Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-25

nearly twenty Thousand, hVe hundred
more than were introduced during the
entire three sessions Of the last
congress-
Before discussing the number Of acts
passed, II Is interesting to note that with
All the strenuous exertions Of an ap-
preparation committee In the house
with q new Representative
Tawney-lt has been impossible to hold
the appropriations down to much less
than 100000, 900. although Economy"
was the watchword from the start.
One of the important features of the
session has been the careful scrutiny
with which the demands Of the different
government departments has been re-
ceived by the house appropriation COM
mittee.
Money the One Request
The hearings accorded to government
officials asking for money to run their
departments and bureaus have been
more exhaustive than ever before The
result has been the enactment of re-
straining legislation on nearly every
appropriation bill which Il Is intended
will have beneficial effect hereafter.
In this class is undoubtedly that re-
qulring the heads of all executive de-
partments to appportion the appropria-
tions they receive in equal parts to
avoid deficiencies. This Is to be done
under penalty.
The only excuse will be some unfore-
seen emergency and unless this can be
shown the head of department. ask
Ing for deficiency appropriation shall
be summarily removed and lays him
self liable in the future to fine and even
Imprisonment.
Other Economic Measures
Another matter of economy is the
taking away from the clerk the right to
secure a transfer to another depart
ment at a higher salary until he has
served three years in the position he
wishes to abandon. The prompt turn
ing into the treasury of all moneys col
lected by heads of departments as gov
ernment revenue, Is another safe guar
antee against extravaganza. 1t was
found that during the past year one
department had collected revenue to
the amount of $780, 1000, and disbursed it
without authority of law.
strict accounting Is hereafter to be
received from all United States court
clerks. revelation that one such
clerk had received emoluments amount
ing to 1886 in one day brought about
this provision.
Although there has been an effort to
prevent the enlargemnt of what is
known as "the permanent annual ap-
preparations" this character of ex-
pense has increased during the session
to the extent of nearly five million dol
lars, making a total permanent annual
appropriation of more than $140, 900, 000
Measures were introduced on which ac-
tion will be pressed at the next session
to repeal a portion of the permanent
annual appropriations of the govern
ment.
Request of Labor Needed
Organized labor has succeeded in it's
requests of the political session of con-
sress to the extent of securing the en-
actment of what is known as the "em-
ployers' liability bill" This enact
ment will make it possible for an en-
ploye to secure damages for his injury
Notwithstanding his own negligence
may have been in part responsible for
| that injury.
| Another bill that doubtless will be-
come a law is that limiting the hours
of continuous service of railway train
men to sixteen consecutive hours work,
to be followed by ten hours rest.
The much agitated eight-hour day
bill received a favorable vote from the
house from the labor committee but too
| late to secure action at the hands of
congress. The anti-injunction bill was
| postponed in committee until the next
session.
One of the novel features of law
| making was the enactment of a
measure to preserve the scenic beauty
| of Niagara falls. This action was in
direct response to popular demand
that the falls be not denuded of their
beauty to serve the purposes o. COM
| merce.
Navy to Be Enlarged
Enthusiasts of the greater navy" re-
| gard the legislation of the session as
| initial to the proper growth of that arm
of our fighting force. Congress author
| lied the construction of the biggest
| battleshD afioat" with the provision
| that before the plans are submitted or
bids received or accepted the plans of
the ship must be submitted to congress
at its next session.
| This provision was fought in the
house with great zeal and was carried
but by small majority.
| Hazing at the naval academy was
given a further legislative rebuke by
the passage of a bill giving the secre-
tary Of the navy discretion to dismiss
or otherwise punish hazers at that in
| stitution.
A law was passed which will result in
appropriate markings being made over
the graves of Confederate veterans of
the army and navy who died in northrn
prisons during the Civil War.
The wearing of the insignia of the
Grand Army of the Republic or other
soldier insignias by other than mem
bers of these organizations is made a
misdemeanor.
The president was authorized to take
the necessary steps to preserve Ameri-
can antiquities by reating government
reservations in locations where such
antiquities exist.
Alaska to Be Represented
Alaska was given the right to send a
delegate to congress and en act was
passed whereby hat territory will have
larger school and public improvement
fund. The secretary of the interior was
also authorized to allot hosesteads to
the natives of Alaska
Although the ship subsidy measure
did not become law, twenty-four new
acts relative to shipping were enacted.
These we're all minor in character and
inaugurated no new policy. The appli.
cation of the coastwse laws to the
Philippines was postponed until 1907.
An omnibus bill authorizing the erec-
tion of a number of aids to navigation
became a law.
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