Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-07-14
NEW LAWS ENACTED
BY CONGRESS
Resume Of Principal Measures Passed
by Session Now Ending.
ECONOMY THE wATCHWORD

Washington. June %. - Important
measures extending federal regulation
and control have been enacted at the
first session OF the 59th congress. now
rapidly drawing 10 a close. The rail.
road rate bin and the meat inspection
bill VIII soon become laws. and before
adjournment of congress both houses
Will have passed pure food bills.
which. though dissimilar In terms. are
both based on the same principle OF
federal control It is the present in
teention to try and adjust these diff
ferences before adjournment
Besides branching OF into this new
field OF legislative endeavor. the pres
ent session OF congress has made itself
important in other ways. IL has added
one. and perhaps two. new states 10
the Union. and by so doing has dis.
posed of four territories Great re
suits TO the people are expected from
the removal of the tax on denatured
alcohol. II predictions are fulfilled
heat, light and power are 10 be sup
piled by alcohol made from the corn.
fields OF the country. from sugar boets
and sugar cane. from fruits and other
vegetation.
Bv dart turn OF legislative points
OF view. the questions which have per.
picked congress for some time regard.
ing the Panama canal have been set.
tied. The president may dig a lock
canal as fast as he pieases. a joint
resolution was agreed 20 requiring
canal supplies 20 be made of American
manufacture.
Before discussing the number OF acts
passed it is interesting to note that
with all the strenuous exertions Of an
appropriation committee in the house
with new chairman Representative
Tawney-it has been impossible 20
hold the appropriations down 10 much
less than $500. coo. 600. although econ
omy" was the watchword from the
start
Organized labor has succeeded ia its
requests of the present session OF con-
gress 90 the extent OF securing the en-
nctment OF what IS known as the "em-
ployers' liability bill" This enactment
VIII make II possible for an employe to.
secure damages for his injuries not
withstanding his own negligence may
have been IN part responsible for that
injury Another bill which has re-
ceived the approval OF the senate. and
viii doubtless become law before the
end Of the session. as that limiting the
hours OF continuous service OF railway
trainmen 20 lC consecutive hours work.
10 be followed by 10 hours rest. The
much-agitated eight-hour day bill re-
ceived a favorable vote from the labor
committee OF the house. but too late 10
secure action az the hands OF congress.
The anti-injunction bill was postponed
in committee until the next session Of
congress. upon direct vote on thatI
proposition.
One OF the novel features of law.
making was the enactment OF the meas
IRE 10 preserve the scenic beauty OF
Niagara Falls.
Hazing az the naval academy was
given a further legislative rebuke by
the passage Of bill giving the secre-
tary OF the navy discretion 10 dismiss
or otherwise punish hazers at that in
stitution.
Important 20 the southern states was
the enactment Of the general quaran-
tine bill. providing for cooperation OF
state and federal authorities in sup
pressing yellow fever.
President Roosevelt was given S25, 1000
TO pay travelling expenses of himself
and invited guests.
The private pension legislation OF
the session was heavy. and many hun
dred acts will be signed before the end
comes
The jamestown. Va. ter-centennial
is expected to be recognized by law be-
fore the session ends.