The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-07-19
AN EPOCH MAKING SESSION
How the Fifty-ninth Congress Has Met the New Is
sues Initiated by President Roosevelt With
Extension Of Federal Powers as
the Dominant Note


contains any poisonous Or deleterious
substances For violation the penalty
is 5000 fine and one years imprison.
ment. The law goes into effect Jan. l,
1907
The greatest sensation of the session
came from the presidents investiga-
ton of the charges against the Chicago
beef packers as presented in Sinclair's
novel, The Jungle" For fear of what
the Neill-Reynolds report might con-
tain the senate passed the Beveridge
meat inspection amendment to the agri-
cultural bill May 26 without opposition
Then when influences in the house
committee on agriculture were seeking
to weaken this bill the fear Of greater
losses through prolonged agitation
brought the friends of the packers to
agree to substitute satisfactory to
the president. This placed the cost of
inspection on the federal government
and did not require the packers to
date the labels on their meat packages.
Rather than see the entire bill fail, as
the senate conferees said at last, they
decided to recede on these and some
minor points. An appropriation Of 49,,
OG00OO was made to cover the inspec-
ton expense.
The national quarantine bill, virtual
ly putting state and local health au-
thorities under federal control for the
purpose OF fighting contagious diseases,
| passed the senate April and the house
next day With little opposition.
In January. Mccall of Massachusetts
| proposed a $4,000 appropriation for
| the presidents travelling expenses But
| near the end of the session q bill ap-
| propriating $4,000 for that purpose
passed both houses. in the senate by a
| close party vote. Democrats regarded
| it us eXtravagant and unconstitutional
A New Star on the Flag.
The statehood muddle, left over from
the preceding congress, was one Of the
most difficult tangies to be unraveled
Under the leadership of Speaker Can
! non Il Republican insurrection against
| joint statehood for Arizona and New
! Mexico was crushed, and the bill was
passed Jan. "a, 194 to $50, the insur-
gents numbering forty-three On
March the senate passed the state
hood bill with provision only for the
! admission of Oklahoma and Indian
Territory AS one state. The bill finally
| emerged from conference under q
compromise agreement providing for
| the admission of Oklahoma and Indian
| Territory as the state of Oklahoma
| and authorizing Arizona and New Mex
leo to hold plebiscite Oh joint state
hood next fall. This was approved by
both houses and became q law with
the presidents signature June 16.
Notwithstanding the disagreement
over tie immigration bill the house bill
making uniform the conditions for
naturalization was adopted by the SEN
ate on June 2S Declaration must be
made two years in advance. Anarchists
and polygamists are barred.
For Lock Canal at Panama.
| The house was the first to go on rec
ord in favor of the lock type for the
! Panama canal. and the senate followed
suit June u, 36 to 81. BY Il party
vote the senate directed that American
products and manufactures should be
used in the construction Of the canal
and in this the house agreed.
On Jan. 81 the house adopted the bill
authorizing the construction of the
Lake Erie and Ohio ship canal. and on
June 1S it passed the senate, Al to II.
After standing pat against the on
slaughts of the tariff revisionists dur
ing most of the session the majority
permitted the passage of the bill plac
ing denatured alcohol on the free list
This is expected to be great benefit
to many Industries requiring powe,
machines or vehicles.
Another bin which strengthens the
arm of the executive in striking ut the
| predatory trusts by preventing corpo
rations fro citing immunity because
of testimony before u government bu
reau becomes Il law.
Labor interests, though angered al
the failure of the eight hour bill te
even come to Il vote. were pleased
somewhat by the passage of the EN-
plOyers' liability act making interstate
carriers liable for injuries to employee.
in the absence of prescribed safety ap
pliances and regulations.
Other measures of general Interest
which passed both houses were:
Authorizing the return of unidenti
tied Conf aderatc flags.
| AboliSkin., the grade of lieutenant
genera.
Adding 5000 to each states quoti
for agricultural experiment stations.
Prohibition of gambling In the terri
tories.
Provision for marking Confederate
graves IN tie north.
Extending the time of tribal rela
tions for the five civilized tribes.
Changing coin and bullion reserve.
to S50,0OO,oo0 and S1O0.O00.OO0.
Providing for the selection of dele
gate from Alaska.
To prey en-. hazinc at Naval academy
To reorganize our army medica
corps.
Important Bills That Failed.
The Philippine tariff bill. which wa
one of the pet administration meas
ures and which was forced through tn
, house By making concession OF % pc
cert OF .he D!nsley rates on sugar. to
bacc3 aud cice by the vote OF 25S to Z
l IS earig as Jan. le was put 20 sleep ei
, tec.3.!.- Z tae senate committee o.
, | Ita i'.--:..pp:aas through a combination
}. .,eLocrats aEd stand pat Republic
a secato-s The committee voted t
D { aga:Ss. reporting this cherished ad
{ E.n:Srrat.oo measure. and the effort
, 10 sr:ag acoas reconsideration prove
, sus:;e
], The senate OF June s tabled the pre-