The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-07-02
CLOSE OF C0N(3RfS 5
Summary 0f n Work Dssins H. ~
cent EonS Sess;en

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With the Adjournment of. Congress,
a brief review Of what Legislation has
been accomplished, will be in place,
and it will be found that the record Of
the present Congress has seldom, Ii
ever, been excellId in the number
and in the importance Of the bills pass-
ed Thirty-six thousand bills were Of
fered during the session. n--fwenfy-scvef,
thousand by the House and nine thous-
and by the Senate, to say nothing OF
hundreds OF resolutions on a variety
Of subjects In no previous session
have SO many bills been presented.
With reference to those reform
movements which have become known
as the bills Of the President S program,
there are many instances OF accom-
plishment.
Perhaps first in importance is the
establishment Of postal savings banks.
Then revision OF the railroad laws
involving the creation OF commission
court
The admission Of the States OF New
Mexico and Arizona as separate
States, raising the number OF sovereign
States in the Union 10 forty-eight.
A very important bill was that giy-
ing to the President unlimited author
ity to withdraw public lands for con-
servation purposes. Under this act
the President was granted power to
withhold lands from settlement and to
conserve the water power, and at she
same time the act provided for the
agricultural entry OF coal lands which
Will open to settlement, il is said, as
much as sixty million acres, reserv ng
at the same time the coal right to the
government
The increase OF the Navy, while not
including many ships of the first class
was significant in the fact that there
were appropriations for two battle
ships 10 $1,000 tons each. These are
to be armed with I4-inch guns. which
IT IS said will make them more formid-
able than any battleships on. the seas.
ihere were appropriations also for
tour torpedo-boat destroyers, two coli
liers and four submarines, and an in
crease OF three thousand seamen was
provided for in the bill.
The publicity campaign bill is con-
sldered one OF great importance in that
candidates must within short time
after election publish the amount OF
campaign contributions.
A bill authorizing an appropriation
OF twenty millions in certificates OF
indebtedness to continue reclamation
projects was passed
Also bill creating a Bureau OF
mines.
A bill appropriating $25o,ooo for the
support OF tariff board was another
OF the Presidents bills that had much
opposition before it was finally passed.
Bills looking to the suppression OF
traffic in white slaves, providing a new
tariff system for the Philippine Is
lands, promoting prohibition in the
Hawaiian Islands, creating a commits
sion to consider economies in the
management of the national govern
ment, were other important enact
mentS.
100000 was appropriated for the
raising and removal OF the wrecked
battleship Maine in Havana ,Harbor,
Cuba
Among the measures which failed to
pass, ditlouSH IL was well kDOWn tnat
the President favored them, was a ship
subsidy bill; an snti-iujunction bill;
bill for a new form OF government in
Alaska and also in Panama; also bills
to create bureau OF health; providing
increased rates OF postage for second
class mail matter and to establish the
Appalachian Forest Reserve.
Taken all i'll all, this has been re-
markably strenuous Congress, and
there is no doubt but that a record has
been set which will be a stimulating
example to future Congresses.
Apart from The reformstive and pro-
gressive legislation above referred to.
Congress has i'll conspicuous way
reformed itself as deiberative and
parliamentary body. 1t has taken
power from the Speaker, it has reform
ed its system oi conducting business,
and its organization for work is more
effective now than it was at the begin.
ming OF the session. The Speaker has
been removed from the Comittee on
Rules and new rule has been adopt
ed which, it is thought, will prevent
Withholding bills by committees when
such bills have the approval OF the
majority of the House without regard
to party,