Gilpin observer., 1906-07-05
A REVIEW OF THE WORK
ACCOMPLISHED BY CONGRESS
Passed the Meat Inspection, Railroad Rate and Pure
Food Bills at the Close--Many Important Measures
Become Laws-- Most Notable Session in Last
Quarter of a Century.

| 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 a vigorous debate the presidents
recommendation in favor Of lock
type was approved by . vote of 36
| 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 s42.5oo. 900
for continuing work on the canal.
$16,5OO,000 being deficiency appropria
tions and $26,O00,O0O being for work
during the fiscal year 1907. In addi-
tion 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 $13O,000,000. 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 16. The act also admits Arizona
and New Mexico into the union as a
single state. provided that a majority
in each OF the territories shall vote
for joint statehood, land not other
wise" This bill was the subject Of
bitter contention, as 1t had been in
former sessions. 1t passed the house
in the form of 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 a 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
ary CT $4,000 each. No officer in the
consular service receiving more than
1000 is permitted to engage in busi-
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
ment without further enactment.
Boon in Alcohol Bill.
A most important piece Of legisla-
ton is the removal of the tax upon
denatured alcohol. 1t was strongly
opposed by manufacturers OF kerosene
| and gasoline. In the debate 1t 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.
A national quarantine law, provid-
ing for uniformity OF administration
and giving the federal government
power to establish quarantines 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.
Congress has had difficulty with the
executive departments through the
| expenditure Of money and the incur
ring Of obligations in excess OF ap-
preparations for many years. Several
amendments to appropriation bills
were made during this session de-
signed to correct this abuse. Here
after the heads of executive depart
ments are required to apportion ap-
preparations made for their depart
ments in order to avoid deficiencies,
and deficiency appropriations will be
made only to cover unforeseen emer-
gencies. Congress also put its foot
down upon the disbursement OF money
collected by any department and not
turned into the treasury.
All money received hereafter must
be turned into the treasury. and no
disbursements may be made except in
accordance with appropriations of
congress. Detailed estimates OF all
appropriations are required from all
departments. 1t also is provided that
no clerk shall be transferred to an
other department at higher salary
until he has performed three years.