Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-07-05
FROM STARTTOFINISH
SESSION OF CONGRESS JUST AT
AN END HAS EEEN A MOST
STRENUOUS ONE.

Measures Passed Providing for Rail-
road Rate Regulation, Meat Inspec.
tion and Pure Foods-Type of Pan
anna Canal Fixed-Expenditur for
the Session Reach Nearly $9oo,ooo,
900, New High Record.
Washington. June 30.-The first ses-
sion of the Fifty-ninth congress has
gone into history. II has been a
strenuous session from start to finish.
The measure which caused the great
est debate was the railroad rate bill.
Begun with the session its considera-
ton continued throughout.
The pure food enactment and the
ment inspection provision are also i'm
portant changes in the federal attitude
towards both the producer and con.
sumerAof the country. A uniform and
:. more strict method Of naturalizing
aliens was enacted.
The immunity of witnesses from
prosecution who give testimony before
government tribunals was made the
subject of an enactment which clearly
states when such immunity obtains
and when otherwise.
A bill removing the internal revenue
tax on denatured alcohol also was
passed
The type of the Panama canal was
fixed. thus settling a question which
has perplexed both the professional
and lay mind. The president is to
build lock level canal and was given
total of $50 100000 for the year for
that purpose. 1t was required that
material for the canal should. be of
American manufacture unless the
president shall find the price exces-
sive, in which case he is given author
ity to buy abroad.
The consular service was given a
complete new legal status which will
permit of an entire reorganization.
When the appropriations for the
session are totalled it will be found
that their aggregate has reached near
ly $500 100000. This Is greater sum
than has been made available
Since the War Congress Of 1898.
OF this amount s25 100000 is for new
public buildings In various sections
of the country. The legislation on
appropriation bills has been charac-
teristic throughout of being restrictive
upon the government department
heads in the matter of making their
expenditures and In submitting their
estimates to congress. 1t has been the
desire of congress to put an end, as
far as possible, to deficiency appro
priations.
The naval increase, which has been
going on annually, received somewhat
of a setback "The largest battleship
afioat" was authorized, but congress
required that before bids for it's con
struction could be submitted the plans
must be sent to congress at its next
session
The annual appropriation for the
state militia was doubled and here
after $2.0O0,000 will be spent from the
federal treasury for the purpose ci
keeping the state military organiza'
tions In touch with the regular army.
Congress gave great care to the
draft of bill intended to preserve the
scenic beauty Of Niagara falls and the
MEASURE WAS Dassed
The tariff to be collected by the
Philippine government on goods enter
ing the island trade was revised.
A measure OF Importance to rail
road and other employees engaged in
hazardous smployments. known a.
the employers liability bill. became q
law.
Private pension legislation for the
benefit Of the old soldier who 10 un
able to receive q pension under the
statute laws kept up Its usual heavy
pace