The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-27

and congress authorized the presenta-
ton of a sword to him and medals to
his officers.
Although the second session was alb
sOrbed with the war. there was time
for much important general legislat ton.
The annexation of Hawaii was accom-
plished by a resolution, the treaty of
annexation not having been ratified in
the senate. A general bankruptcy law
was enacted, providing for both volun-
tary and Involuntary bankruptcy.
Other general measures enacted were
prohibiting the killing of seals IN the
North Pacific and importation If seal
skins into this country; appropriating
S473, isl to settle the Bering sea arbitra-
ton: relieving suffering miners in Yu-
kon: establishment of an industrial
commission.
The total appropriation of the second,
or war session, footed almost $9G0,000,-
900. of which upward of $3.50 100000 was
for purely war purposes.
The Third Session.
The present. or third. session of the
Fifty-siXth congress dealt with those
far-reaching results growing out of the
war. The most important of these was
the consideration of the peace treaty in
the senate. The treaty was transmitted
to the senate by the president on the 4th
the committee on foreign relations. and
after being held for just week by the
committee, was reported back to the
senate on the 18th of January. The
senate had the treaty under considera
ton for less than a month, the vote on
ratification being taken 0 the 9th of
February There was intense interest
in the progress of the question from
the beginning of the discussion until
the close and this interest was intensi-
fled by the doubt felt as to the result of
the vote
When the senate went into executive
session on the 9th of February, half
an hour before the time set for the
final vote, the friends of the treaty
were certain of only So of the Sc
votes necessary to insure the adoption
of the resolution of ratification. Soon
afterward they secured promises from
Senators Jones of Nevada and McEnery
of Louisiana, and when the vote was
taken the result stood 81 ayes to q
nays, or one vote more than was nee
essary under the requirement of two
thirds majority.
While the treaty was exclusively be-
fore the senate. the house had some
Indirect participation with subjects
covered by the treaty. AS the branch
originating all revenue measures. it
provided an appropriation of $40, 000, 900
" pay opdiu, 10 lne Terms
of the treaty. This was first proposed
as an amendment to the sundry civil
bill, but was ruled out on technical
grounds. Later it passed as an in
dependent measure. Efforts We're made
to add to it declaration of the pol
icy of the government as to the Phil
ippines, but this was defeated by the
overwhelming vote of 213 to "a. The
resolution of Senator McEnery declar-
ing the policy toward the Philippines,
came to the house and was referred to
the committee on foreign affairs, but
no final action is probable.
The Army Bill.
Another important measure resulting
from the war is that known as the Hull
bill, or the Hull Hawley bill for the
increase and reorganization of the reg
ular army. Following the new condi-
tons arising, two plans of army in
crease We're presented to congress. The
house military commission first took up
the subject and after elaborate hearings
presented, through Chairman Hull, a
bill having the approval of the war de-
partment 1t increased the army to
approximately 100000 men. When con-
sidered in the house the grade of lieu
tenant general was struck out. discre-
tion was given the president to reduce
the size of companies so that the total
force would be about $4,000 men and
some other amendments were made.
but the bill substantially as presented
was passed In the senate the COM
mittee on military affairs divided equal
ly on the bill, General Hawley. the
| chairman, and four others reporting a
bill similar to that presented in the
| house. while five other senators made
a minority report opposing the propOs-
ed increase and suggesting a plan of
temporary continuance of the military
establishment at $4,000 men, with an
additional force of $4,000 to be used
| i'm outlying insular possessions. These
| several propositions have aroused wide
| differences and it will not be until the
| last days of the session, if at all, that
| the final form of the measure can be
| determined
The Nicaraguan Canal.
The Nicara guan canal question also
has taken a prominent place in the
work of the session. At the outset MI
Morgan had the subject made the un-
| finished business of the senate, anC
with this right of way it was kept con.
| stantly before the senate wnen not il
executive session until finally passed
The essential features of the Morgan
bill lis in providing that the Unitet
States shall participate in the con
| struction of the canal, subscribing fol
925,o0O shares at 500 each, out of 6
total of 100000. and that the work OF
the Maritime Canal company of Nicar.
aqua, in executing the work. shall bs
| practically under the direction of the
| United States. When this bill reached
the house committee on commerce. all
after the enacting clause was struck
out and what is known as the Hepburn
plan, drafted by Representative Hep
| burn, chairman Of the house committee
on interstate and foreign commerce.
substituted. The essential feature of
| the Hepburn substitute is in making
the canal exclusively government un-
| dertaking. 1t authorizes the presder,s
| to acquire by purchase from Nicaragua
and Costa Rica the territory necessary
to eXcaVate, construct, control and de-
| fend a canal etc.
Such sum as is necessary for purchas-
| ing the right Of way is appTopria ted.
| When the route is thus occurred the
| president is authorized to nave the sec
| retary of war eXcaVate and construct
| the canal from a point near Greytown
via Iafe Nicaragua to a point near
| Bri:o on the Pacific. The sum of $115,-