The true northerner., 1899-03-08
CONGRESS AND IT'S WORK.
Three Notable Sessions of the Fifty
Fifth National LEGISLATURE.

Washington, March 6.-The Fifty-ffth
congress- which adjourned sine die at noon
Saturday, will live In history for two
things. First and foremost will be its pa
triotic spirit in connection with the war
with Spain Next will be the enormous
sums carried in it's appropriation bills.
which exceed 81 500, 0O00OO II was preceded
by four 81 600 100000 congresses, but this Is
the first time the appropriations nave eN-
ceeded 81, 800, ,000 000. 1t will be lampooned
with charges of extravaganza, but large
part OF the excess in expenditure grew out
of the war-muoh Of II In the prosecution of
conflict and some of it for maintenance or
the enlarged national policies in the en-
suing era of peace.
The Fifty-hfth congress had three ses-
sions. each Of them marked by the enact
ment of legislation of great Importance
The first session passed the Dingiey tar
iff act
The second session gave the world strik
ing proof of the patriotism of the American
people regardless Of party by the act
which placed a fund of 100000 600 in the
hands of the president to be used for the
national defense-an act that was passed
by a unanimous vote and with no demand
upon the president for an accounting. This
was supplemented by other measures up
holding the hands Of the commander I'M
chief i'm the conduct of the war.
Unlike any previous congress. the Fifty
fifth saw the conclusion of the war which IL
helped TO inaugurate, and in it's closing
session it provided men and money on
generous scale for the support of the ma
tion in it's 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 a good record.
The sentiment of the country was for the
construction of a ship canal across the
American isthmus, but the project was in
voved in many perpleXing doubts ana
complications and entailed such an enor-
nous expense that congress hesitated to
commit the country to IL without more
light
- Hawaii was at the door asking for per-
manentform of government, but here again
congreAs wanted delay i'm order to gain
better understanding of the needs OF the
case, and moreover 1t is felt the islands can
easily getNalong under the arrangement
provided for i'm the annexation resolution,
which continued the old government under
the direction OF the president
Bound up with Hawaii and the other
isles of the Pacific was the question of
cable, but that is not considered vital
The bill for the upbuildng of the mer-
chant marine by a system of subsidies
probably had a majority of each house in
its favor but It came up too late in the
session to be crowded through against the
opposition of Speaker Reed and coterie
of objecting senator's.
With the close of this session many sem
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 10 give way to younger
men. and Senator Allen who has been con-
spicuous a pioneer populist i'm the SEN
ate, will return to the quiet of a Nebraska
village.
The house will lose more than a hundred
of it's members. some of them well known,
but most of them obscure.