Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-03-09
CONGRESS AND IT'S WORK.
Three Notable session. Of the Fifty.
with National LeEtslature.

Three Notable Sessions OF the Fifty
Fifth National LeHislature.
Washington, March 6.-The Fifty-fifth
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 Its appropriation bills:
which exceed 81, 500. 100000. 1t was preceded
by four 1000, 900 congresses. but this is
the first time the appropriations have ex-
ceeded 81, 100000 It will be lampooned
with charges Of extravaganza. but a large
part of the excess in expenditure grew out
of the war-much Of it in the prosecution OF
conflict and some of it for maintenance OF
the enlarged national policies in the en-
suing era of peace.
The F'ifty-fifth congress had three SEES
;sions, each of them marked by the enact
ment of legislation of great Importance.
III act.
The second session gave the world strtk-
tng proof Of the patriotism of the American
people regardless of party by the act
which placed fund Of $50.00Q0O0 In the
hands Of the president to be used for the
by 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 in
chief in the conduct Of the war.
Unlike any previous congress. the Fifty
NTH saw the conclusion of the war which 1t
helped to inaugurate, and in its closing
session 1t provided men and money on a
generous scale for the support of the ma
ton in its 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 ship canal across the
American isthmus. but the project was in
volved in so many perplexing doubts and
complications and entailed such an enor-
nous expense that congress hesitated to
commit the country to 1t without more
light.
Hawaii was at the door asking for per-
manent form of government, but here again
congress wanted delay in order to gain
better understanding Of the needs of the
case, and moreover it is felt the islands can
easily get along under the arrangement
provided for in 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 a
cable, but that is not considered vital.
The bill for the upbuilding of the mer-
chant marine by a system of subsidies
probably had majority of each house in
its favor. but 1t came up too late in the
session to be crowded through against the
opposition of Speaker Reed and a coterie
of Directing senators.
With the close Of this session many SEN
aators and congressman Of national reputa-
ton 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 chance to return.
Senators Turpie and Mills are famous
Statesmen about to give way to younger
men. and Senator Allen. who has been con-
spicuous as pioneer populist in the SEN
ate, will return to the quiet of Nebraska
village.
The house will lose more than a hundred
of its members. some of them well known.
but most OF them obscure.