The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-03-15
JACK" HARRIS WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHINGTON, 3, 9, 'O7.

music and other things has fled
and the jig is up. "NO more shall
the war cry sever, or the winding
river be red" You see l am, OF
was, in a poetical. mood conse
quent on the final winding up OF
the 59th congress at high noon
last Monday. There were no
scenes, pathetic or otherwise, at
tending its dissolution, and the
outfit died as peacefully and har-
moniously as an old sheep. Now
that the dust of battle has passed
and the tumult and the shouting
has died, it may be profitable and
interesting to review the work of
the session as briefly as the sub
Ject will allow, and see if any
good has really come out of Naz-
areth.
Beside the inevitable appropria-
ton bills, the only work before
Congress at the beginning of the
session were the presidents rec.
concentrations, formulated into
a program by the administration
leaders. Included in his annual
message and subsequent special
messages were the following:
The prohibition of campaign
contributions by corporations.
A law to provide against the
abuse of the power of Injunction.
A drastic and thorough law to
prevent the employment of child
labor.
Strengthening the employees
liability act.
Compulsory investigation of
controversies between employers
and employees.
Increased power for the inter
state commerce commission, to
give it more efficient control of
railroads.
Extending to the government
the right of appeal in criminal
cases on questions of law.
Prohibiting the setting aside of
JUDGMENTS and the granting of
new trials on technicalities.
Limiting the hours of labor for
railroad employees, and for an
eight hour day.
Half holidays during the sum
mer months for all government
employees.
Legislation Withdrawing all
coal oil and asphalt lands from
sale and entry.
Requiring the date of inspec-
ton to be placed on the labels of
packing house products, and
charging the cost of inspection
to the packer.
The enactment of a national Ii
cense law to provide for more
complete control of our great
corporations.
Authority for proper railroad
combinations under the supervi-
sion of the interstate commerce
commission.
A graduated inheritance tax,
and, if possible, a graduated in
come tax.
An amendment to the constitu-
ton giving congress the entire
question of marriage and di-
vOrce.
Ship subsidy legislation by the
passage of the bill enacted by the
senate at the last session.
Currency reform.
An amendment to the laws so
that custom receipts can be han
died in the same manner as in
ternal revenue receipts.
Permission for national banks
to withdraw more than $3,OOO,OOO
of their notes from circulation in
one month.
Free trade with the Philip
pines, or lower duties.
Legislation making the citi-
zens of Porto Rico American citi-
zens.
To place the affairs in Porto
Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines
under one government.
To complete the reorganiza-
ton of the governmental system
of Alaska.
To provide for the naturaliza-
ton of japanese intending to be-
come permanent residents.
Ratification of the San DOmin-
90 and Algeciras treaties
Revision of the laws for the
protection of fur seals.
One first-class battleship each
year.
More men for coast defense
purposes.
More money for maneuvres,
practice marches and target prac-
tice.
Beside the above, the president
caused it to be known that he
would very much like:
The appointment of a one man
canal Commission, and the enact
ment of laws for the canal zone.
The establishment of an agri-
cultural bank in the Philippines.
Exoneration of the charge that
he had exceeded his authority in
discharging the cOlOred soldiers
at Brownsville.
Additional and drastic lmml-
grafton legislation.
A twenty ner cent increase in
L