Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1910-06-29
WORK OF CONGRESS
labored Very Hard And Enact
ed important Laws
INVESTIGATE BRIDE CHARGES
Separate Committee For Each House
to Investigate Bribery Attempts
During Recess = The Last Act
Signed by the President-Some Of
the Most Important Legislation
Passed.


the Most Important Legislation
Passed.
Washington, Special-Each house of
Congress Saturday night marked its
closing hour by voting for an invest
tigation of the McMurray Indian
contracts. Instead of the usual scene
of comparatively undigniied relaxa-
ton from the business of legislation,
both Houses devoted exceedingly Sc
rious attention to the charges Of at
tempt bribery and other forms of i'm
proper influence made in the Senate
Friday by Senator Gore of Oklahoma
and subsequently in the House by
Representative Murphy of Missouri.
Two separate investigations are
provided for-ne in each House.
Each body passed a resolution Great
ing a select committee Of five mem
bers to pursue the inquiry into the
bottom during the recess Of Con-
gress and to report whether any Of
its members, are, or have been, in
terested in any of these contracts.
Until a late hour in the day it looked
rather as if the matter would go by
default.
The last measure signed by Presi-
dent Taft was a joint resolution to
authorize the Secretary of War to
loan tents to the Appalachian EXPOSE
ton to be held in Knoxville, Tenn,
in September, which Mr.. Taft ex-
poets to attend.
Notwithstanding the fact that ac-
ton on many important measures was
delayed by conflicts between insurgents
and regular Republican factions in
both branches, and that the Demo-
cratic minority was an active force,
Congress concluded its long session
with a record for enacting legislation
that seldom, if ever, has been equal
ed.
Chief in the list of legislation for
which the administration commended
were the following:
Striking revision Of the railroad
laws, including the creation Of a COM
merce court.
Admitting Arizona and New Mex
leo as separate States.
Authorizing the establishment Of
postal savings banks.
Giving to the President unlimited
authority to withdraw public lands
for conservation purposes.
Providing for publicity of campaign
contributions.
Authorizing the issue Of $20,O00,-
600 in certificates Of Indebtedness to
complete reclamation projects.
Creating a bureau of mines.
Extending the activities of the tar
if board and appropriating s250,O0O
for its use.
Looking to the supervision of traf-
fc in ''white slaves"
Authorizing the entry of the sur
face of coal lands.
Creating a commission to consider
economics in the administration of
the Federal government.
Providing a new tariff system for
the Philippine islands.
Legislation which, ultimately is ex-
pected to give practical prohibition to
the. Hawaiian Islands.
Opposed to the foregoing formid-
able list of legislation obtained were
a comparatively small number Of
measures which had administration
sympathy but failed of passage.
Not the least CONSPICUOUS acts of
Congress were the strenuous meas
ures taken by the. House Of Repre-
sentatives to reform its system of
conducting business so that less power
might be imposed in the Speaker and
the organization Of which he was the
natural leader.
The Speaker was removed from
the committee on rules, which he had
previously been credited with domi-
mating and a new rule vas adopted
for the purpose of effectually prevent
ing p ,-holing of bills by commit
tees ,.4 they were approved by a
majority of the House.
The increase provided for the navy
was notable. Two battleships of 81
600 tons each, armed with 14-inch
guns, making them the most formid-
able dreadnaughts afoat, were au-
thorized. The naval strength of the
United States will be further sup
%plemented by 6 torpedo boat destroy
ers, 2 Golfers and 4 submarines,
while an increase of the personnel of
the navy Of $500 men vas author
lied.
Various other measures of minor
Importance were enacted into law.