River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-07-14
THE FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
4 KoHuwc of the work Done by the
BOdS Which Has just Adjourned
Sine Die.

cheers were followed by singing of patriotic
songs. Representative Cromwell of Ohio
proposed three cheers for President Nc
kinney, which were given twice over by
the republicans. Then followed cheers
Joined IN by the entire house for Admiral
Dewey and Gen. Joe Wheeler.
The whole house was one vast Gemonstra-
ton and hags were passed about TO every
member and were enthusiastically waved
while the members sang at the close Of the
Fifty-iifth congress.
Washington, July 9-The senate ad-
journed sine die at 2:06 p. m. Before ad-
iournment the senate in executive session
confirmed all the nominations sent In by
the president.
Washington. July 9.-The passing of the
second session of the Fifty-hfth congress
marks the close of the first war congress
in a quarter of a century.
Hawaiian annexation. Spain and Cuba.
war appropria tions and war revenue legis-
lation, organization OF the vast volunteer
army and expansion of the navy, a new
bankrup icy laval these were features
of the session. Notable speeches and dra-
matte scenes over foreign issues were
comparatively frequent In both legislative
chambers. Urgent deficiency bills car
rying millions of dollars were rushed
through with far less delay than marked
the course of IN ordinary measure of little
importance. The total appropria tons
footed almost $500 000,00O and upwards OF
poses. 1t was the largest aggregate by
any session since t , civil war and the
general deficiency was the largest separate
measure since the $3.50 coo coo single appro-
priation in 1863 The naval appropriation
bill provided for three new battle ships,
four monitors, l6 torp edo boat destroyers,
IL torpedo boats and one gunboat. The
urgent deficiency bills all carried pro-
visions for aggressive work In the prose-
cution of the war The general deficiency,
{ he fa do NC fat fTs I'D a
vision for refunding the Indebtedness of
the Central and Western Pacific railroads
to the government
Cuba and Hawaii were the important
matters Of debate and provoked the most
widespread interest. Hawaiian annexation,
finally passed at the close, was agtated
throughout the session, first in treaty form.
in executive session. last in open session
by resolutions accepting the Hawaiian
governments cession Of the islands
There were number of messages from
President Mckinley bearing on the Cuban
situation. ranging from the submission of
report upon the Maine disaster and the
consular reports 10 the call for declara-
ton of war.
The first real war legislation was when
congress placed. without limitations. 500
coo. 600 in the presidents hands as an emer-
gencv fund for national defense. Party
lines were swept away, and both houses
unanimously voted their Conscience in the
administration. Soon afterward bill re-
imbursing the survivors of the Maine dis
aster for their losses not TO exceed a year s
pay, with a similar amount to those who
persisted, became law. on April II the pres
ident in a message left the Cuban issue in
the hands of congress. Resolutions were
soon enacted and became a law April 10,
declaring that the people of Cuba ought to
be and are free and Independent, and
demanding that Spain relinquish its au-
thority 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
congress and approved on April % Sub
seQueut legislation gave free admission to
all military and naval supplies purchased
abroad by this government: allowed tenn
porary Notifications to be constructed on
a written consent of the owners of land so
taken and prohibited under executive dis
erection the export of coal or other war ma
teriaI and three days before the declara-
ton of var President Mckinley had APP
proved the volunteer act. Uncer 1t all
the soldiers massed against Spain mus
tered in the entire volunteer army have
been raised, embracing 10000 men under
the first and 1900 under the second call.
one feature of the session was the enact
ment of the war revenue law. Its trainers
expected 1t to produce $l50,o000C0.
In hhis connection congress also author
the war loan.
other revenue legislation included bill
charging in favor of importers the pro-
visions as TO disposition of abandoned I'M
ported merchandise; and extending the
outage allowance on distilled spirits in
bonds from four to six years.
Other important legislation. aside from
war included:
Prohibiting the killing of fur seal an
imals in the North Pacific and importation
Lii t.,sA h ~ tt-NT +
ing foreign vessels from carrying mer-
chandse directly or indirectly between
United States ports, an Alaskan homestead
and right of way act, encouraging railway
construction; appropriating 100000 for the
relief of the Yukon miners suffering from
the fierce winter there creating nom
partisan Industrial commission to inVesu.
gate immigration, labor, manufacture ana
business; appropriating A13,lSl to pay the
Behring sea awards; creating a comnls'
sion to allot lands on the Uintah indian
reservation in Utah; adjusting the old
land dispute between the United States and
the state of Arkansas, the compromise
calling for a payment from the latter OF
$16OJ12; dispensing with proof or loyalty
during the war as prerequisite In bounty
land application where proof otherwise
shows title; abolshing the distinction be
tween offered and unoifered lands; the
reclassifica ZION of the patent system; ere
atinE a commission to revise the statutes
relating TO patents and trade marks re
moving the disability imposed by section
of the Fourteenth amendment TO the
constitution heretofore incurred; allowing
S2SS 900 for the relief of the book agents OF
the Methodist Episcopal church south. for
damages during the war; $330,l5l for the
heirs Of John Roach, the Philadelphia ship
builder, for work on the cruisers Chicago,
Boston and Atlanta $2S.lG0 likewise fol-
the dispatch boat Dolphin; S69,55O to the
Richmond locomotive and machine works
for damage and losses in the construction
of the battleship Texas.
Late in tbs session a general bankruptcy
law was enacted providing for voluntary
and Involuntary bankruptcy.
The Teller resolution declaring for pay
ment of the national bonds In silver as
well as gold was passed by the senate, by
a vote Of AZ to g. but was defeated in the
house Statehood bills for New Mexico,
Arizona and Oklahoma were killed In COM
mittec An immigration bill requiring abll-
itv to read and write on the part of those
IS years old passed the senate. but did not
reach vote in the house. The anti scalp
ing bill, prohibiting ticket brokerage, re-
ported in both houses, went over to the
next session The free homes amendment
/ to the Indian appropriation bill giving over
%. 000 acres of public lands as free
homes for settlers, was finally compro-
/ missed on a two-years' extension of pay
Inent for such lands
President Gets His Diploma.