The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-16

WASHINGTON, July s.-The passing Of
the second session of the Fifty-ffth
congress marks the close of the first
war congress in a quarter of a century.
Associated with the first hostile con-
dict with a nation of another continent
since 1912, the annexation of Hawall
and contemporaneOuS with a further
movement for territorial expansion,
though with few important changes in
the domestic scheme, the present con-
gress outranks almost any other that
has ever assembled.
II began with a widespread clamor for SYM
pathetic action for suffering Cuba, but there
was apparently then no expectation OF armed
conflict. But when the trend Of events cul-
minated the emergency was quickly met and
necessary legislation enacted. The first tSw
but significant measures. suddenly needed,
were framed and made law. but with the issue
made clear there was q food Of bills and res
olutions that fairly submerged the two branches
Of congress.
Hawaiian annexation. Spain and Cuba, war
appropriations and war revenue legislation, or
ganization of the vast volunteer army and ex-
panSion OF the navy, a new bankruptcy law all
these were features OF the session. Notable
speeches and dramatic scenes over foreign is
ouCS StIllIdI dIlfC4y llE4utAL AZ OObA 4NS
islative chambers. Urgent deficiency bills car
rytng millions OF dollars were rushed through
with far less delay than marked the course OF
an ordinary measure Of little importance.
The total appropriations footed almost $780,
100000, and upwards of S3j0,0JJ,0JJ OF this was
for purely war purposes II was the largest
aggregate by any session since the civil war,
and the general deficiency was the largest
separate measure since the $500 GOD single
appropriation in 1868. The naval apprOpria-
zion bill provided for three new battleships.
four monitors, l6 tOrpedO-bOat deStroyerS. l.
torpedo boats and one g%unboat. The urgent
deficiency bills all carried provisions for az
gressivc work in the prosecution OF the war.
The general deficiency, enacted in the last
days. carried a provision for refuniing the in
debtedneSs OF the Central and Western Pacific
railroads to the government.
Cuba and Hawaii.
Cuba and Hawaii were the important matters
Of debate and provoked the most widespread
interest. Hawaiian annexation, finally passed
at the close, was agitated throughout the SeS-
sion. first in treaty form, in executive session,
and last in open session by resolutions accept
ing the Hawaiian governments cession OF the
islands
There were a number Of messages from Pres
ident Mckinley bearing on the Cuban Situa-
tion. ranging from the submission Of a report
upon the Maine disaster and the consular re-
DOFCS, 10 LlG cali IOF 4 uGCldTdIlOU OF NuT.
The first real war legislation was when con-
sRress placed, without limitations. S50.OOJ,G COO in
the presidents hands as an emergency fund for
national defense. Party lines were swept
away, and both houses unanimously voted its
confidence in the administration soon after
ward a bill reimbursing the survivors Of the
Maine disaster for their losses, not to exceed a
years pay, with a similar amount to those WHIT
persisted, became law. On April H.. the presi-
dent in a message left the Cuban issue in the
hands of congress. Resolutions were soon en-
acted and became q law, April 10, declaring
that the people OF Cuba ought to be and
are free and independent, and demanding that
Spain relinquiSh its authority and withdraw
It's land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban
waters. and directing the use of our lard and
naval forces to enforce the resolutions.
The declaration Of war was passed by con-
rgreSs and approved on April %. Subsequent
legislation gave free admission to all military
and naval supplies purchased abroad by this
government. allowedt temporary fortitlcations to
be constructed on the written consent Of owners
of land so taken, and prohibited under execu-
tive discretion the export OF coal or other war
material. Three days before the declaration
of war President Mckinley had approved the
volunteer act. Under it all the soldiers maSSed
against Spain mustered in the entire volunteer
army have been raised. embracing IL, 90 men
under the first and 5000 under the second call.
A month previous legislation had been enact
ed recognizing the line OF the army, ~ehecting
the modern three-battallion war formation. Il
designated the peace organization Of these
regiments with two battalions Of four
companies each or two skeletons or I'M
manned companies, and supplied the third
battalion in war time by manning the
skeleton companies in organizing two addi-
tional ones, and made other important re-
QuirementS. Another law amended the pres
ent administration of justice in the army, &C
complishing reforms in c~ourt-martial methods
Revenue Legislation.
One feature Of the session vas the enactment
of the war revenue law. Its trainers expect it
TO produce $50, OOJ 900 per year.
Other revenue legislation included a bill en-
larging in favor of importers the provisions as
TO disposition OF abandoned imported merchant
disc, and extending the outage allowance on
distilled spirits in bonds from four to six years.
Minor war legislation included the
following:
Allowing q maximum increase OF 100 army
hospitals; toward providing for the mainte-
nance OF volunteers between their enrolment
and mastering into United States service: add
ing two assistant adjutant generals; organizing
a volunteer army signal corps; organizing a
volunteer brigade OF engineers; creating two
additional artillery regiments, adding 1910 men
and Is assistant surgeons to the army perma-
uently and in emergencies as many con-
tract surgeons as necessary: creating a
United States auxiliary naval force, not ex-
ceeding 1000 enlisted men, and appropriating
$500. 900 therefor; organizing q nava. hospital
corps OF 20 pharmacists and as many hospital
stewards and apprentices as necessary; or
gaining a naval battalion OF the District Of
Columbia; keeping life-saving stations on the
Atlantic and gulf coasts open during June and
July for patrol purposes; ratifying all temporary
up pointments Of naval officers on and after
April 81; authorizing assistance to CubanS and
providing them with arms and supplies; allow
ing homestead settlers who volunteer to count
their service in homestead requirements; reso-
Iutions Of thanks to Dewey and his men; The
presentation Of a sword to him and medals to
his officers; and providing for increase in the
force of nspectors-general, ordnance and other
army departments.
Civil Measures.
Other important legislation, aside
from war, included:
Prohibiting the killing of fur seals in the
North Pacific and importation Of sealskins in
to this country; prohibiting foreign freight
vessels from carrying merchandise, directly or
Indirectly, between United States ports; an
Alaskan homestead and right OF way act, en-
couraging railway construction; appropriating
Zoo, 900 for the relief of the YUKON miners suf-