Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-26
RECORD OF. SESSION FOR DOUBLE PROBE
"Most Effective Congress Senate and House Both TO In
Since the Civil War;" vestigate Gore Charges
IMPORTANT new LAWS WORK DURING VACATION
Many Of Them FarReachng in Committees to Take Up Allegations
Their Scope and Effect. Of Bribery Contracts
REGULATION OF RAILROADS DENIAL BY MR. THURSToN
carriers Most Connecting Name
Important legislation False, and Requests Investigation
Most Effective Congress
Since the Civil War"
IMPORTANT NEW LAWS
Many of Them Far-Reaching in
Their Scope and Effect.
REGULATION OF RAILROADS
Act Enlarging Governmental Con-
troll Over Common Carriers Most
Important Legislation.

''The most effective session Of Congress
since the civil war. in the enactment Of
general legislation important to the
country at large"
This is the record claimed for the first
regular session Of the Sixty-first Congress
now ended. The claim Is based upon the
number Of important laws placed upon
the statute books, and the scope and far
reaching effect of many Of them.
An important feature of the session s
work. which will have profound signifi-
canoe upon future legislation, was the
Representatives. thought by some to be
the entering wedge Of greater changes
yet to come in legislative methods.
As side issue. SO to speak. OF the ses-
sion, with possible important bearing on
political conditions In the republican
party, was the development within the
party OF a spirit Of independence, pro-
nounced by some to be insurgency" and
claimed by others to be progressive
ness" and which to q certain extent col
ored legislation.
Important Railroad Legislation.
The most important law enacted at this
session was the amendment to the inter-
state commerce law, affecting common
carriers. That act created q commerce
court to adjudicate differences between
the railroads and shippers; compelled
railroads to secure the assent Of the in
terstate commerce commission to pro-
posed increases In freight rates; granted
= -
classifications and regulations; author
lied the commission to institute proceed
ings against railroads without waiting
for complaints by shippers; brought tele-
phone and telegraph companies under the
and in a number of>ways In
ment over the railroads.
Looking to the future was a provision
in that act providing for Investigation OF
capitalization OF railroads, 90 as to give
ton can be based to prevent the watering
of stocks OF common carriers.
The second most important new law
was the creation of the postal savings
bank system in this country. copying the
systems in vogue In some foreign coun.
tries, the aim Of which IL to encourage
sxvfngy OF snAll~susn8 by the peoeae and
intrusting them to the government. which
in turn deposits. the savings In banks for
general use in trade and industry.
ritories Arizona and New Mexico, was
The demand for conservation Of public
lands was met by authority granted the
President to withdraw from public entry
valuable mineral and forest lands, and
prevent monopolies gaining control OF
natural resources.
In the same line was authorization of
an issue of $20,OOO,00O bonds for reclama-
tiOn purposes
The Tariff Board.
Authority and means were given the
tariff board to investigate the difference
between the cost of production here and
abroad, looking to possible changes in
the tariff on imported articles to meet al
tered conditions.
Authorization of reorganization Of the
Navy Department and its bureaus to Sc
cure greater efficiency.
A progressive program for the upbuild-
ing Of the navy was authorized, direct
ing the immediate construction Of two
=, ,OOO-ton battleships, and number or
smaller vessels.
The lighthouse board was reorganized
along lines OF modern administrative
policy.
A bureau of mines was created. de-
signed to minimize dangers to mine en-
ployes.
"A
quirement Of the use of safety appliances
on railroads.
The white slave" traffic was penalized
and drastic regulations provided to sup
press it,
The President was authorized to parole
rants clemency.
A system of licenses for customs brok-
ers was provided.
Immigration of aliens was further re-
stricted.
The seal fisheries Of Alaska were fur
ther protected to prevent determination
Of the seal herds by foreign poachers.
Gold coin was prescribed as the medium
FOR paying the public debt.
Important amendments to the act Great
ing the government OF Hawaii were
enacted.
A commission of fine arts for civic bet
terment was provided.
Provision was made for raising the
oattleship Maine.
Provision was made for numerous nee
essary public buildings.
Departmental Legislation.
The departments were given additional
for conducting special
work--the Department OF Justice. for the
Of the trusts; the Department
If Agriculture. for investigation Of SUBJ
,titutes for wood pulp in the manufac-
ure of paper: the geological survey. for
yauging streams and conserving water
power sites.
The Glacier National Park in Montana
vas created and the big trees In Cali
'ornia further protected.
law was enacted requiring political
campaign committees to publish the
source of contributions to campaigns for
he election of representatives I'm Con-
,ress.
In addition to the foregoing principal
ma ctments of law. there was a great
mount of other work. Pension bills,
bills to authorize construction of bridges,
lights of ways and OF a seml-private
character were passed.
The session also bore fruit In the par
ial preparation of laws which will be
completed at the next session, bills that
passed one house and were not acted
lpon by the other. Some important
measures are in this category. such as
he ship subsidy legislation. the Appala-
hian forest reserve bill and others.
The great supply bills. carrying provi- |
ion for conducting the various depart |
nents of the government received care |
nj attention. The action upon these |
ills and upon legislation for the District /
4 Columbia Is noted elsewhere.
Indorse Taft and Beveridge.
KENDAILvILLE, Ind. June 25.-The |
epublicans of the twelfth Indiana dis |
IT. -sk-