supply bills tsubieet to slight changes in pending bills) as $59T- SA2,324, to which must be added $S4,9h s2o for interest on the public debt The esti- mated revenues are $7o4.742.060 By these figures the expenses are $22000,0oO less than the revenues. The estimates of the various governments departments on which the appropriations bills were based. exceeded the total estimated revenues by E42,S45,s62. No river and harbor bill making pro- vision for new projects of improve ment in the rivers and harbors of the country was undertaken. Likewise, no omnibus measure carrying provision for the public buildings was allowed to pass. .-
 1,4oO Bills Passed.
 While a total of over 1,400 bills be- came laws during the two sessions. less than Is 0of them were published bills" and of this latter number one half simply authorized the bridging of riv- ers,. the damnfng of streams, the regu- lation of Federal courts, and the ordi- nances of the District of Columbia.
 Several amendments have been made to facilitate administration of the pub lie land laws. The allotment in sew crafty of lands owned collectively by Indian tribes in various sections of the country has been provided for in a number of acts.
 A step in the direction of world 8 peace" has been taken through the formation of an American group aff1l- lated with the parliamentary un- ion for international arbitration and for the official recognition of this group by the passage of joint resolution extending an invitation to the union to hold its annual meeting at St. Louis and appropriating s70,0o0 for the ex- penses for the same.
 Porto Rican School Teachers.
 A joint resolution was enacted pro- viding for the transportation aboard a government vessel not exceeding 500 of the public school teachers of Porto Ri co to the United States during the com tng summer months for the purpose of broadening their views by travel and @ course in the summer schools for teachers in this country.
 By the terms of joint resolution, the president Is authorized to negotiate g convention with Great Britain to which the assistance of Japan and Russia arc to be obtained if possible to urotect tho fur seals of the North Pacific ocean anC Behring sea.
 Provision was made for the extension ol the coastwise shipping laws of the United States to the Philippine Islands after July 1, 1906.
 IL was made crime to "crimp" sea. men of the United States by soliciting them as lodgers or charging a fee fol shipping them.
 Pension Legislation.
 The only general pension legislatior which became a law makes the pension o: those who totally lose their sight il ths military or naval service Si00 { month. Agitation for a service pension bill resulted in the introduction of man, such bills It was decided however, tha no such action should be taken at tn, present session, after which the genera order making age an evidence of physi cll disability to perform manual labor wal Issued by the secretary of the interior and recognized by Congress in defcien cy appropriation of $4,50O.OO0 to make i effective.
 The Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company received loan of S4.6U0,eO0 iron the government of which $1O0000 Is to pa! the expenses of the board Of lady man agers.
 To Protect Exhibitors.
 An act was passed to protect forejgI exhibitors at the exposition or Hterary artistic and musical works. through thu copyright laws of the country, ana provision was made for the withdrawal free of duty. under bond. from the ex position of articles or materials to in corporated institutions of religious philosophical, educational or sclentih' character.
 The government participates in the ex position to be held at Portland. Oregon
 
 one hundredeth anniversary of the ex ploration of the Louis and Clarke expe ditions to the extent of an exhibit tt cost Ss5o.OOO and an Alaskan exhibit t' cost S25000.
 The only direct dealings with the Pos tai scandal was the investigation by thu House of the connection of it's members