Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1906-07-07
NATIONAL CONGRESS ENDS TASKS
BY PASSING IMPORTANT MEASURES

already great burden the considers ion
of cases raising the issue as to wheth-
er certain articles of food or drugs
contain harmful ingredients, are mis-
branded or because of their labels vio-
late the pure food law.
Canal Tyre Is Fixed.
With the adjournment of congress
it is possible to make a 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 we'll 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 a sea level project. A ma
| jority of the senate committee report
| ed in favor of sea level canal, but
after a vigorous debate the presidents
recommendation in favor OF a lock
type was approved by vote of Sc
| 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, 100000
! for continuing work on the canal,
| S16,500,000 being deficiency appropria-
tons and s26,0O0,O00 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 Spooner act. which
may be issued from time to time"
to the extent of S13O,OO0,000 During
the present session congress provided
that these bonds should have the
rights and privileges of other two per
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 IS. The act also admits Arizona
and New Mexico into the union as
! single state, provided that majority
/ in each of the territories shall vote
for joint statehood, land not other
wise This bill was the subject of
| bitter contention, as it had been in
! former sessions. 1t passed the house
in the form of a bill admitting the
four territories as two states. The
senate amended the bill by eliminat-
ing all provisions relating to Arizona
and New Mexico. In conference the
conditional admission of these ter
ritories as state was agreed upon,
and after vigorous debate in both
houses the conference report was
| agreed to-
After several years Of effort on the
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 for
an inspection service consisting of five
consuls general at large, with a sal
al III SO,OOO SdCH NO Object III the
consular service receiving more than
$1,000 is permitted to engage in bust
ness or practice law. All fees are to
be turned into the treasury Origin
ally the bill prvided that the higher
Offices should be filled by promotion
only, but this provision was elimin-
ated and the promotion system has
been established by the state depart
mem without further enactment
Boon in Alcohol Bill.
A most important piece of legisla-
ton is the removal of the tax upon
denatWed alcohol. 1t was strongly
opposed by manufacturers of kerosene
and gasoline. In the debate it was
alleged that, with the tax removed,
alcohol could be manufactured and
sold cheaper than either kerosene or
gasoline and that it would enter into
universal use for Illuminating, motive
power and otherwise.
national quarantine law. provid-
ing for uniformity of administration
and giving the federal government
power to establish guarantees in
port cities and supersede the local and
state authorities, has been passed.
An employers liability bill, to meet
the demands of the trainmen of the
United States, has been placed upon
the statute books after years of effort
Greater Aid for Militia.
Among the acts affecting the mill
tary establishment were those in
creasing the efficiency of the ordnance
department of the army and increas-
ing the appropriation for the militia
from 100000 to $1,000, 600 annu. lily. !.
Congress took a new tack in the
naval appropriation bill. Instead of
authorizing the construction of the
biggest battleship afioat, as first pro-