Evening star., 1909-03-01

the beginning Of the session has been
spoken Of as the most significant enact!
ment of the session. a companion piece
Of legislation was enac cted in the first ses-
sion, when the remission Of the remainder
Of the Chinese indemnity was authorized.
The passage of a law for the suppress
sion of the opium habit in this country,
it is hoped by the advocates. will exert a
wide moral influence. Appeals from many
sections of the country were successful In
obtaining law for the preservation Of
the Calaveras big trees in California. An
act Of great importance to western home
seekers authorized enlarged homestead
entries in arid regions.
In the closing hours OF the session the
fate OF many highly important measures
is to be determined. 1t practically is as
sured that the monumental work Of revis-
ing and codifying the penal code laws Of
the United States will be completed. 1t re-
mains only for the two houses to approve
the agreement already reached by the con-
ferees Of the two bodies
AS a result of this legislation the United
States government will. through q rider
enter the field OF regulating the interstate
shipment Of intoxicating liquors. An
amendment to the code prohibits inter-
state &c. o. d. shipments OF intoxicating
liquor, and provides for the marking Of
the packages Of such liquors in Interstate
commerce Will INC OOHA uUC uAIu6 VI tu0
consignee and the nature OF the contents.
Several so-called ''Ku-kiux' laws are
stricken from the statutes by the general
revision Of the penal laws.
Statehood Bill Defeated.
The statehood bill, admitting Arizona
and New Mexico into the Union, which
has attracted much attention Throughout
both sessions. is still in committee in the
Senate. It is conceded that 1t cannot pass
At this session
The fate OF the Gsllinger ocean mail
subsidy bill rests with the House. It
its passage through the House is proble-
matical 1t provides for subsidizing mail
lines to South America, Japan, Asia, the
Philippines and Australasia.
Many measures OF Importance consid-
cred are regarded as certain to fail of
enactment. Among these are the Burke
wireless telegraph bill, the Weeks forest
reserve bill, the Currier copyright bill.
the Observation-Disclosures bond is
sue for Improvement OF waterways.
mian Canal Zone, federal inspection 81
naval stores and grains and suppression
OF gambling in cotton futures.
Much time was devoted by the Senate
treaties. The most important one ap-
proved was an agreement with Great
Britain relating to the uses Of the
boundary waters between the United
States and Dominion OF Canada.
movement to amend the rules Of both
the Senate and House has attracted much
attention. In the House there has been
an organized open insurrectiOn. In the
Senate the opposition did not 60 beyond
some sharp criticisms by new senators.
The movement In both houses was de-
signed az a warning to future sessions.
In the House it will have the immediate
effect Of the establishment OF "cal-
endar day for the call OF bills on the
union calendar every Wednesday.
Great Number Of Bills.
Raw material in the shape Of bills and
resolutions presented to Congress to work
On in both sessions was stupendous.
Bills numbering $1,000 were introduced in
the two houses. In addition, 600 resolu
tions were presented.
Out OF the mass OF public bills about 275
will become laws. There will be about
IT'S private bills enacted. The latter, how
ever. are estimated to represent about
the private bills finally passed were omnt.
bus bills, containing a consolidation of
hundreds Of individual measures.
In other words about Is per cent Of
the bills introduced became laws. About
ATTY resolutions were finally agreed to.
An employers liability law has re-
placed the one declared .unconstitu.
tional. A commercial currency law was
enacted and Q monetary commission
is investigating the subject of further
financial legislation.
Active steps looking to a revision OF
the tariff have been taken. All through
the present session the House commit
tee on ways and means has been con-
sidering a tariff bill to lay before the
special session to convene March Is.
A waterways commission is now In
existence An investigation has been
made looking toward the better regu-
lation OF water rights on navigable
streams.
The adoption of greater naval pro-
gram marked the Congress. In each
session two giant battleships were au-
thorized Aerial navigation. however,
was not recognized in the appropria-
ton bills.
Increases Of Pay.
The increase in the pay Of those in
the government service was another
feature Of the Congress. This included
men and oficers in the army and navy
and kindred branches Of the govern.
ment. the salaries of the President, the
Vice President. the Speaker. members
of the Supreme Court OF the United
States, cabinet officials. senators and
representatives.
At the same time the purse strings OF
the Treasury were loosened so that
widows OF the men who have fought
for the nation would be assured a pen
sion.
The Congress has also been distin-
guished by the number of investiga-
prominent were the investigations OF
the Brownsville affair. the secret serv-
ice, subma rine legislation and the pa
per industry. The waterways. immi-