The times., 1899-03-07
LEGISLATION REVIEWED.
War and Pence Measures Passed or
Missed by the Late Congress.

War and Pence Measures Passed or
Missed by the Late Congress.
Just before the President left the Capt.
tol on Saturday he told Senators Hanna,
Allison. Hale, Cullom. and one or two
others with whom he talked that he was
on the whole satisfied with the way in
which this Congress had performed its
duties. There were some things omitted
which Mr.. Mckinley believed should have
been accomplished and some other things
that should have been a little more than
half done, but with a few exceptions the
Administration had not much cause to
complain. Plans will at once be laid for
carrying out the Administrations pro-
gramme in the next Congress, and the
measures which were shelved during the
receEt session of the Fifty fifth Congress
will then be enacted into law. The promi-
nent measures which failed to receive the
sanction of the Congress were the full
and complete reorganization of the army,
the adoption OF the Hanna Payne scheme
for the purpose of subsidizing certain
American shipping industries. the author
iZatiOn of the construction OF the Pacific
cable, legislation in the shape OF terri
torial form of government for the
Hawaiian Islands. the revision of the gem
era1 immigration laws by making them
more stringent, the passage of the anti
scalping law prohibiting the sale of rail-
road tickets by brokers or so-called
'scalpers."
There was nothing done in the way of
currency legislation. but 1t was deemed in
expedient to undertake this at the session
which has just closed. and active steps
have been taken to prepare the way for
action at the opening Of the next Congress.
Much was accomplished by the Fifty fifth
Congress outside OF the war legislation.
The first session devoted its time almost
entirely to the construction OF the tariff
law which now bears the name of its au-
thor, the late Mr.. Dingley. of Maine The
business interests Of the country had been
clamoring for years for a bankruptcy law.
This was provided for after the war legis-
lation had been finished in the enactment
OF measure which is perhaps as nearly
acceptable as conflicting interests could be
expected to make it. The taking OF the
Twelfth Census, which will be the greatest
task of this sort since census taking began
has been provided for. and former Gov
ernor Merriam of Minnesota will preside
over the work.
The reorganization of the personnel o.
I
clusion, and on the basis of the new Ian
the naval promotions were made and con.
firmed before Congress adjourned The
time OF the third session was taken III
largely in the Senate with the consdera
tion CT the Treaty of Peace and the Mica
ragua Canal bill. and in the House In en-.
| deavcring to do little mere than pass HI
! appropriation bills. The Treaty of Pesc,
was signed December 10 and reached tn,
Senate January 4. 1t was favorably re.
! ported to the Senate by the committee OF
January IL and ratified on February 6, b
| vote of one greater than tht
necessary constitutional two-thirds o
those voting. The McEnery resolut OF
declaring that the ratification of tn,
| Treaty did not commit this Government
to colonial policy was passed in the Sea
| ate after struggle, but was smothereC
7 in the House committee.
| The war legislation needs but passin:
mention. 1t is scattered throughout the law
enacted by this country. 1t began in an eff
/ fort to pass through the House a resolution
! agreed to BY the Senate recognizing the in
! dependence of Cuba and reached a china,
on April 25, when the declaration that wa
had existed since April q passed botl
houses and was at once approved by tn
| President. When the session adjournet
on July the war was practically over, 70
| Dewey had destroyed the Spanish feet a
| Manila and Schley had sent the powerful
! fighting vessels of Cervera to the bottom
at the entrance to Santiago Harbor. Mn
days after Congress adjourned Santiag
| surrendered and the peace protocol wa
| signed on August L. Either by Legislation
or by war the Fifty-fifth Congress ha
| widened the sphere Of the United State
and extended its jurisdiction until the fla
! he of IpIi
and the most fertile and richest of all tn
! Islands in the Pacific between San Fran
cisco and Hongkong. The Hawaiian Isl
ands were annexed by joint resolution, bu
| the necessary legislation to make the ab
/ sorption Of these Islands complete has beef
| postponed until the next Congress.
! Contrary to the general belief. and not
withstanding nothing appears about it il
| the official records. this Congress has'takeI
| an important step i'll the direction of re
| opening the currency question. The Re
| pubicans of the House held caucus earl.
/ last month to consider future legislation
| and authorized the caucus chairman TO ap
/ point a committee to consider the subjec
| and report at the beginning of the mex
| session. The Senate also arranged to d,
| something along this line. Last week tn
Committee on Finance was authorized Il
/ sit during the recess. No reason was as
! signed when the request for authority wa
made, but this action was taken to enabl
/ the Republican members of that commtte
! to meet with the House Republican eau
| Gus Committee to consider questions relat
| ing TO the currency.
| The failure to put the anti-scaip.ng bill
! through the Senate was due to the watch
| fulness OF a combination of Senators. wht
| vowed that the bill which passed the Hous
! by close vote after q hard fight should
! 10 .-H into I1v n, n
! Congress. The bill had the right of way
( in the Senate for month during the ses
/ sion Just closed. 1t would have passec
| could a vote have been reached, but tht
] opposition to the measure was very earnes
1 and very watchful, and under the leader
/ ship of Mr.. Chandler OF New Hampshire
and Mr.. Tillman of South Carolina. twr
men of indomtabia perseverance and al
/ ways ready for Il fight, combination o
| Ave opposition Senators was formed L
! keep on the constant watch. 1t was par
/ of their programme that never more thar
| two of their number should leave tn,
| chamber at the same time when the Sen
| ate was in session, and that they SHOULD
notify their remaining associates that the!
were going and how long they would bt
( absent AS result the advocates of thi
/ bill had no chance to get unanimous con-
| sent for taking a vote. and finally had tC
abandon the bill to its fate in order tC
| pass the appropriation bills.
| F.H. WINES APPOINTED,