The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-09
Close Of First War Con-
gress in Many Years.
FEATURES OF The SESSION
Notable Speeches and Dramatic
Scenes Over The issues
PASSAGE OF WAR REVENUE BILL

washington. July e.-rhe passing OF
the second session OF the Fifty-ffth
congress marks the close of the first war
congress in a third of a century. As
sociated with the first hostile conflict
with a nation Of another continent since
1s12. the annexation OF Hawaii and con-
tempornneons with further movement
Cor territorial expansion. though with
few important changes In the domestic
scheme, the present congress outranks
almost any other that has assembled.
II began with q widespread clamor Tor
sympathetic action for suffering Cuba.
bus there was apparently then no ex-
pectation OF armed conflict; but when
the trend OF events eliminated the
emergency was quickly met and neces-
saYy 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
1ooa OF bills and resolutions that fairly
submerged the two branches OF con-
grsss.
Hawaiian annexation. Spain. Cuba,
war appropriations ana war revenue
legislafion, organization OF the vast
volunteer army and expansion OF the
navy. q new bankruptcy law--aii these
were features OF the session. Notable
epeeches and dramatic scenes over
foreign issues were comparatively fire.
quent In both legislative chambers
urgent deficiency bills. carrying milions
81 dollars, were rushed through with Tar
less delay than marked the course OF
ordinary measures of little Importance
The total appropriations footed almost
eso0 oo0. 80, and upwards Of $3.50 900 .oot
OF this were for purely war purposes
1t was the largest aggregation by any
session since the civil war. and the gen.
eral deficiency was the largest separate
preparation In 1863
The naval appropriation bin provided
for three new battleships, four moni
kors. ~ torpedo boat destroyers. AZ tor.
pedo boats AMI one gunboat. The
urgent deficiency bills all carried pro
visions for aggressive work In th'
prosecution of the war. The genera
deficiency. enacted in the last days
carried provision for refunding TIT
indebtedness OF the Central and West
ern Pacific railroads to the govern
enent.
Cuba and Hawaii were the important
MATTERS OF debate and provoked thu
most widespread interest. Hawaiian
annexation. which finally passed at IN,
close. was agitated throughout the ses
sion. first in treaty form In executive
eession and last In open session by reso
lutions accepting the Hewaiian govern
ment's cession OF the islands.
The FIRST real war legislation was whel
congress placed. without Limitations
:. 80. .0oe. 900 In the presidents hands AZ a
emergency fund for national defense
Party lines were swept away. and bot
houses unanimously voted its confldenc
in the administration. Soon afterwar
bfii reipbursing the survivors OF tn
Maine disaster for their losses became
law. On April IL the president In
message left the Cuban Issue In tn
hanAs Of congress-. Resolutions wer
sosn enacted and became q law April 4!
declaring that the people Of Cuba ough
- ~ and are free and independent: de
manding that Spain relinquish its au
thorfty and withdraw its land and navs
forces from Cuban waters, and direct
ang the use Of our lcnd and naval force
TO enforce the resolutions. The deciars
eion OF war was passed by congress an
Approved on April Is. Subsequent leg
lslation gave free admission to ell mill
tary and naval supplies purchase
abroad by this government; ailowe
temporary fortincations to be con
structed on the written consent OF own
srs of land so taken, and prohibited un
der executive discretion the export q
coal or other war material.
Three days before the declaration q
war President Mckinley had approve
the volunteer act. Under II all the sol
diers massed against Spain mustere
In the entire volunteer army have bee
raised, embracing LIS 900 men under tn
1lrst and 75.o00 under the second cal
a month previous legislation had bee
enacted recognising the line of IN
army, Erecting modern three battalio
war formation. Another law amende
fhe present administration OF justic
Ia the army. accomplishing reforms
court-marfial methods.
One feature OF the session was IN
enactment of the war revenue law. I,
framers expect II to produce $50. .ooo. 90
There was also enacted minor war ies
isiAtion besides the general iegislatio