Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-03-09
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Short Session Results in Much Legis.
latiVc Activity.

latiyc Activity.
The legislative activity of the Fifty
eighth Congress during its short session
may be estimated by the fact that over
100 laws affecting the general public
have been enacted, and over 900 private
acts passed. The private acts consist
largely OF pensions granted, while a few
relief measures and removal Of charges
OF deSertion make up the remainder.
The Senate amended and ratified ar
bitration treaties with seven Eul opean
powers and sixteen American republics.
1t also has sat as a court and acquitted
Charles Swayne, judge Of the District
Court for the northern district of Flor
ida, on articles of Impeachment voted by
the House
In Joint session Of the two houses the
electoral vote for President and Vice
President was canvassed and the Official
announcement made of the election Of
Roosevelt and Fairbanks.
y revision Of the Philippine ttriff pro-
crossed to completion, and an act has
been signed intended to develop the re-
sources of those islands by guaranteeing
interest on capital invested in railroad
building and authorizing the issuance of
bonds for municipal Improvements,
schools and roads
The laws for Alaska have been codi
fed, an additional district judge author.
lied and the revenues from the liquor
traffic in that territory diverted to the
support of schools, the building of roads
and the care Of the insane
Legislation for the government Of the
Panama canal zone and regulations for
the construction of the canal has been
passed by both houses
Two new battleships were provided for
by Congress in the naval appropriation
bill
The trade mark laws have been re-
vised and an international copyright act
passed. Jurisdiction of the forest re-
serves has been transferred from the
Interior to the Agricultural Department.
Authority to make arrests in forest re-
serves has been granted employees, as
measure of further protection. President
Roosevelt has been authorized to set
apart portion of the Wichita forest
reserve as a breeding place for game
animals and birds.
BY resolution of the House the De
partment of Commerce and Labor has
begun an investigation Of the oil trust
Obscene matter has been prohibited
importation and transit as interstate
commerce. AS a further aid in the en-
forcement of the immigration laws
steamships entering United States ports
are required to furnish complete passen-
ger lists
Captured Confederate battle flags in
the possession of the War Department
were ordered returned to the proper au-
thorities of the State in which the regi-
ment carrying the colors was organized
The American National Red Cross So
ciety was Incorporated, as were the trus.
tees of the Grand Encampment of
knights Templar of the United States.
Statehood bills have passed both
houses. Both measures contain provision
for the admission of Oklahoma and the
indian territory as one State.
The foundation for railroad legislation
has been laid by the passage of a bill
through the House after exhaustive hear
ings and the beginning of an inquiry by
the Senate which is to be conducted dur
ing the recess.
A halt has been called in the extrava-
gance with which public documents have
been printed.
The President was authorized to grant
medals for herOism in the saving of life
in train wrecks.
The extradition laws of the United
States were extended to the Philippines
The State of Arkansas was ceded a
strip of land from the Indian Territory.
A of tJo
reservation in California was opened to
settlement. Settlers in the Rosebud res
ervation were given additional time to
establish citizenship. The unallotted
lands Of the Yakima reservation in
Washington were ordered disposed of
Twenty-eight of the public acts are
authorities to build bridges or dam navi-
gable streams; twenty-three relate to the
District of Columbia, and four to the
judiciary.