The Irish standard., 1898-07-16
THE END OF TIE SESSION.
The Fifty-Fifth Congress Adjourns
Sine Die Afrer an Event.
full Meeting.
RESUME OF THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED.

RESUME OF THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED.
The Features Were Hawaiian Annex
alton, War Appropriations and
War Revenue Legislatton-Otiler
Important Measures That Became
Laws and Some That Failed.
Washington, July 9.-Congress ad-
journed sine die yesterday.
In the sennte resolutions were
adopted thanking Vice President Ho-
bart and Senator Frye, president pro
temporc, for The able and courteous
manner in which they had presided
over the deliberations OF the senate
and then final adjournment was an
nounced. With waving flags and sing
ing by members and spectators of pa
triotic songs the house adjourned sine
die after adopting q resolution thank
ing Speaker Reed for his services. Tho
following is resume of the work done
during the session:
Noteworthy Features.
Hawaiian annexation, Spain and Cuba.
war appropriations and war revenue legis-
lation. organization OF the vast volunteer
army and expansion of the navy, a new
bankruptcy 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 an ordinary meas sure of little
Importance. The total appropriations
footed almost $500 100000 and upwards Of
s35O,o00.000 Of this was for purely war pur-
poses. 1t was the largest aggregate by
any session since t civil war and tho
general deficiency was the largest separate
measure since the $3.50 c0o.oN single appro-
priation In 1863 The naval appropriat ton
bill provided for three new battleships,
four monitors, IL torp edo boat destroycrs
IL torpedo boats and one gunboat. The
urgent deficiency bills all carried pro.
visions for aggressive work in the prose-
enacted in the last days. carried pro-
vision for refunding the Indebtedness 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 agtated
throughout the session, first in treaty form,
in executive session, last In open session
governments cession of the islands.
War Legislation.
The first real war legislation was when
congress placed, without limitations. $780,
100000 in the presidents hands as an emer-
gency fund for national defense. Party
unanimously voted their confidence in the
administration. Soon afterward a bill re-
imbursins the survivors Of the Maine dis
aster for their losses not TO exceed q years
pay. with similar amount to those who
persisted. became law. On April II the pres
ident in message left the Cuban issue In
the hands Of congress. Resolutions were
soon enacted and became law April 10,
declaring that the people OF Cuba ought to
be and are free and Independent. and
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.
Declaration Of War.
The declaration of war was passed by
congress and approved on April u.s. Sub
sequent legislation gave free admission to
all military and naval supplies purcha sed
abroad by this government; allowed tenn
porary Notifications to be constructed on
written consent of the owners Of land SO
taken and prohibited under executive dis
erection the export OF coal or other war ma
terial. and three days before the declara-
ton Of var President Mckinley had APP
the soldiers massed against Spain mus
tered in the entire volunteer army have
been raised. embracing $4,000 men under
the first and $4,000 under the second call.
One feature of the session was the enact
ment Of the war revenue law. Its trainers
expected 1t to produce $3.50. 900. Geo.
In this connection congress- also author.
ixed u bond issue Of $500 600, known as
the war loan.
Other Business.
Other important legislation, aside from
war; included:
Prohibiting the killing OF fur seal an
finals in the North Pacific and importa ton
of seal skins into this country: prohibit
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; appropriat ting Sz0O0uO for the
relief of the Yukon miners. suffering from
the fierce winter there: creating Il nom
partisan Industrial commission to invests
gate immigration. labor. manufacture and
business; appropriatin:s $i7313 to pay tho
Behrins sea awards: crcating a commits
reservation In Utah; adjusting the old
land dispute between the United States and
tho state or Arkansas, the compromise
calling for u payment from the latter of
sltO,572; dispensing with proof OF loyalty
during the war as Il prerequisite In bounty
land application where proof otherwise
shows title: abolishing the distinction be-
tween offered and unoffered lands; the
reclussiilca lion Of the patent system; Gre
ntns 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,
Late in the session general bankruptcy
law was enacted providing for voluntary
and involuntary bankruptcy.
Failed To become Laws.
The Tclle: resolution declaring for pav
ment OF the national bonds In silver as
well as gold was passed BY the senate by
vote of II to 80. but was defeated in the
house. Statehood bills for New Mexico,
Arizona and Oklahoma were killed in COM
mttec. An immigration bill requiring abl-
ity to read and write on the part of those
1G years old passed the senate. but did not
reach vote in the house. The anti-scnlp-
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
2O.0co0CO acres of public lands as free
homes for settlers, was finally compro-
missed on a two-ycars' extension OF pay.
rnent for such lands
Over Five Hundred Lost.