The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-07-01
THE RECORD or The SESSION
IMPORTANT MEASURES ENACTED
INTO LAW.

Wide Extension or Federal Authority Over
interstate Commerce Granted in the
Raiiroad Rate Hill, The Meat Inspection
Measure and in the Pure Food BILL.
WARRINGTON, June 30.-The first session
Of the F%ifty-ninth Congress, which came
70 an end to-day. was long on talk and
lust as long ON performance. There was
an abundance OF "chewed wind y as Speaker
Cannon has expressed IL, but at the same
time thousands OF laws affecting the general
nublio welfare and OF local interest In the
States were spread upon the statutes. The
session was notable because OF the wide
extension Of Federal authority and the
tendency OF the Congress to regulate COR
porations. The appropriations will aggre-
nate 5000 900, 900, as compared with $780,
ooo. 900 for the present fiscal year and s7oi, =
600. 900 forthe hscalyear 1906. Billion dollar
Congresses nave ceased to surprise the
country. With the expenditures that will
be authorized at the short session next
winter more than $i.5OO 900 900 will be
chalked up against the Fifty-ninth Con-
gress. The major accomplishments OF the
first session Of the present Congress may
be briefly summarized as follows:
1t enacted q law regulating railroad rates;
an act was passed providing for a rigid in
~spection Of meat and meat products; new
laws were passed relating to naturaliza-
ton; the consular service was reorganized;
A pure food law was passed; a bill authoriz-
ine the establishment Of national quaran-
tine was put upon the statutes; Indian
Territory and Oklahoma were admitted
into the Union, and Arizona and New Mex
leo are to have an opportunity at the polls
TO elect whether they shall join the sister
hood OF States; tho internal revenue tax
on denatured alcohol was removed: the
President was authorized to construct a
lock canal across the Isthmus OF Panama.
Congress at this session dealt almost
exclusively with questions Of domestic con-
Germ. The extension of Federal authority
has been debated principally upon the
specific questions of regulating railroad
rates and the inspection Of meats, although
ether important departures have been
made by the enactment Of laws enlargtng
the powers OF the national quarantine
service, amending the naturalization laws
and imposing liabilities upon railroads for
injuries to employees.
Nearly 2 1000 bills we're introduced in
the House, while $500 were offered in the
Senate. The Congress enacted 1000 laws.
OF this number 800 were Of a public nature.
The remainder were private mostly
pension grants. The Fifty-ninth Congress
was satisfied with the enactment OF $500
laws, a record which is surpassed by the
'private' acts Of the single session OF the
Fifty-ninth Congress.
In the field Of oratory both Houses dis
tinguished themselves. TIT debate in the
Senate on the railroad rate bill was note"
worthy, and was pitched on a high plane.
The House began talking in December and
kept It UP Throughout the session. The
Congressional Record for the session just
closed, when completed, will embrace
several bulky Volumes. 1t will pass the
10000 page mark. Only once before has
1t ever reached that figure, and that was in
the Fifty-first Congress, which sat until
October 2 This Congress has done as much
talking in seven months as the Fifty-frst
did In ten months.
This Congress was extremely critical in its
attitude toward corporations. 1t passed
q resolution directing the Interstate Com
merce Commission to inquire into the rela-
tons Of the common carriers with the coal
and oil industries, and the elevator and grain
buying and forwarding business.
The functions OF the national Government
were enlarged by the enactment OF the pure
food and meat inspection bills.
or the legislation enacted the railroad
rate law Is, of course, foremost in impor-
lance. This act increases the membership
OF the Interstate Commerce Commission TO
seven, and increases the salary Of each
commissioner to SO 900 a year. The orders
Of the Federal body fixing railroad rates are
made subject 70 the broadcast review by the
courts, which may suspend, alter or annul
them. The new law broadens the term
common carrier to include express and
sleeping car companies, as we'll as railroads
and boat lines under a common management
which may be engaged in interstate or for
eign commerce, either passenge ger or freight.
1t broadens the term transportation" to
include private car lines, elevators and all
other instrumentalities for the shipment
Of OF operty. 1t provides that all rates shall
be reasonable.
The Interti to Commerce Commission is
given full rower, Upon complaint and after
a hearing, to fix a reasonable and just maxi
mum rate, which shall take effect thirty
days after the issuance Of the order OF the
commission, such order to remain in effect
two years unless changed by the com
mission or after review BY the courts shall
have been set aside. Appeals from The
orders Of the commission may be taken by
either party from the lower Federal court
to the Supreme Court. No injunction OF
interlocutory decree or order suspending
or restraining any order Of the commission
shall be issued except o hearing without
five days notice. Appeals from such pro-
ceedings may be taken direct to the Supreme
Court within thirty days. The commission
may order a new hearing upon application.
The commission is to have access to the
records of the carriers at all times. In
time Of war shipments Of the Government
shall AVE preference. The law is to take
effect sixty days after its approval by the
President, or on August %. .
Probably more excitement was stirred
up by the meat inspection amendment to
the Agricultural Appropriation bill than
by any proposition considered during the
The weather.