Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-07-05
FROMSTARTTOFINISH
SESSION OF CONGRESS JUST AT
AN END HAS ESEN A MOST
STRENUOUS ONE.

Measures Passed Providing for Rail-
road Rate Regulation, Meat Inspec.
tion and Pure Foods-Type of Pan.
anna Canal Fixed-Expenditure for
the Session Reach Nearly 100000.
600, New High Record.
Washington, June 30.-The first ses-
sion of the Fifty-ninth congress has
gone into history II has been a
strenuous session from start to finish.
The measure which caused the great
est debate was the railroad rate bill.
Begun with the session its considera-
ton continued throughout
The pure food enactment and the
ment inspection provision are also i'm
portant changes in the federal attitude
towards both the producer and con.
sumer@of the country. A uniform and
!. more strict method of naturalizing
aliens was enacted.
The immunity of witnesses from
prosecution who give testimony before
government tribunals was made the
states when such immunity obtains
and when otherwise.
A bill removing the internal revenue
tax on denatured alcohol also was
passed.
The type of the Panama canal was
fixed, thus settling a question which
has perplexed both the professional
and lay mind. The president is to
build lock level canal and was given
a total of s39,O00,OO0 for the year for
that purpose. 1t was required that
material for the canal should be of
American manufacture unless the
president shall find the price exces-
sive, in which case he is given author
ity to buy abroad.
The consular service was given a
complete new legal status which will
permit of an entire reorganization.
When the appropriations for the
session are totalled 1t will be found
that their aggregate has reached near
ly $S00,O00,00O. This Is greater sum
than has been made available
Since the War Congress Of 1893.
OF this amount $25 100000 is for new
public buildings In various sections
4f he iola
appropriation bills has been charac
teristic throughout of being restrictive
upon the government department
heads in the matter of making their
expenditures and In submitting thei,
estimates to congress. II has been the
far as possible, to deficiency appro
priations.
The naval increase, which has been
4 going on annually, received somewhat
Of setback. THE largest battleshiI
afioat" was authorized, but congress
required that before bids for it's con
struction could be submitted the plans
must be sent to congress at its mex
session
The annual appropriation for the
state militia was doubled and here
after $2,OO0,00O will be spent from the
federal treasury for the purpose o.
keeping the state military organiza
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 enter
ing the island trade was revised.
A measure of importance to rail
road and other employees engaged In
hazardous smployments. known a.
the employer liability bill, became .
law.
Private pension legislation for the
benefit Of the old soldier who IL un
able to receive q pension under the
statute laws kept up its usual heavy
pace.