The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-06-28
WORK OF CONGRESS.
Some Good Laws Passed and I'm
portant Work Done.

IdNC DOOil CiidNlCQ DIT TIC Ills SCS-
sion Of the ffty-ninth congress,
now rapidly drawing to close.
The railroad rate and the meat
inspection bills will soon become
laws and before adjournment OF
congress, both houses twill have
pure food bills, which though dis
similar in terms are both based
on the same principle of federal
control. 1t is the present inten-
eion to try and adjust these diff
ierences before adjournment.
There has been no marked di-
vision on party lines in effecting
the above results, the differences
being only as to ways and means
rather than as to policy.
Besides branching off into this
lew field of legislative endeavor
the present session of congress
nas madet itself important in 9TH
er ways. 1t has added one and
erhaps two new states to the
inion and by so doing has dispos-
ID OF four territories. Great re-
suits to the people are expected
rom the removal of the tax or
lenatured alcohol, and if predic-
ions are fulfilled, heat light ant
power are to be supplied by alco-
lol, made from the corn fields
of the country, from sugar beets
nd sugar cane, from fruits and
.ther vegetation. By deft turr
i legislative points of view the
questions which have perplexeo
congress for some time regard
ng the Panama canal have beer
'ettled. The president may dis
lock canal as as fast as he
oleases. A joint resolution wa:
greed to requiring canal supple.
% be made of American manu-
acture.
| Congress has not dealt with tn,
foreign situation to any extent
An act making a much-needed re
organization of the consular ane
he legislation affecting our col
)nial possessions was meagre ant
'nimportant although tariff re
.ision for the Philippines receiv
ed the attention and approval o
| he house and an act was passe'
evising the tariff collected by tn,
Philippine government. A coin
ge act for the islands also wa
)assed.
Before discussing the numbe
IF acts passed it is interesting t.
note that with all the strenuou
.xertions of an appropriation
committee in the house with
new chairman Representativ
Tanwey-it has been impossible
o hold appropriations down t
much less than $9O0,OO0,OO0 al
though economy" was tn
watchword from the start.
| A requirement. on the executiv
departments intended to brin
the matter of appropriations di
Irectly into the hands of congress
is that contained in the legislat
live appropriation act whic'
makes it necessary for each de
part to submit all its estimate
for appropriation in the book c
estimates sent to congress at tn
beginning of each session.
Still another matter of econo
lmy is the taking away from tn
government clerk the right to sc
cure a transfer to another de
partment at higher salary unit
he has served three years in tn
position he wishes to abandon.
A strict accounting is hereafte
Ito be received from all Unite
States court clerks. A revelatio
THAT one such clerk had receive
Iemoluments amounting to 1896 i
one day brought about this pre-
vision. Although there has bee
an effort to prevent the enlarge
lment of what is known as the pei
nanent annual appropriation
this character of expense has ir
creased during the session to tn
|extent of nearly $4,000, 900, max
ling a total permanent annual ar
.ptopriatiop of more than $40
100000.