The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-27
Tariff Revised, Cleveland Treaty
OverthrOwn, War Declared, Vic
tory and Treaty Ratified.
THE POLICY OF EXPANSION
1T BEGAN WITH THE ANNEXATION OF
HAWAII, AND Is STILL ON.
Army Reorganization Bill and Nicara-
qua Canal Project Are Both
Hanging Fire.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26-An eventful
period in the countrys history is covered
by the work of the Fifty-hfth Congress,
which is drawing to a close. 1t has been
period of stirring and dramatic action, with
questions Of vast magnitude constantly en-
gagng attention. forming an epoch along
side those other American epochs-the Rev
olution and the civil war. This Congress
has declared war against a foreign foe,
and the treaty-making branch has par
ticipated in ratifying the treaty by which
that war was terminated. 1t has provided
a great volunteer army, has enlarged the
regular army and has expanded the navy
to meet war emergencies and new condi-
tions The tariff has been revised, first
by the Dingley law and then by the war
revenue act; a bond issue, KTIown as the
war loan, mas been provided. But far
reaching as these war measures are, the
Congress has had time also to enact other
legislation which under ordinary circum-
stances would make it's session memorable.
This includes the annexation of Hawaii, the
rejection by the Senate OF the general
treaty Of arbitration with Great Britain,
the enactment of a national bankruptcy
law, provision for taking the twelfth CEN
sus and reorganization Of the personnel of
the navy. To this list may yet be added
other important subjects still pending, in
cluding the Nicaragua canal the increase
of the regular army, the anti-scalping
measure the Hawaiian bill and the pro-
posed encoura cement OF American shipping.
Some of the most important general meas
ures are in the final legislative stages, and
it will not be until the last hours arrive
that the success or failure OF these meas
ures will be determined definitely.
The present Congress began it's work al
most simultaneously with the opening of
President McKinleys administration. Two
days after his Inauguration he issued the
call for an extra session, and in pursuance
to this call Congress assembled on March
10, 1887. The special message to Congress
was directed to the need of a tariff law that
would provide ample revenue for the sup
port of the government No other sub
iect of legislation was mentioned, and the
tariff bill at once became the all-absorbing
feature of the session. Chairman Dingley
of the ways and means committee, and his
Republican associates had already done
much work on the BILL and three days after
the extra session began the Dingley tariff
bill was reported. 1t passed the House
within two weeks of the opening of the
session: passed the Senate May z; became
a law July a.
CLEVELAND TREATY DEFEATED.
Hardly less important was the considera-
ton in the Senate OF the general treaty
of arbitration negotiated by President
Cleveland with Great Britain. The progress
of the treaty in the executive sessions of
the Senate attracted worldwide attention,A
finally resulting in the defeat of the instru-
ment The extra session also brought forth
four appropriation bills, but they We're those
which failed of passage in the preceding
Congress and were not considered as prop
erly chargeabe to this Congress. Some gen.
eral legislation was enacted, including the
suspension Of President Clevelands order
setting aside 21,0CO,0OO acres of forest re-
serves; providing for gradual abandon
ment Of sectarian Indian schools; extending
relief to Mississippi flood sufferers, and TO
the destitute in Cuba and India. The Gu
ban problem began to present an acute
phase at this early session and the Senate
passed a resolution recognizing the Cubans
as belligerents, which, however, did not
pass the House.
The second session of the present Con-
gress is remembered as the great war ses-
sion. 1t saw the elimination of the pent-
up sympathy for suffering Cuba; the decla-
ration that the people of Cuba ought to be
and are free and independent the declara-
ton of war against Spain, and the enact
ment Of those vast emergency measures for
prosecuting the war. There were many
messages from the President as the war
clouds darkened. ranging from the subms-
sion of the report on the Maine disaster
to the call for a declaration of war. The
first real war legislation was when Con-
gress placed at the disposal of the President
without limitation $50000,OO0 as an emer-
gency fund for national defense. On April
II the President committed the entire Gu
ban question to Congress, and just one week
later the congressional resolution became a
law, declaring Cuba free and independent;
demanding that Spain 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
Within another week, viz. April a. the
declaration of war was passed by Congress
and approved. Then came the rush Of war
legislation on a stupendous scale, the work
proceeding while actual hostilities were
under way and the Dewey victory was
achieved.
VOLUNTEER ARMY ACT
The act creating the volunteer army had
been approved three days before the dec
laraton of war, and under it the President
was enabled to call into service the 250OCo
men augmenting the regular force. The lat
ter, also, had been expanded and improved
by the act establishing the three battalion
formation in time OF war. A further force
was provided by authorizing the enlistment
of 1000 men adapted to tropical climate
since known as 'immunes." Another act
added two additional artillery regiments TO
the regular army, with total Of $40 men.