New-York tribune., 1919-01-07

assessed and fraudulent titles to I.177,-
celled
Labor Legislation
In 1903 Congress passed, and the
PRESIDENT approved, a safety appliance
act IN the interest of labor, compelling
all railroads engaged in interstate
commerce to equip their rolling stock
with safety appliances for the protec-
ton Of their employees, and n 1908,
the so-called ashpan act, compelling the
adoption of device on railway loco
motives for the protection of the fire.
men, also was enacted The eight
hour law, long a dead letter with re-
gard 10 government work, was revived
ana ehforced, and even applied to work
on the Panama Canal. A model child
labor law for the District of Colum
ola was enacted with the hope that
It's adoption would stimulate similar
legislation in the several states. and
an act making the government respon-
slbie to its employees injured in the
performance of their duties was en-
acted in 1908. At the instance of the
President, an employers liability law
was enacted in 1906, and, having been
declared unconstitutional by the Su-
preme Court. a modified law was en-
The army was increased from 5000
officers and $4,000 enlisted men to 4'473
oihcers and S3,250 enlisted men. The
appropriations for the army. which
reached their highest point as a result
OF the Spanish war in 1902, when S117.-
ooO,OO0 was appropriated, were reduced
to Sl02,oOO,00O. The coast artillery was
organized as distinct corps and in
creased from 10000 to 10000 men. The
held artillery was made a part of the
mobile army and organized into six
regiments. Great progress in estab-
llshlng and equipping the coast de-
fences was made through the liberality
OF Congress. Workmanship and physi-
cal prowess were developed and en-
couraged, and a system of maneuvre
or efficiency of the militia, was devel-
oped. Congress converted the militia
INTO part of the National Army, avail
able IN case of need without disruption
OF Its formation, and provided an an
nual appropriation of $5,OOO,OOO for the
equipment and maintenance of the
militia. The pay of officers and men
was increased, and practice marches.
extensive manGuvres and riding exer-
clses all contributed to the increased
efficiency Of the army
National Red Cross
Incidental to the development of the
military establishment was the reor-
ganization of the National Red Cross,
which was placed on a business basis,
its accounts audited by the auditors of
the army and its usefulness promoted
by the establishment of board of
directors, which includes the President
and number of army and navy offi-
GERS.
Among the more important miscel-
ianeous enactments may be mentioned
the admission to statehood of Oklahoma,
formed of the former territory of that
name and of Indian Territory; the
reclamation by irrigation of 100000
acres of arid land; the great safe
guards thrown around the naturaliza-
tion of citizens; the increased assist
ance rendered to the state experiment
stations; revision of the immigration
laws, in 1907; the general service pen
sion law, enacted in the same wear;
the law enacted in that year prohibit
ing corporations from contributing to
campaign funds; the increase, in 1908,
Of widows pensions from IS to $12 n
month, and the great increase in that
year of the efficiency of the Life Saving
Corps.
Important additions were made to
the body of laws affecting the nations
finances, and in 1908, there was created
Il National Monetary Commission to
submit to Congress plans for com
pete reorganization of the national
finances, including the establishment Of
central bank of issue. In 1907 the
law was so amended as to permit the
deposit of customs receipts in national
banks, and in 1908 an emergency law
providing for the issue of $500,000,0oo
Of emergency currency in the event of
a financial stringency was enacted.
During the seven years and three
months ended with June, 1908. there
was a net surplus of receipts over cx-
penditures of nearly 800 1000, 900. The
national debt was reduced 100000, 900,
and an annual saving of interest of
S9.0o0,0oo was effected Eightysix
million dollars was invested in the
Panama Canal, with a sale of canal
bonds amounting to near $55,ooO,0O0
so that $31 100000 was invested in the
national plant