The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-07-09

Congress thereupon entered upon the
work of passing war legislation. vol
unteer army was authorized and the de-
tails of it's organization provided for.
The regular army organization was
changed SO as to permit of its expansion
from $1,000 to $1,000. Recommendations
from the War and Navy departments re-
ceived attention and except for the carp
ing criticism and Intellectual opposition
of most of the Democrats, they were
speedily embodied into laws. Before war
had been declared, however, and shortly
after the blowing up the Maine, con-
gress unanimously made an appropria-
ton of s500O0.O00 to permit the depart
ments to prepare for the conflict that
appeared inevitable. The passage of this
appropriation with only a short debate
in the house and without any debate in
the senate is considered one of the most
dramatic incidents of the historic ses-
sion just closing. Congress then set to
work to provide additional revenues for
the war expenses. -,Ir. Dingley intro
duced a bill for that purpose on April
25 and on June 10 1t had passed both
houses. The amount of revenue 1t will
raise has been variously estimated from
$780, 900 to 5000, 100000 annually. The
same bill authorizes the issuance of $780,
900 900 per cent. bonds and s1o1 0O0,0 900
certificates of Indebtedness. This one
measure would ordinarily be considered
a good piece of work to be accomplished
during a session Of congress.
%
The regular annual appropriation bills
were acted upon and passed before the
expiration Of the fiscal year with the ex-
ception of the general deficiency bill,
which has just reached the president.
Immense appropriations for fortifica-
tions, the maintenance of the volunteer
and regular armies, the navy and for
new battleships and other naval vessels
were made. The appropriations consid-
cred and passed at this session of con-
gress are probably more than double
those made under ordinary circum-
stances. War measures. however. are by
no means the only extraordinary and
historical legislation accomplished at this
session. The policy Of annexing the
Hawaiian Islands, which has been an
issue in American politics for fifty years.
was consummated by the passage of a
joint resolution annexing the islands and
making them part of the United States
men, this is one of the great historic
acts OF the American congress- and may
mean the beginning of an American pol
icy OF expansion, whose possibilities are
not at present appreciated In this mat
ter congress also supported President
McKinley's policy, the vote in the two
houses showing a two-thirds majority
in each body.
Another piece of legislation which is
pleasing to the administration and which
Is believed to promise good results is the
amendment to the deficiency bill appro-
priating $4,000 for the expenses of the
American members of a joint commission
to be appointed for the purpose of ad-
it,et he ta
| that has arisen between this country
and Great Britain. 1t Is believed that
the authorization of the commission will
take high rank with the most important
legislation OF the session. Another piece
of legislation which congress accom-
plished at this session is the new bank
ruptcy law. II required months to so
frame 1t as to meet the approval OF a
majority in both houses. In the opinion
of expert lawyers in both branches II
does not go as far as il should in the
matter of involuntary bankruptcy, but
still II is set down as one of the leg
islative monuments of this congress.
While congress has accomplished a
great deal in the past six months, there
are several bills yet on the calendar
which many statesmen believe should
have been passed. The banking and
currency committee fought so long and
| so bitterly over various propositions that
the measure, which finally did reach the
house, entitled, "a bill to provide fol-
| strengthening the public credit, for the
relief of the United States treasury, and
| for the amendment of the laws relating
| to national banking associations" never
got further than the house calendar
| The Nicaragua Canal bill is not yet act
| ed upon. The bill providing for a ma
| tional exposition of American products
and manufactures at the city of Phila'
| delphia, for the encouragement OF the ex
\ port trade, goes over until next ses
| sion, as will also bill regarding the
holding of a pan-American exposition ir
| the year 1901, at Cayuia Island, i'm tht
| Niagara river. Bills giving the adjutant
| general the rank of major general, and
reviving the rank of lieutenant genera
Of the army, and the naval personne
bill have been put off until next ses