Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-03-09

ITERW wv W within two weeks
after he entered the White House. Con-
gress, after a long struggle OF tour
months, passed the Dingley tariff law.
The extra session also authorized, at the
suggestion of the President, the appoint
E,ent Of monetary commission to confer
with European nations as to the posslbli-
sey OF establishing bimetallism under an
International agreement. The extra SEES
sion saw the submission of treaty an
asxing Hawaii to the United States, al
Shough the treaty was not acted on owing
so lack Of time for it's consideration. The
work Of the extra session was, therefore,
practically confined to the passage OF the
new tariff law and the appointment OF the
monetary commission.
Rapid March of Events.
! When the Congress met in regular SEES
MON IN December, 1897, the whole world
wss ON the qui yiyc over the possibility or
war between the United States and Spain
The message of the President was dlplo-
matically pacific, but Spain was making
promises and not keeping them. After
New Years events moved with starting
raDidity, and Congress, through them all,
held the whip hand. The Spanish minis
her, Dupuy de LONE, with characteristic
Spanish craft, insulted the President III
A personal letter. The battleship Name
was blown up in Havana harbor, and the
country was ahamc. Affairs with Spain
grew worse until the President called for
aid from Congress. The response was
immediate and thrilling. Congress voted,
almost in silence. to give the President
$4,000, 900 to be expended in his own dis
erection "for the national defense
Hawing given this expression of patri-
cite confidence, Congress went to work to
clean up the ordinary routine business and
appropriation bills in the expectation of
war. The strain became more tense every
day The President and his cabinet sought
TO avert war if possible. Congress deemed
lt inevitable and threatened to take imme-
Siiate action. The President was forced
TO yield to the congressional pressure.
Then the Fifty-ffth Congress passed his
torie resolutions declaring that Cuba was
and of right ought to be free and indie
pendent, and calling on Spain to with
draw from the island. Minister Wood
ford was given no opportunity to present
these resolutions to Spain, but received
his passports. Thereupon, on April 20,
Congress declared war against Spain, dat
ing the act back to the dismissal of Wood
Cord on April 81. He left Madrid for
Paris, and Minister Polo Of Spain left
Washington for Montreal.
Liherality with War Funds.
War had come The President was au-
ahoFixed to recruit the regular army up to
$1,000 men, and directed to call for vol
unteers. He did both promptly, blockad-
ing Havana. From this time on Congress
was busy supplying men and money to put
ahe army and navy on war basis. Money
was voted almost without limit, and the
House was represented in the army by
lighting Joe Wheeler and other members
who left their seats to accept commissions.
The Hawaiian annexation treaty could
nst be ratified, owing to the sugar trust
Suiueuce in the Senate, but law was
passed by Congress effecting the same
thing. Hawaii was joined to the United
States as a war measure, and commits
sion OF members, headed by Senator Cul-
som of Illinois, was appointed to suggest
a plan of government. Their report is
stiil 20 be acted on.
Almost the first work in Congress after
war came was to provide money to meet
aae heavy appropriations. The war rcve-
nae act was passed, which put more taxes
pa beer, legacies, sugar and oil corpora
II which are still on the statute books.
Congress adjourned with the glory of
aganila Bay still ringing in its ears, and
and Wcll-equipped navy. Congress had
scarcely adjourned when the destruction
81 Ceryera's fleet in Santiago bay prac-
ideally ended the war. The truce was
signed in August, and when Congress
~, nonorohor
WIRE concluding a treaty in Paris. Just
Before the holidays they agreed on a
areaty 1t was ratified by the Senate Feb.
y after q sensational debate, and with a
Aloody fight with Aguinaldo actually be-
gun.
Vast Work Accomplished.
The Fifty-ffth Congress did not provide
for The thorough reorganization of the
srmy. but to suppress Agunaldo and oc-
rzpy Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip
9iaes II has provided temporary army of
Az,0oO men. Thus in two years the Fifty
6stA Congress has had three sessions, ag-
gxegnting about fourteen months. In that
AVief Period it has passed a tariff bill. de-
ssered war against Spain, ratified the
gseaty of peace, raised the army from
1900 to $4,000. reduced it again to o.
es0, annexed Hawaii peaceably, and
TSrto Rico and the Philippines forcibly,
aeSaporarily freed Cuba, and left the coun-
ayy with war taxes and rebellion about
Manila, where American blood is being
SHE'D
General legislation has suffered from
aAe war. The census bill, the naval per-
Rsane3 blk bankruptcy measure, code
cs laws for Alaska, several score of new
gxblic buildings, and other measures have
lsEp2cd through. but the Nicaragua canal
Ass scarcely advanced a step, the annex
aAlan of Hawaii is yet incomplete legally,
and several score of other measures re-
main as legaeies to the Fifty-sixth Con-
gsess- Yet the Fifty-ffth Congress has
msae history, and lots Of it.
expenditures of Fifty-fif;h Congress.
1ne best estimates available at the