The National tribune., 1906-07-05

gress gave Its approval to another inn
portant extension Of Federal authority
over interstate commerce. This meas
ure engendered great deal - ecrimon-
ious dispute, most Of which took place
behind the scenes. Speaker Cannon
was charged with having smothered the
pure food bill, but he had little trouble
In driving his critics to cover.
The pure food law defines adulter-
ated and misbranded articles Of food
and drugs and makes IL unlawful TO in
troduce to any State or Territory from
any other State or Territory or from
any foreign country articles OF food or
drugs that are adulterated or misbrand-
ed. The legislation Is designed to sup
plement the pure food laws of the vari-
Gus States. The Bureau of Chemistry
of the Department of Agriculture Is re-
quired to examine specimens of foods
and drugs for the purpose of determin-
ing whether such articles are adulter-
ated or misbranded. Whenever the
Secretary of Agriculture shall find that
the law is being violated he has author
ity under the act to certify the facts to
the United States Attorney for the dis
trict in which the violation occurred.
Under the naturalization law passed
an alien cannot be admitted to citizen
ship unless he is capable of speaking
English. A bureau is established which
shall register personal description of
each alien arriving in the United States.
The law forbids the naturalization Of
any person whO is an anarchist or coun
sells lawlessness, or who believes In
polygamy. 1t confers Jurisdiction to
admit TO naturalization upon the Fed
era1 courts of the United States in all
the States and Territories, including
Alaska. Hawaii and Porto Rico. and
upon the courts of record Of the various
States. The name of the Immigration
Bureau is changed to Bureau Of Immi-
grafton and Naturalization.
The quarantine law places all quar-
antine stations under the control of the
Secretary Of the Treasury: authorizes
him to designate public or private lands
and anchorageS to be used as quaran
tine stations, and provides for the
transfer of title by condemnation or
otherwise: provides penalty for vio-
lation OF quarantine station regulations
and for false reports as to the sanitary
condition of crews and passengers:
provides for the transfer of State or
local quarantine stations to the United
states, and apprOpriates 100000 to
carry the act into effect.
An important piece OF legislation dur
ing the session was the removal of the
tax upon denatured alcohol. Although
the charge was made that the measure
"ouiu Oppootu ny
influences in the Senate. it went through
that body with scarcely a murmur of
objection.
After long years of waiting Oklaho,
ma. tied to the Indian Territory. will be
admitted to the Union under the name
of Oklahoma. This Statehood bill was
fought out in both Houses. and at one
time it looked as if it would fail. New
Mexico and Arizona have been put on
u-oitippr Iicf Of
two Territories will decide at an elec-
ton to be held in the Fall whether they
approve of jointure.
After persistent effort on the part of
commercial interests and exporters gen
orally Congress consented to reorgan-
iZe the Consular service. The Consuls-
General and Consuls are grouped by
classes. and provision is made for an
inspection service consisting of five
Consuls- General, each to receive $4,000
a year. No officer in the Consular SER
vice receiving more than $1,000 a year
is permitted to engage in business or
practice law. The fee system is abol-
ished. All fees are to be turned into
the Treasury.
After what looked like certain defeat
for 1t in the Senate President Roosevelt
won out on his proposition to have a
lock canal built at Panama. The House
first declared in favor of the lock canal
by voting that no portion of the money
appropriated in the sundry civil bill
should be expended on a sea-level pro-
ject. The Senate then specifically
agreed to this type of waterway and
the House followed suit.
A joint resolution was passed requir-
ing the purchase of supplies and ma
terials for the canals in the American
market. unless the President should de-
termine that the bids of domestic prod
ucts were eXtortionate or unreasonable.
The sum of 42,500.0 900 was appropri-
ated for continuing work on the canal.
OF this amount s16.500.000 represented
deficiencies and S26.000.000 for work
during the fiscal year 1907. In addi-
ton to these appropriations steps are
being taken to issue the canal bonds
by the Spooner act, which
may be issued from time to time to the
extent of $3.50, 100000
A bill was passed defining hazing and
for the punishment of Mid
shipmen guilty of the offense.
The principal legislation affecting the
Philippines was an act postponing the
operation of the coastwise laws until
April II. 1909. A law was passed pro-
viding for the election of a delegate in
Congress from Alaska.
General legislation included an act
Interstate commerce in
spurious or falsely stamped articles |
made of gold or silver alloy. an act pro-
viding for the marking of the graves of
soldiers and sailors and an
act winding up the affairs of the Five |
Civilized Tribes.
Among the important matters left
were the Smoot case, the
Philippines tariff bill. the Santo Do
mingo treaty. the eight-hour and anti
injunction bills. the revision and con-
solidation of the copyright laws, the
ship subsidy bill and the bills prohibit |
ing campaign contributions from cor
porations.
Measures of international concern |!
were neglected. The Algeciras. as well |
as the Santo Domingo treaty. failed of
action but the Senate Is to vote on the |
first named on December H.. 1t re- |
fused to set a date for voting on the |
agreement.