The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-01
CONGRESS- WORK
Over 100 Laws Affecting the
General Public.
Over 1000 Private Acts Have
Been Passed.
PROBING OIL TRUST
And Railroad Legislation Have
Been Inaugurated.
Twenty-eight Public Acts Au-
thOrize Bridge Building.

Washington, March 1.-The legislative
activity of the Fifty-eighth congress
during its short session just closing
may be estimated by the fact that over
100 laws affecting the general public
have been enacted, and over 1000 pri-
waite acts passed. The private acts
consist largely OF pensions granted
while a few relief measures and remov-
al of charges of desertion make up the
remainder.
The regular appropriation bills all
are 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 Euro
pean powers and 16 American republics
1t also has sat as a court and acquit-
ted Charles Swayne, Judge of the dis
trict court for the northern district of
Florida, on articles of Impeachment vo-
ted by the house.
In joint session Of the two houses the
electoral vote for president and vice
president was canvassed and the Off
cial announcement made of the election
of Roosevelt and Fairbanks.
A revision of the Philippine tariff has
progressed nearly to completion without
indication of defeat, and an act has
been signed intended to develop the re-
sources of those islands by guarantee
ing interest on capital invested in rail-
road building and authorizing the issu-
ance OF bonds for municipal improve
ments, schools and roads. The laws for
Alaska have been codifed, an addition
al district judge authorized and the rev.
enues from the liquor traffic in that ter
ritory 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 differences
remain to be adjusted in conferences
Two new battleships were provided
for by congress in the naval appropria-
ton 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 a
measure of further protection. President
Roosevelt has been authorized to set
apart a portion of the Wichita 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
importation and transit as interstate
commerce. AS further aid in the en-
forcement of the immigration laws
steamships entering United States ports
are required to furnish complete pas
senger 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
society was Incorporated, as were the
trustees Of the grand encampment of
Knights Templar of the United States.
Statehood bills have passed both
houses and are in conference. Both
measures contain provision for the ad-
mission of Oklahoma and the Indian
Territory as one state.
The foundation for railroad Iegisla-
ton has been laid by the passage of
tive hearings and the beginning of an
inquiry by the senate which is to be
conducted during the recess.
halt has been called in the extrava-
gance with which public documents
have been printed
The president was authorized to grant
medals for heroisin 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 coded a
strip of land from the Indian Territory
a portion of the Round Valley Indian
reservation in California. was opened to
settlement. Settlers in the Rosebud
reservation We're given additional time
to establish citizenship. The una1lotted
lands of the Yakima reservation in
Washington were ordered disposed Of
Twenty-eight of the public acts are
authorizations to build bridges or dam
navigable streams; % relate to the Dis
trict of Columbia, and 4 to the judic-
larry.