The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-23
few BILLS PASS.
Congress Has Considered More
Important Measures
At This Session Than Ever Be-
fore in It's History.
MORE MONEY VOTED
>Than at Any Previous Session,
It Is Believed.
Resume of What Has Been Done
and Left UndOne.


the present session of congress ELECTS
the fact that there have been more
important questions presented to ana
discussed by congress on which the
public generally or sections or classes
demanded action than ever before In
its history. A majority of these were
of President Roosevelt's making. Com
paratively, the enactments have been
few. On the other hand the aggregate
of appropriations is great and when
the final figures are obtainable it is not
doubted that they will exceed those OF
any previous session in times OF peace;
Standing conspicuously above all
other questions with which congress
has dealt was the effort to pass an
emergency currency bill. Thrust upon
the attention of legislators at the OPEN
ing OF the session by financial de-
preston that had not fully subsidized. 1t
was the first big question to be con-
sidered. Likewise 1t was the hardest
to meet and it has done more to delay
adjournment than any other measure.
The senate and house failed to agree
with the result that a commission OF
senators and representatives In con-
gress whose duty it is to study the
question and report at the next session
was the alternative adopted.
Numerous bills affecting labor have
been considered by both the senate
and house., In the form in which the
was not heartily behind them and
questions concerning the constitution
atty of man yof the measures, in the
light of recent decisions by the SUI
preme court of the United States raised
other barriers.
1t is conceded that more legislation
would have resulted had it not been
for the pending national elections. The
elections placed the majority in
delicate situations fact not overlook
ed by the Democrats in the house, who
further complicated the Republicans
position by filibuster to compel the
passage of measures demanded by
president Roosevelt and opposed by
majority of the Republicans in both
branches of congress.
Labor Laws.
Out of this condition of affairs was
steered a new employers liability law
to take the place of that declared un-
constitutional by the supreme court
and there is pending a bill providing
for the compensation of government
employees in hazardous occupations
who are injured In line of duty. 9th
err matters of equal or greater impor-
lance to organized labor have failed
so far These include nsanti- juno
ton law; provision for the exemption
of organized labor from the treble
penalty clause of the Sherman anti
trust law and other amendments to
relieve the labor unions from opera
lions of this law.
Some of the striking things urged
upon congress by President Roosevelt
other than those already mentioned,
and which were not enacted resulted
in compromises. For instance, he
wanted national child labor law; he
regulating child labor in the District
of Columbia and the territories and
the latter bill was passed.
An appropriation was made for the
construction of two battleships and
.he policy of authorizing two each
year was announced by Republican
leaders which was generally regarded
as a concession to the presidents big
program. Authority to name a tariff
commission and to appoint experts to
gather data with a view to the revis-
lon of the tariff at the next session
was strongly advocated. AS a result
resolutions were adopted in the senate
authorizing the committee on finance
and in the house authorizing the COM
mittee on ways and means to conduct
individual investigation. These COM
mfttees are empowered to employ
such experts as they need
Some general revision of the Sher-
man antitrust law in interest of both
capital and labor was demanded and
bill was presented by the National
Civic federation. It was advocated
strongly by Seth Low, Victor Mora
wetz and other we'll known persons
but Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor and an
officer of the National Civic fedora
ton as well, did not take kindly to it
- After a number of hearings were held
before the judiciary committee of the
house and senate 1t became evident
that it stood no chance of passage. A
movement was then started for the
appointment of commission to con-
slider such legislation during the recess
of congress. but this met with no en-
couraRement.
Conserving Natural Resources
The question of conserving the ma
tural resources has been before tn.
session prominently for many weeks
An effort was made in both bodie.
to secure an appropriation for tn,
creation of the southern Appalachian
and White mountains forest reserves
but it has not succeeded.
Several features were raised which
were designed to. place create
powers in the hands Of the Interstat
Commerce commission in the matte
of regulating railroad rates.
A bill was passed removing TIL
restriction from the sale and DISPOSE
ton of lands held by members of tn
five civilized tribes except full bloods
The effect of this act is to put $3.50.
100000 of property on the tax list
of Oklahoma which will increase tn
revenues of that state by about So,
100000 annually. Campaign publicit
bills were considered in both branche
of congress but none of the meas
ures have become laws Bill
regulating the shipment of liquor t
prohibition states were considere
without results and bills to establis
postal savings banks met the sam
fate. Among other matters which be
came laws at the present session ar
the following:
Prohibiting betting on races In tn
District of Columbia; requiring tn
registration of all cases of tube,
culosis in the District of Columbi,
which is intended as model fo
state legislation; reclassification
many important posts in the consula