River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-07-05

passed authorizes the preparation or
| 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 hazing
and providing for the punishment or
midshipmen guilty of the offense.
General legislation during this ses-
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
five civilized tribes of Indians.
The principal legislation affecting
the Philippines was an act postpon-
| ing the operation Of the coastwise
laws until April IL, 1909. another re-
vising the Philippines tariff, and
third authorizing the purchase of coal
claims by the secretary of war.
An important measure to cattle in
terests is that changing the 28-hour
law SO that cattle may be kept in cars
&c hours without unloading.
Immigration Bill Fails.
Among the important measures that.
have failed the immigration bill de-
mands first consideration. 1t failed
because a conference committee was
not appointed to settle the disagree
ment between the two houses. After
a spirited fight in the house, in which
Speaker Cannon participated, the i'm
migration bill, originally a senate
measure, was passed, with substitute
for the educational test" which re-
quired immigrants to possess the abil-
ity to read English or some other lam
guage. The house substituted Sec
ton providing for a. 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 was
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 it is understood
action will be permitted at the next
|
the Republicans want to lay it 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 be
forgotten for the present.
The immunity bill, designed to pre-
vent the recurrence of fiascos such as
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 jul
dietary. Eyer since then efforts to get
it up have failed owing to the objec-
ton of some senator or other.
1t has been a 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 has
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:
1. 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 con-
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.
5. The letter carriers bill-dead in
committee.
6. The bill to regulate the hours OF
railway trainmen-dead in committee
Z. The bill fer the relief of the Slo-
cum survivors-dead in committee.
8. 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 if 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 ...................... sos, 900, 900
| District of Columbia. .............. 9,500,000
| Army OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. n, 900, 900
Naval 102, 100000
Fortifications ....................... 100000
! Military academy. 2,000,0 900
/ Pensions 1900 900
Permanent ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 140 000, 900
| Agricultural observation-disclosures. 100000
/ Public buildings .................. $4,000, 900
i Indian q 00o