Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-03-06
CONGRESS ADJOURNED ON
MONDAY

Close bLOttAJ eA'SN
March 4th. One of the interest
ing features incident to the last
hours of the session was the VISIT
of President Roosevelt, who, with
his Cabinet, White House etaff,
and q nun Der of guests, occupied
the Presidents room in the Senate
wing. where he signed the last
bills passed during the closing
hours Of Congress.
When the committee waited on
the President with the informa-
ton that Congress was ready to
adjourn, be thanked them for the
laws that had been enacted, but
added with smile that ne still
had several bills which wouio De
heard from in the future. ibis
poodnstured banter indicated that
he had not abandoned several re-
commentators for legislation
which had not met with Congress
sional favor this session.
The appropriation for the TWO
sessions will approximate $780,
600, 900, while the amounts for the
short sessions just closed Will
amount to nearly half that much'
Among the important laws enacted
were the following:
Two big battleships were au"
thorized for the navy, and the
Artillery Corp of the army was
reorganized and enlarged. A.
general service pension was granted
to veterans of the Mexican and
Civil Wars, and like provision was
made for army nurses. For river
and harbor improvements the aP-
preparation aggregated ssS, OOO,-
600.
Increased salaries were given 80
Cabinet officers, the Vice-Presi-
dent and Senator, the Speaker OF
the House of Representatives and
and its members, ambassadors,
ministers and consuls, to pest-office
clerks and letter-carriers.
The public made more inquiries
for information from the document
room of Congress regarding the
ship-subsidy bill, the currency
NEE sure srd the bill regulating the
hours of railway emrioyes than
an, ctler ler(ing legislation.
Ship.subsiGy Gle la d Ill the last
hours. The other two measures
became laws as the session closed.
The immigration bill, one of the
measures brought over from the
lcng session. was completed, under
the spur of the President, that he
might meet the Cslifornia'Jspanese
situation ~ giving the adminIstra'
tion control Of coolie importation
through passports.The bill fertilizer
restricts the admission Of aliens to
Ehe country.
A bill was passed for tte estab-
iishment of an agricultural bank
in tire Philippine Islands.
The free alcohol law of laSt ses'
sion was modified that farmers
may distill the waste products OF
the farm, to be denatured and
used in the arts and sciences.
The right of appeal in criminal
cases was granted the government,
o measure intended to strengthen
the antitrust legislation by afford
sing a means whereby the Supreme
Court may pass upon the con-
stitntionaIity aud construction OF
such lcwe.
An investigation was authorized
regarding tae condition Of women
and child workers.
The Interstate Commerce Con-
mission was authorized to ascertain
IL the express companies Of the
country IRE eyadsng the railroad
rate law of last session by buying
selling and handling on eonsign-
nent fruit, vegetables and Oyster g,
Reed Smoot was retained by the
Senate az Senator from Utah,
ending a four years controversy
The Senate ratified q treaty with
Sante Domingo and alRo the
Algeciras treaty.
The President was authorized 10
ire his good offices to prevent
strocitics H. the Congo.
Tbs Senate also launched an
exhaustive Investigation of the
Brownsville affray.
Initial steps for the preservation
of the old Francis Scott Key man
sior, ir Georgetown, ~hsre the
author OF "The StAr.Spangled