River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-03-09
CONGRESS AND IT'S WORK.
Three Notable Sessions of the Fifty
FIFTH National LeeisInture.

Washington March 6.-The Fifty-fifth
congress, which adjourned sine die at noon
Saturday, win live In history for two
things First and foremost Will be It's pa
triotic spirit in connection with the war
with Spain. Next viii be the enormous
sums carried In its appropriation bills,
which exceed 81. 500 100000 1t was preceded
by four 81 ,00O, 600 600 congresses, but this is
the first time the appropriations have eX-
ceeded 1859, 600 GOO. 1t will be lampooned
with charges of extravaganza. but large
part of the excess in expenditure grew out
of the war-much of it In the prosecution of
conflict and some of it for maintenance of
the enlarged national policies In the en-
suing era of peace
The Fifty-fifth congress had three ses-
sions, each of them marked by the enact
ment of legislation of great Importance.
The first session passed the Dingley tariff
act.
The second session gave the world
striking proof of the patriotism of the
American people regardless of party by the
act which placed a fund of $50,OOOOOo in
the hands of the president TO be used for
the national Gefense-an act that was
passed by a unanimous vote and with no
demand upon the president for an ac-
counting This was supplemented by other
measures upholding the hands of the COM
mander in chief in the conduct of the war.
Unlike any previous congress, the Fifty
nttn saw the conclusion o. lllt W al W iiANil u
helped to inaugurate, and In its closing
session it provided men and money on
generous scale for the support of the ma
tion in its broader career in the future.
Congress left some things undone that
were to be desired, but even the friends of
these policies are resigned to wait and are
agreed that congress made good record.
The sentiment OF the country was for the
construction Of a ship canal across the
American isthmus. but the project was in
Volved in so many perpieXing doubts ana
complications and entailed such an enor-
nous expense that congress hesitated to
commit the country to 1t without more
light.
Hawaii was at the door asking for per-
manent form of government, but here
again congress wanted delay In order 10
gain a better understanding of the needs
of the case. and moreover it is felt the
islands can easily get along under the ar
rangement provided for in the annexation
resolution, which continued the old govern
ment under the direction of the president,
Bound up with Hawaii and the other
isles of the Pacific was the question of a
cable, but that is not considered,vital
The bill for the upbuiding of the mer-
chant marine by system of subsidies
probably had a majority of each house In
its favor, but IL came up too late In the
session to be crowded through against the
opposition of Speaker Reed and a coterie
| of Directing senators.
with the close of this session many SEN
! ators and congressman of national reputa-
tion will retire from service at the capitol.
Senator German, of Maryland, is perhaps
the most conspicuous Of these. because of
his leadership of the democratic party.
Senator Quay IS quite as conspicuous as a
leader on the republican side, but he is still
battling for life and has a,chance to return.
Senators Turpie and Mills are famous
statesmen about to give way to younger
men, and Senator Allen, who has been con-
SpicuOus as a pioneer populist in the SEN
ate, will return to the quiet Of a Nebraska
! village
The house viii lose more than hundred
of it's members some of them well known,
but most of them obscure