Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-07-05
NATIONAL CONGRESS ENDS TASKS
I BY PASSING IMPORTANT MEASURES

err certain articles or food or drugs
contain harmful ingredients, are mis-
branded or because of their labels vio-
late the pure food law
Canal Type Is Fixed.
With the adjournment of congress
it is possible to make survey of the
entire field of important legislation
enacted during the session. The three
most prominent measures already
have been referred to, and their gen
eral provisions are well known to the
country Next in point OF interest
perhaps comes the Panama canal act
The house first declared in favor of
the lock canal, by providing that no
portion of the money appropriated in
the sundry civil bill should be ex-
pended on sea level project. A ma
jority of the senate committee report
ed in favor of sea level canal, but
after vigorous debate the presidents
recommendation in favor of a lock
type was approved by vote of SO
to 81.
A joint resolution was passed by
congress requiring the purchase of
supplies and materials for the canal in
the American market unless the presi-
dent shall determine that the bids of
domestic producers are extortionate or
unreasonable.
Congress appropriated 42,500,00O
for continuing work on the canal,
| S16.500,000 being deficiency appropria-
tons and $26,000,OOO being for work
during the fiscal year 1907. In addi-
ton to these appropriations steps are
being taken to issue the canal bonds
authorized by the Spooncr act, which
may be issued from time to time
| to the extent of $130,000,000. During
| the present session congress provided
| that these bonds should have the
rights and privileges of other two pei
| cent. bonds of the United States and
| the tax of one-fourth of one per cent
| imposed upon bonds deposited to Sc
/ cure national bank circulation was i'm
posed upon the canal bonds when used
! for such security. 1t was also pro
vided that the deficiency appropriation
| should be returned to the treasury
! from the proceeds of the sale of the
canal bonds,
Statehood Issue Settled.
The admission of Oklahoma and In.
dian territory as a single state was
accomplished by the act approved
June 16. The act also admits Arizona
and New Mexico into the union as 8
| 81 nj tat inr, ~
in each of the territories shall vote
for joint statehood, and not other
wise" This bill was the subject O
bitter contention, as it had been II
former sessions. 1t passed the house
in the form of bill admitting thu
four territories as two states. The
senate amended the bill by eliminat
ing all provisions relating to Arizon;
and New Mexico. In conference thu
conditional admission of these ter
ritories as a state was agreed upon
and after vigorous debate in boil
houses the conference report wa
agreed to.
After several years of effort on thu
part of the state department congress
at this session passed an act reorgan
izing the consular service. The con
SulS general and consuls are grouped
by classes, and provision is made TO
an inspection service consisting of fiv'
consuls general at large, with a sal
airy OF $1,000 each. No officer in tn
consular service receiving more thai
81 900 is permitted to engage in bust
ness or practice law All fees are Il
be turned into the treasury Origin
ally the bill prvided that the hishe
offices should be filled by promotion
only, but this provision was elimin
ated and the promotion system ha
been established by the state depart
men. without further enactment
Boon in Alcohol Bill.
A most important piece of legisla
ton is the removal of the tax upol
denatured alcohol 1t was strongl
opposed by manufacturers of kerosen
and gasoline. In the debate it wa
alleged that. with the tax removed
alcohol could be manufactured an
sold cheaper than either kerosene o
gaSOllne ana t1dl III WOulu enter INT
universal use for Illuminating, mot:v
power and otherwise.
A national quarantine law. provid
ing for uniformity of administrator
and giving the federal government
power to establish guarantees i
port cities and supersede the local an
state authorities, has been passed.
An employers liability bill, to NEE
the demands of the trainmen of tn
United States, has been placed upO
the statute books after years of elfor
Greater Aid for Militia.
Among the acts affecting the mill
tary establishment were those in
creasing the efficiency of the ordnanC
department of the army and increas
ing the appropriation for the militi
from 81 900 to $1,000 900 annr.!ly
Congress took new tack in tn
naval appropriation bill. Instead c
authorizing the construction of tn
biggest battleship afloat, as first pre-