The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-06-25

congress were the strenuous meas
ures taken by the house OF represen-
tatives to reform It's system of con-
Quoting business SO that less power
might be reposed in the speaker and
the organization of which he is the
natural leader.
The speaker was removed from the
committee on rules, which he had
previously been credited with domin-
ating. and new rule was adopted
for the purpose Of preventing pigeon
holing OF bills by committee when
they were approved by a majority of
the house, regardless of party affilia-
ton.
The enormous proportions of the
demands for legislation which are
pressed upon congress is shown by
the fact that since the beginning of
the present congress more than 27,-
900 bills have been introduced in the
house and more than 5000 in the SEN
ate. in addition to hundreds of reso-
lutions on various subjects. The rec
ord. so far as the number of bills
is concerned, is without parallel.
More time was consumed in deter
mining the railroad bill than was
taken by all other subjects of legisla-
tton. This measure not only created
commerce court, but it embodies au-
thority for commission to inquire
into stock and bond issues of rail-
roads. extends the provision for the
Interstate commerce act to telegraph
and telephone companies, and gives
to the interstate commerce commits
sion power to postpone increases in
rates until the commission shall have
found the proposed increases to be
reasonable.
An act also was passed to compel
railroads to furnish to the interstate
commerce commission reports on ac-
cidents so that congress may be bet
ter informed as to the need of further
legislation
Under the withdrawal act the pres
ident was given almost unlimited pow
er to withhold lands from settlement
and to conserve the water power. On
the other hand the act providing for
the agricultural entry Of. the surface
Of coal lands will open to settlement
at least 10000 acres. and at the same
time reserve to the. government the
right to the COAL BY providing for
the opening of portion of the Pine
Ridge and the Rosebud Indian reser-
vation in South Dakota and the Fort
EBerthold reservation in North Dako-
ia, more than 100000 acres Of agri-
cultural lands will be available for
homestead settlement.
| These conservation measures are
declared to be far-reaching. Under
the new power conferred upon the
president it is expected there will
be extensive land Withdrawals while
the settlement of the coal lands. with
out involving the valuable deposits
beneath the surface, is expected to dc
much to reconcile opponents of con-
servation who have contended against
the disuse Of lands merely to pre-
serve> M tural resources for future
generat:cns.
The increase provided for the navy
was notable. Two battleships Of 21,-
900 tons each. armed with 14-inch
guns, making them the most formid-
able dreadnoughts afloat, were au-
thorfzed The naval strength of the
United States will be further supple
mented by six torpedo boat destroyers
two colliers and four submarines
while an increase of the personnel OF
1.-The navy of 5000 men was authorized
Greater safety Of railroad employees
and travellers will be obtained by the
laws enacted to extend the use OF
safety appliances.
A measure important to agricultural
interests provides against the mis-
branding or adulteration Of paris
green and other insecticides was
passed.
An appropriation of 100000 was
made to be used by the attorney gen.
eral in enforcing the Sherman anti
trust law. The house adopted an
amendment providing that no part OF
the APPROPRIATION should be used in
prosecuting labor organizations, but
the senate struck out this provision
and later the house voted to recede
from its position upon it. The dis
cussion and. demands of labor leaders
brought out letter from President
Taft. who took a strong position
against class legislation Of that char
acter.
The sum Of 100000. with the sug-
gestion that as much more as might
be seeded might be forthcoming. was
appropriated for the raising and re-
moval of the wreck of the battleship
Maine, sunk in the harbor of Ha-
vana, Cuba.
Further regulation of the immigra-
tion service was provided so as to
improve the character Of immigrants
obtaining admission into this country.
Other legislation makes provision for
the better protection Of the Alaskan
seal fisheries; for the promotion of
the efficiency Of the militia of the sew
ara1 atatoa. for the narO1e Of limited