Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1906-07-06

vided by the house. the bill ~ AAally
passed authorizes the preparation Of
plans for such vessel, to be submit
ted to congress. The naval act OF this
year makes small provision otherwise
for the increase Of the navy.
A bill was passed defining hazinx
and providing for the punishment Of
midshipmen guilty of the offense.
General legislation during this SEES
sion included an act prohibiting in
terstate commerce In spurious or
falsely stamped articles made Of gold
or silver alloy, an act providing for
the marking Of the graves Of confed-
crate soldiers and sailors and an act
providing for the disposition Of the
Ave civilized tribes of Indians.
The principal legislation affecting
the Philippines was an act postpon-
Ing the operation Of the coastwiss
laws until April IL, 1909; another re-
vising the Philippines tariff. and =
third authorizing tho purchase OF coal
claims by the secretary OF war.
An important measure to cattle in
terests is that changing the 2s-houS
law so that cattle may be kept In cars
SO hours without unloading.
Immigration Bill Fails.
Among the important measures that
have failed the immigration bill de-
mands first consideration. It failed
because a conference committee was
not appointed to settle the disagree
ment between the two houses. After
a spirited fight in tho house, in which
Speaker Cannon participated, the i'm
migration bill, originally senate
measure, was passed, with substitute
for the educational test" which re-
qulred immigrants to possess the abil-
ity to read English or some other Ian
guage. The house substituted Sec
ton providing for commission to in
vestigate the subject Of immigration.
The bill will command attention when
congress reconvenes In the fall.
The bill to prevent contributions by
corporations to campaign funds waa
started In the house. 1t was forced
through the senate by the indefatig.
able efforts Of Senator Tillman. The
house leaders refused to let it come
up there, although 1t Is understood
action will be permitted at the next
session. The Democrats charge that
the Republicans want to lay 1t over
until after the congressional elections,
in order to get one more chance at the
corporation barrel. ..
The Philippine tariff bill Is still an.
other notable failure. 1t was one OF
the features OF the original admins
ton programme, was whipped through
the house after celebrated fight with
the insurgents, and eventually landed
In the seclusion Of senate commit
tee-room. 1t has been allowed to ID
forgotten for the present,
The immunity bill, designed to pre-
vent the recurrence O; tiaseos such a
attended the prosecution Of the Chi.
cago beef cases, passed the house and
In amended form was reported favor
ably from the senate committee on ju-
dietary. Ever since then efforts to get
it up have failed owing to the objec-
ton Of some senator or other.
1t has been hard session for treat
les. The Santo Domingo convention,
much desired by the administration
has been kept down by the hostile mi.
nority in the senate. No action hai
been taken either on the Isle of Pines
or Algeciras treaties.
Fate Of Labor Bills.
Bills, most Of which were demanded
by the leaders of organized labor, have
met their fate as follows:
l. The anti-injunction bill-dead In
the Judiciary committee.
2. The eight-hour bill. reported from
the committee on labor, but not acted
upon.
3. The election OF senators In cons
gress by direct vote of the people,
dead in committee.
4. The publicity of campaign ex.
penses bill, recently reported to the
house, but not acted upon.
S. The letter carriers bill--dead In
committee.
6. The bill to regulate the hours OF
railway trainmen-dead in committee
7. The bill fer the relief of the Slo.
cum survivors-dead in committee.
s. The bill to prevent convict made
goods from competing with the goods
manufactured by honest labor-dead in
committee.
Outside the line OF actual legislation
the present session will be historic
through having authorized the investi.
CATION that has led to the railroad-coal
exposures. Another resolution adopted
by the senate will cause an investiga-
ton OF the alleged grain trust and
railroad-elevator combine in the west
that promises to be equally II not
more sensational.
What Congress Has Spent.
The following is given as practically
an accurate statement Of the disburse-
ments authorized from the public
treasury:
sundry civil :ss, ooo, oNc
District of Columbia. ............ $500, 900
Army ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. u, ZOO, 0oo
Naval ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1902 900 NGN
Tortifications .................... 5000, 0Oo
Military academy. 100000
Pensions lao, 600 $50
Permanent lao, o00, 1cI
Agricultural OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1000 900
Public buildings ...........-....... q, coo OGl
indian ........................ 5000 900
Militia ........................ 1000 900
Statehood .......................... 5000 200
Urgent deficiency .................. 400
General deficiency ................. Il, 800 900
cal NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1000 900