The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-12
FIFTY-FI Eth CONGRESS.
THE PRESIDENT rs, ON THE WHOLE,
SATISFIED WITH WORK.

Plans VIII he Laid TO Fully Garry Gu
the ADMINISTRATORS Programme in the
Next Congress - Important Measured
Enacted Into Law War Legislation,
WASHINGTON. March l1.-Just before the Pres.
ident left the Capitol on Saturday he told Sen.
ators Hanna. Allison. Hale. Cullom and one OF
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
we're some things omitted which Mr.. McKin-
ley believed should have been accomplished.
and some other things that should have been
a little more than half done. but with q few ex-
c%ertions the Administrator had not much
cause to complain.
Plans will at once be laid for carrying out
the Administrations programme in the next
Congress-. aud the measures which were
shelved during the recent session Of the Fifty
fifth Congress will then be enacted into law.
The prominent measures which failed to re-
celve the sanction OF the Congress were the
full and complete reorganization OF the army
along the lines OF the Hull bill: tho adoption
of the Hanna-Payne scheme of subsidies for
the purpose OF reviving American shipping In
dustries the authorization OF the construction
OF the Pacific cable: legislation in the shape Of
a territorial form OF govern ment for the Ha-
waiian Islands; the revision OF the general i'm
ms ouioh ioN W y W. cNA'h
gent; the passage Of TIE anti-soalpinG law
prohibiting the sale of railroad tiekets by
brokers or so-called a~ralpers. There was
nothing done In the way OF currency leGisla-
ton, but It was deemed inexpedlent to under
take this at the session which has just closed.
and active steps have been taken to pre- pare
the way for speedy legislation at the opening
Of the next Congress.
Much was accomplished by the Fifty-ffth
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 it's author. the late Mr..
Dineley OF Maine. The business interests OF
the country had been clamorIng for years for q
sound and Just bankruptcy law. This was pro-
vided for after the war legislation had been
finished. In the enactment OF a measure which,
although not satisfactory in all respects to the
men who framed IL, involves both the voluntary
and the involuntary feature, and Is. pc rhaps,
as nearly perfect as conflicting interests could
be expected to make 1t. The taking OF the
twelfth census. which will be the greatest task
of this sort since demonstrating began. has
been provided for. and former Governor Mer-
riam OF Minnesota will preside over the work.
The reorganization of the personnel OF the
navy. a subject that has been before Congress
for several years. and always accompanied by
an apparently homeless conflict between the
line and the staff. was begun and carried to a
satisfactory conclusion. and on the basis OF
the new law the naval promotions were made
and confirmed before Congress adjourned.
Many of the evils that have long existed In
this branch OF the service have been remedied.
and the task was made easier by the wiplnG
out Of petty Jealousies as a result Of the war
with Spain.
The law for the reorganization of the army
L., pNt yybat tba AlnipIstrntio daciroJ -
does it do for the army what was anticipated
when the bill passed the House. In the SEN
ate this bill was made the subject OF much DO
litlcal discussion by men who believed they
saw in it a scheme for the permanent enlarge
ment of the standing army. Mutual conces-
sions followed. however. with the result that
n measure was finally agreed upon which will
give the President the men he peeds to take
care OF the int rests of this Government in
our new possessions aud leave to a future Con-
Gress the burden and the responsibility OF
providing the permanent increase Of the army
if such increase then be found essential
opposition. Party lines were in great meas
ure entirely obliterated. There were, of
course. differences of opinion as to the policy
OF taxing various article selected to bear the
burden Of the, war tax, but these differences
lay in giving the Administrative the benefit
of the revenues that were so necessary in time
of war when enormous expenditures daily
confronted the Treasury.
The time of the third session was taken up
largely in the Senate With the consideration
bill. and in the House in endeovorinR to do
little mUre than pass the appropriation bills.
reached the Senate Jan. 1. 1t was favorably
reported TO the Senate by the committee on
ian; II and ratified on Feb; 8 by q vote one
thirds of those voting: The NlcEnery reso-
luton. declaring that the ratification Of the
treaty did not commit this Government to a
colonial policy was passed in the Senate after
a struggle. but was smothered in the House
The war legislation needs but a passing
mention h. It h Is scattered THROUGHOUT the laws
fort to pass through the House a RESOLUTION. /
agreed to by the Senate. recognizing the inde-
pendence OF Cuba. and reached a climax on
existed since. April n. when Minister. Wood
ford received his passports. passed both
dent. The act for the temporary increase OF
the military and naval establishment, the call:
confidence in the President and the enor-
nous appropriations for war expenditures
during o ths next .nd few month"; hs: the III authority to
tory Of those stirring days when. Congress
~nliation. upheld tho hands OF the President.
When the session adjourned. or July 8; the war
stroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila and samp-
son and schley had sent the powerful lighting
tr sssetS TO OF s Se5y 7 to Ra the oot NIns a. the at ssr
Congress adjourned Santiago eurren Tered and
the peace protocol was signed on Aug. II.
Either by legislation or by war the Fifty
fifth Congress has widened the sphere OF tho
United States and extended its Jurisdiction.
until the flag now floats over the gem of the
West Indies and the most fertile and richest OF
all the islands In the Pacific between san
Francisco ana Hong Kong. The Hawaiian
Islands were annexed by joint resolution. but
tho necessary legislation to make the absorp-
ton OF those islands complete has been post
poned until the next Congress.
Contrary to the general belief. and notwith-
nothing appears about 1t in the Of
fetal records. this Congress has taken an i'm
portant step forward In the matter of currency
reform. The Republicans OF tho House held u
caucus early last month to consider the ques-
ton and authorized the caucus Chairman to
appoint a committee to consider the ST. beet
and report at the beginning OF the next Sos
sion. representative Henderson OF Iowa Is
Chairman Of the committee. The members
are all practical men who believe In currency
reform. but who are not full OF that subject to