New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-09
RECORD OF CON iRESS.
NOTED FOR WAR LEGISLATION
EXCELLENT WORK DONE. THOUGH THE
OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES FRus-
TRATED PLANS OF RE-
PUBLICAN LEADERS.
fer rEIxonApn TO THE TRpvSE.l

will always be regarded as a memorable one
When 1t began the country was in n state OF
profound peace its end finds the United states
engaged IN a foreign war for the first time In
half a century. and for the first time In the his
tory Of the Nation its naval and military ex-
petitions seek It's enemy beyond seas and
oceans.
When the session began all the people were
again engaged In peaceful and gainful occupa-
tons after n period Of depression and distress.
and the benefcent influences and effects OF new
and better revenue legislation were so far per-
ceptlble that tho revenues OF the Government
were sufficient TO meet its current ordinary ex-
renditures and promised soon TO yield a sur
plus. When the session ended all thoughts were
turned to war: more than two hundred thousand
men had been called to arms; the streets OF
cities and towns echoed the soldiers martial
footsteps: military camps dotted the land; Amer
lean soldiers and sailors were following the
Stars and Stripes TO victory and gory-and
death-in tropical and pestilential chimes;
mothers, wives and children were waiting and
weeping at home: arsenals and gun and powder
factories were busy night and day; hundreds OF
armed vessels were afioat guarding the coasts;
seacoast Notifications were being built and
strengthened on every hand. and torpedoes and
the expenditures OF the Government were ex-
ceedng its revenues ct the rate of Sl.OOO.OOO
day new taxes had been laid on the people. and
millions were being borrowed 10 meet the
extraordinary expenses caused BY war. And
this great and startling change had taken place
IN the short space OF four months! 1t is true
that mutterings OF the coming storm had been
heard somewhat earlier than March. but every
patriotic American hoped and prayed that 1t
might be averted. and peace. with honor. pre-
served.
PLANS OF LEADERS FRUSTRATED.
At the beginning Of the session the more influ-
entail leaders in both branches Of Congress laid
their plans for early adjournment. They be-
iieved that the country needed and desired fur
Their time and opportunity TO recuperate from
the financial strain and business and industrial
depression OF the preceding four years more
than it did an avalanche of legislation by Con-
gress The programme was 10 be: No extrava-
CANT vicious unnecessary legislation: no ef-
forts to do impossible things; no attempt by
means Of academic discussions and mere legis-
lative agitation to educate the people" who
above most things desired period Of rest from
such discussions and agitation: rigid and wise
economy in appropriations and expenditures OF
the public money For time 1t seemed as
though this programme might be a successful
one, and TO the credit OF the LNth Con-
gress 1t can be said that in large part 1t was
carried out. Matters proceeded so smoothly. de-
spite the ranting of few partisan demagogues
in either branch Of Congress. that the more ex-
perienced Legislators and sagacious leaders be-
lieved, until late in February. that the entire
programme would be successful and that Con-
gress would adjourn before the frst Of May
Great self-restraint and self -denial had been
exhibited, and firm hands had held the helm or
legislation. For the first time in many years
st was possible, for example. to postpone until
more favorable season the passage Of big river
and harbor bill. and the clamor for new public
buildings was measurably appeased for the time
being by consideration for the condition Of
the National Treasury and promises Of future
qualification at more favorable time. Con-
gressmen. even with impatient and hungry con-
stituencies behind them. seemed for once to
realize and appreciate the fact that the So
called surplus IN the Treasury consisted OF
money which had been borrowed mot on the
most favorable terms). and upon which interest
must be paid They sturdily and successfully
resisted importunate and unreasonable demands
upon the public purse. Very few and COM
paratively unimportant were the suspicious and
unnecessary measures that were forced upon the
statute book in the entire session. and during
the last four months Of it the minds OF states
men In both branches were so deeply engrossed
and 80 constantly occupied with the war and
with measures that they had little time
and less disposition TO indulge In academic dis
cussions or vain attempts to educate the people
who were very busy with practical matters. The
session. therefore, was remarkably clean
one and largely because the majority In
either branch Of Congress was too patriotic TO
yield to the temptations to legislative extrava-
Rance which a state Of war usually invites and
promotes.
The subject Of Hawaiian annexation was not
taken into serious consideration as legislative
matter at the outset. because II was taken for
granted that the Senate would exercise its func-
ton and perform its duty under the Constitu-
ton either by ratlfying rejecting the treaty
of annexation.
WAR LEGISLATION.
When the conviction began to dawn on Con-
gress that war was inevitable. the leaders In
that body quickly realized that the country was
wholly unprepared. For years the land de-
fences had been utterly neglected. until they
had fallen into decay and become obsolete and
almost wholly worthless. Within the last few
years Congress had been persuaded 10 take
nome steps toward their restoration. but the
means provifed had been inadequate. The en-
tire military establishment had been kept on
starvation basis. and no suitable provision had
been made for arming and equiping the militia. |
and placing II in a state Of preparation or con- |
dltion Of efficiency. The Navy had Jared some |
what better at the hands of Congress. but the |
mutterings Of coming found that Of |
National defence also too weak to cope even |
with that OF Spain and at the same time pro- |
tect and defend the harbors and rich CONNER |
cial cities scattered along thousands Of miles Of |
seaboard. inviting invasion and attack This
condition OF affairs had been we'll known to |
Congress at any time in the last twenty years |
as II was in the late winter and early spring of |