The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-04
WORK OF congress.
GREAT AMOUNT OF WORK FOR
SHORT SESSION.
Over Hundred Laws Affecting the
General Public Have Been
paSSed-ReviSiOn of Philippine
Tariff and Other Matters Of
importance to Islands.

lative activity of the Fifty eighth con-
gress during it's short session just clos
ing can be estimated by the fact that
more than 100 laws affecting the gen.
eral public have been enacted, and
more than 1000 private acts passed.
The private acts passed consist largely
of pensions granted, while few relief
measures and removal of charges of
desertion make up the remainder.
The regular appropriation bills are
all progressing to completion and some
of them have already received the sig
nature of President Roosevelt.
The senate has amended and ratified
arbitration treaties with seven Europe
an powers and sixteen American re-
publics. 1t has also set as a court
martial and acquitted Charles Swayne,
judge OF the district court for the
Northern district of Florida, on arti-
cles 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.
A revision of the Philippine tariff
has progressed almost to completion
without indication Of defeat, and an
act has been signed intended to devel-
op the resources of those islands by
guaranteeing interest on capital invest
ed in railroad building and authoriz-
ing the issuance Of bonds for munich
pal improvements, schools and roads.
Laws for Alaska.
The laws for Alaska have been codi-
fed, an additional district judge au-
thorized and the revenue from the liq-
uor traffic of the 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 have
been passed by both houses, but some
dicffiulties remain to be adjusted in
conference.
Two new battleships were provided
for in the naval appropriation bill.
The trade mark laws have been re-
vised and an international copyright
act passed.
Jurisdiction of the forest reserves
has been transferred from the interior
to the agricultural department. Au-
thority to make arrests in forest re-
serves has been granted employees as a
measure of further protection.
President Roosevelt has been author
lied to set apart portion of the Wich-
tia forest reserve as 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
import and transit as interstate COM
MERGE.
As further aid in the enforcement
of the immigration laws, foreign ships
entering the United States ports are re-
quired to furnish complete passenger
lists.
Confederate Flags.
Captured Confederate flags in posses
sion Of the war department were or.
dered returned to the proper regiments
carrying the colors.
The American National Red Cross
Society was incorporate, as was the
trustees of the Grand Lncampment of
Knights Templar of the United States.
. Statehood bills have passed both
houses and are in conference.
The foundation for railroad legisla-
ton has been laid by the passage of a
bill through the house after hearings,
and the beginning of an inquiry by the
senate that is to be conducted during
the recess.
A halt has been called in the extrav-
agance with which public documents
have been printed.
The president has been 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 Philip
pines.
The state Of Arkansas was ceded a
strip of land from the Indian terri
tory. A portion of the Round Valley
Indian reservation in California was
opened to settlement. Settlers in the
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