The Springfield herald., 1906-07-06

Washington. - Promptly at 1O
o'clock Saturday night Vice President
Fairbanks, in the Senate, and Speaker
Cannon, in the House, declared the
final adjournment of the first session
of the Firty-ninth Congress.
For the first time Congress ad-
journed on the day which closed the
fiscal year. Other sessions had ad-
journed before and some after June
30th, but the Fifty-ninth Congress
ended its first session ON the day when
the government strikes its balances
and closes its books.
There were some interesting fea-
lures to mark the end, which came
when there was less than quorum in
either house. Many senators and rep
resentatives. believing that the ad-
journment would come early in the
day, made arrangements to leave in
the afternoon, and did not remain for
the closing scenes.
An error in the enrolment Of the
sundry civil bill caused quite furry
about the capital. 1t was found by
Secretary Root after the bill had been
signed by the President that an appro-
priation for $3,0OO,00O for site for
public building in Washington, a pro-
vision which had been eliminated by
Congress, appeared in the copy. After
some perpleXity the error was cor
rected by joint resolution.
Important Bills Passed.
Washington. - The work accom-
plished by the session is told by
Speaker Cannon as follows:
"ln my Judgment the work done and
the legislation enacted in the session
closed exceeds in importance for the
best interests of the people the work
of any session during my thirty years
Of public life.
81 have not time TO make complete
review of all the legislation. Sufficient
to say that the legislation covering the
appropriations and the authorizing of
public expenditure has been most care
fully considered and wisely enacted.
The legislation commonly referred to
as the rate legislation, the pure food
BILL the inspection feature of the agri-
cultural bill-all are measures that af
feet the interests of all the people, and
while nothing perfect can be enacted.
| am satisfied that the operation of
these laws will demonstrate their wis
dom.
and I believe, If nothing else had
been accomplished than the enact
ment of these three measures, they
alone would be sufficient to make the
first session of the Fifty-ninth Congress
memorable in the history of the Re
public"
Before Congress reconvenes the first
Monday of next December-unless en-
tirely unforeseen events demand an eX-
'traordinary session in the meantime
the fruits of rate regulation. meat in
spection. pure food regulation and
other reforms will have been tested.
1,E Cat, nv,I
lock canal will be in course of con-
struction. Arizona and New Mexico
will have determined whether they
want to join fortunes and come into
the Union as a state. The things OF
moment that will be set moving. in
short, will be mighty and far-reaching.
The session has been a strenuous
session from start to finish. The meas
ure which caused the greatest debate
Is the railroad rate bill, which received
final action in its passage Friday. The
more important legislation may be
summarized as follows:
Pure food enactment and the meat
inspection provision. A uniform and
mere strict method of naturalizing
aliens. The immunity of witnesses
from prosecution who give testimony
before government tribunals clearly
defined.
A bill removing the internal revenue
tax on denatured alcohol.
The type of the Panama canal was
fixed.
Locks for Panama Canal.
hTe President is to build a lock type
ranal, and was given a total OF $39.O0O,-
600 for the year for that purpose. 1t
was required that material for the ca
nal should be of American manufac-
ture unless the President shall lind the
price excessive, in which case he Is
given authority to buy abroad.
The consular service was given a
complete new legal status. which VIII
permit OF an entire reorganization.
Appropriations for the session ag-
gregate nearly $90O.o0O000. This is a
greater sum than has been made avail
able since the war Congress OF 1898.
The annual appropriation for the
state militia was doubled. and here
after S2,0O0,QQ0 will be spent from the
federal treasury for the purpose of
keeping the state military organiga-
tions in touch with the regular army.
Congress gave great care to the draft
of bill intended to preserve the
scenic beauty of Niagara falls and
the measure was passed.
The tariff to be collected by the
Philippine government on goods ell
teling the island trade was revised.
Railway employers liability bill be-
came law.
President Praises Congress.