Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-03-09
CONGRESS SETS NEW PACE
An Unusual Number of lmportan-
Measures Become Laws.
WORK WAS QUICKLY DONE
a Summary Of the Enactment OF the
Second Session of the Fifty
Ninth Congress.

nlntn COHSEesS pidScS " N'S StS1te -
the republican party, which has con-
srolled both houses, remarkable re-
cord Of good legislation. Following
long session noteworthy in the his
try of the Nation for the importance
and value of its laws, the short session
now closed has set a rev pace for ex-
peditious enactment Of necessary pub.
lie measures, including all those gen
eraI laws for which, throughout the
country, there was a demand. This
is evident from the following summary
of the enactments of the second SEES
sion. December 1906, to March 4, 1907:
Santo Domingo, Morocco, Mexican
Boundary and American Pecuniary
Claims Arbitration treaties approved.
Immigrant law revised, providing
means to exclude Asiatic coolies, in
creasing the head tax and steerage
space, creating commission of inquiry
and authorizing an international con
ference
Repatriation law, defining citizen
ship and status of Americans married
10 foreigners.
General service pension law, en-
bracing all soldiers sixty-two years of
age.
National banks and corporations
prohibited from contributing to politi-
cal campaign funds
Financial law authorizing deposits of
cBstoms receipts in national banks, !
adding elasticity to currency and in
creasing supply of small bills.
Alcohol making extended to farmers.
SALARY increases: Fifty per cent to I,
vice president speaker, congressman !
and cabinet members; all salaries of
ministers abroad formerly $500 |
raised TO $4,000; postal clerks and !
carriers pay increased.
Limited right to appeal In criminal
cases given to government
Railway employees working hours
limited
i1Shanghaiing' penalized
Useless steamboat whistling pro
hibiteS.
Lights on fishing vessels at sea com.
paIsory
Army: Artillery reorganized and en-.
iargedi field batteries combined in
six regiments and coast batteries con-
sntuted corps; grade of lieutenant
general abolished after retirement of
present incumbent; auditor generals
Office reestablished; nearly S1G0, co.,
S'S1 appropriated Tor waterways i'm
provement.
Navy; Two 20,O0O-ton battleships;
two desiro~ers; 100000 for sub
1900 additional sailors;
1000 mu1e marines and major-geny
erals rank for commandant
Philippine Agricultural bank au-
thorized
Roosevelt foundation for the pro
motion Of industrial peace established
New spelling stopped.
New .Jersey-Delaware boundary fix
cd.
Meat inspection las permanently
re-enacted
All postage stamps available for
SPECIAL Delivery"
Numerous lighthouses, light vessels
and aids to navigation provided.
Investigation of women and child
workers ordered.
Title of Senator Smoot confirmed by
vote of nearly two-thirds of senate.
Senate committee empowered to find
Facts about Brownsville affair
Appropriated for maintenance of
national government during year end
ed June 80, 1903, s967644,O 65.O5.
The following are some of the inn
portant acts of the first session, De
4, 1905, to June so, 1906:
The railway rate law.
Lock canal at Panama; supplies to
he domestic. /
Oklahoma including Indian Terri
tore admitted to the Union.
Pure Food; label must tell the
truth
Meat inspection, from hoof to can
Alcohol, for use in the arts, freed of
S.ax
Consular service recognized on
zuerit basis
Quarantine against yellow fever
Uataonalzed.
Naturalization safeguarded.
Steamboat inspection made more
thorough
National bank liabilities limited to
80 per cent. of capital.
Negligent common carriers made
liable for damages to employees.
Militia efficiency promoted by $2,-
900, 900 aid annually.