The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-07-09
work OF THE SESSION
First War Congress in a Quarter
Of a Century.
NINE HUNDRED MILLION
That Il the Total Appropriation Made by
55th Consress-Hswaiian Annex
alton and the War Rev
enue Measures.

Washington, July s.-The passing or
the second session Of the 55th congress
marks the close Of the first war congress
in a quarter of a century. Associated
with the first hostile conflict with a ma
ton OF another continent since 1872 and
contemporaneous with a move for ter
ritorial expansion. though with few Inn
portant changes in the domestic scheme
the present congress outranks almost
n other that has assembled. II began
with a widespread clamor for sympa-
thetfc action for suffering Cuba, but
there was apparently then no expecta-
ton of armed conflict. But when the
trend of events eliminated the emef-
rency was quickly met and the neces-
sary legislation enacted.
The first few. but Significant, war
measures suddenly needed were framed
and made law, but, with the issue made
clear. there was a food OF bills ana res
olutions that fairly submerged the two
branches of congress.
Hawaiian annexation, war appropria-
tons and war revenue legislation, or
ganization of the vast volunteer army
and expansion Of the navy, a new bank
ruptcy laval these were features OF
the session. Notable speeches and dra-
matte scenes over foreign Issues were
comparatively frequent in both legisla-
tive chambers. Urgent deficiency bills.
carrying millions of dollars, were rushed
through with far less delay than marked
the course of an ordinary measure or
like importance. The total appropria-
ton footed almost $500, 900, 900 and up
wards of $3.50, 600, 900 of this was for
purely war purposes. 1t was the largest
aggregate by any session since the cIViI
war and the general deficiency was tne
largest separate measure since the
SIS, 900, 900 single appropriation IN isos,
The naval appropriation bill provided
for three new battleships, four monitors,
Is torpedo boat destroyers, IL torpedo
boats and one gunboat The urgent de-
ficiency bills all carried provisions TOT
aggressive work In the prosecution on
the war. The general deficiency enacted
IN the last days carried a provision Tor
r~efunding the indebtedness of the Cen
trail and Western Pacific railroads to
the government.
Cuba and Hawaii were the important
matters of the session and provoked the
most widespread interest. Hawaiian
annexation, finally passed at the close,
was agitated throughout the session
first in treaty form In executive session,
last in open session by resolutions ac-
cepting the Hawaiian governments ces-
sion OF the stands. There were a mum
Der OF messages from fIthiueh' VIZ
KinIey bearing on the Cuban situation,
ranging from the submission OF a re-
mort upon the Maine disaster and the
consulate reports to a call Tor a decia-
ration of war.
The first real war legislation was
when congress placed. without limita-
ton. $50. 600. 600 in the presidents hands
as an emergency fund for national de-
tense. Party lines were swept away
and both houses unanimously voted It's
confidence in the administration, soon
afterwards a bill ~reimbursing the sur
vivors of the Maine disaster for their
losses not to exceed a years pay with
a similar amount To the relatives of
those who persisted became a law. ON
April IL the president, in a message,
left the Cuban issue in the hands of
congress.
Resolutions were o enacted and
became a law April 10, declaring that
the people of Cuba ought 10 be and
are free and independent and demand
ing that Spain r~elinquish its authority
and withdraw its land and naval forces
from Cuban and Cuban waters and d.
recting the use of our land and nsval
forces TO enforce the resolutions. The
declaration of war was passed by con-
gress and approved April 20.
Subsequent legislation gave free ad-
mission to all military and naval sup
plies purchased abroad by this govern
ment. allowing temporary fortifca-
lions to be constructed on the written
consent of owners of land so taken n
prohibited under executive discretion
the export of coal or other material,
and three days before the declaration
of war President Mckinley had APP
proved the volunteer act. Under IL all
the soldiers massed against Spain mus
tered in the entire volunteer army have
been raised, embracing 125, 900 under the
first and 5000 under the second call
A month previous. legislation had been
enacted recognizing the line of the
army, effecting three modern battalion
war formations 1t designated the
peace organization OF these regiments
with two battslions of four companies
each, or two skeleton or unnamed
companies and supplied the third bat
TALON in war time bv manning the
skeleton company in organizing two ad-
ditional ones and made other important
requirements. Another law amended
the present administration OF justice
in the army, accomplishing reforms in
court martial methods.
One feature OF the session was the
enactment OF the wal revenue law. Its
trainers expected IL TO produce $3.50
coo, 600. other revenue legislation in
Guided a bill charging i'm favor of Inn
porters the provisions as to the dispo-
sition of abandoned imported merchan-
disc, and extending the outage allow
ance on distilled spirits in bond from
-four to six years
Minor war legislation Included the
following: Allowing a maximum in
crease OF 100 army hospitals: providing