The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-07-22
NE WORK Of CONGRESS.
The Session Just Closed One Of the
Most Notable in Amer
lean History.
WAR LEGISLATION THE MAIN FEATURE.
ysst sums Approp riated and Important
Measures Adopted for the Prosecution
Of the Conflict with Spain Hawaiian
Annexation Accomplished-O Other Laws
Enacted Measures that Failed.

WASHINGTON, July s.-The passing of
the second session OF the Fifty-hfth
congress marks the close OF the first
war congress in "a quarter of century.
Associated with the first hostile con-
Diet with nation of another continent
since 1912, the annexation OF Hawaii
and contemporaneous with further
movement for territorial expansion,
though with few important changes in
the domestic scheme, the present con-
gress outranxs 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 fsw
but significant measures. suddenly needed.
we're framed and made law. but with the issue
made clear there VAS a flood OF bills and res
buttons that fairly submerged the two branches
81 congress.
Hawaiian annexation. Spain and Cuba. war
appropriations and war revenue legislation. Or
ganlzation OF the vast volunteer army and ex-
panslon OF the navy, n new bankruptcy laval
these were features OF the session. Notable
speeches and dramatic scenes over foreign IS
sues were comparatively frequent In both leg
.satve chambers. Urgent deficiency Bills car
rylng millions OF dollars were rushed through
with far less delay than marked the course OF
On ordinary measure OF little importance.
The totai appropriations footed almost $780,
10000 and upwards OF SjJ00J),0J) 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 S750.O0,O) single
nj nVs.r fl-il
ton bill provided for three new battleships,
tour monitors. 10 torpedo boat destroyers IL
torpedo boats and gunboat 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 provision for refunding the In
debtedness OF the Central and Western Paciac
railroads to the government
Cuba and Hawaii.
cuba and Hawai- we're the important matters
OF debate and provoked the most widespread
interest Hawaiian annexation. finally passed
at the close. was agitatcd 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 Inc
Islands.
There were a number OF messages from Pres
ident Mckinley bearing on the Cuban sttua-
ton. ranging from the submission Of n report
upon the Maine disaster and the consular re-
ports. 10 the call for declaration OF war.
The first real war legislation was when con-
gress placed without limitations s5O.O)D.Oo0 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 bill reimbursing the survivors OF the
Maine disaster for their losses, not to exceed a
years pay, with similar amount TO those VINO
perished. became law On April II. the presi-
in n
hands OF congress. Resolutions were soon en-
acted and became a law. April ~. declaring
that tho people OF Cuba ought to be and
are free and independent. and demanding that
Spain relinquish its authority and withdraw
its land and naval forces from Cuba and CUBAN
waters. and directing the use OF our land and
naval forces to enforce the resolutions
The declaration OF war was passed By con-
gress and approved on April p. Subsequent
legislation gave free admission 70 all military
eni naval supplies purchased abroad by this
government allowed te mp ,rary fortiicationS 70
be constructed on the written nSent Of Gamers
OF land 50 taken. and prohibited un Ter eNecu-
tive discretion the exp ,rt OF coal or other war
material. Three DAYS before the declaration
u war PRESIDENT NJ ,fNinies hal approved the
volunteer act. Under IL all the soldiers mtssed
against Spain mu,terel IN the entire lunteer
army have been raised. embracing l2AO men
under the first and '5A0D unler III scroni call.
A month previous leyi>lttion had been enact
ed reorganiz.n, the lins OF the army. effect NJ
the mod crn three battalion war rnatlon. II
designated the pcac' Organization OF these
regiments with two batttii ms OF fouI
comp lnics each or two shelet ms or I'M
manned companies, AM supplied the third
ba talon In war time by manning the
sArie;On comp lni's Ia organizing two add
uon.l on.s. aud made other important re-
quiri n,nt> Anpller law amended the pres
eut AIN ni,trlt,oa OF justice in the army. &C
compIislins reforms In cOurt-martial methods
Revenue Legislation.
One feature OF the session was the enactment
OF IN war revenue law. Its trainers expect Il
toprpiucc si50. 90 900 per year.
Othsr revenue legislation included bill en-
hanging in favor OF importers the provisions AZ
| 10 disposition OF abandoned imported merchan
disc. and extending the outage allowance oil
distilled spirits in bonds from four TO six years
Minor war legislation included the
following:
Allowing n maximum increase OF 100 arm.
hospitals: toward providing for the mainte
nance OF volunteers between their enrollmen
and mastering into United States service add
Ink two assistant ad,rtant generals organizni
volunteer army signal corps. organizing
volunteer brigade OF engineers: creating tw,
additional artillery regiments. adding 1910 mel
and IS assistant surgeons TO the army perma
|
tract surgeons as necessary creating
United States auxiliary naval force, not ex
eeedng 1000 enlisted men. and appropriatni
1,Ol,Ooo therefor; organizing a nava. hospita
corps OF 20 pharmacists and as many hospita
Stewards and apprentices as necessary; or
sanizing naval battalion OF the District Z
Columbia keeping life-saving stations on tn
Atlantic and gulf coasts open during June an
July for patrol purposes; ratifying all Temporal
appointments CT naval officers on and afte
April 81; authorizing assistance to Cubans an
providing them with arms and supplies; allow
Ing homestead settlers who volunteer TO coun
their service in homestead requirements: reso
iutions OF thanks to Dewe, and his men; III
Presentation Of sword to him and medals Z
bis officers and providing for increase In Cd
force OF inspectors-general. ordnance and othe
army departments
Civil Measures.
Other important legislation, asid
from war, included:
Prohibiting the killing OF fur seals in tn
North Pacific and importation OF sealsklas In
" this country; prohibiting foreign freigh
vessels from carrying merchandise, directly o
Indirectly, between United States ports; .
Alaskan homestead and right OF way act en-