Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-27
THE HFlY-F|FTH CONGRESS.

A Review Of the Work Of the Several
Sessions.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE TWO
YEARS FOOT UP ONE THOUSAND
SIX HUNDRED MILLION DOL
LARS-THE MOST IMPORTANT
MATTERS OF LEGISLATION RE-
CALLED, WITH BRIEF EXPLA-
NATIONS AS TO FACTS AND
CIRCUMSTANCES OF INTEREST.
Washington, D. c., February 26.-An
eventful period in the country's his
tory is covered by the work OF the
Fifty-fifth Congress, which is drawing
to a close. 1t has been a period of
stirring and dramatic action, with
questions of vast magnitude constant
ly engaging attention, forming an
epoch alongside those other American
epochs, the Revolution and the Civil
War. This Congress has declared war
against a foreign foe, and the treaty
making a branch has participated in
ratifying the treaty by which that war
was terminated. 1t has provided a
great volunteer army, has enlarged the
regular army, and has expanded the
navy to meet war emergencies and
new conditions. The tariff has been re-
yised, first by the Dingley law and
then by the War Revenue Act, a bond
issue known as the war loan, has been
provided. But far-reaching as these
war measures are, the Congress has
had time also to enact other legisla-
ton, which under ordinary circum-
stances would
MAKE ITS SESSION MEMORABLE.
This includes the annexation of Ha-
wall; the rejection by the Senate of
the general treaty of arbitration with
Great Britain; the enactment of ma
tional bankruptcy law; provision for
taking the twelfth census; reorganiza
L
this list may yet be added other i'm
portant subjects still pending, includ-
ing the Nicaragua canal, the increase
OF the regular army, the anti-scalping
measure, the Hawaiian bill, and the
proposed encouragement of American
shipping. Some Of the most important
general measures are in the final legis-
lative stages, and it will not be until
the last hours arrive that the success
or failure of these measures will be de-
termined definitely.
The present Congress began its work
almost simultaneous with the opening
of President McKinley's administra-
tion. Two days after his Inauguration
he issued the call for an extra session,
and in pursuance to this call Congress
special message to Congress was direct
ed to the need of a tariff law that
would provide ample revenue for the
support of the government. No other
subject of legislation was mentioned,
and the tariff bill at once became the
all-absorbing feature of the session.
Chairman Dingley, of the Ways and
Means Committee, and his Republican
associates had already done much work
ON the BILL and three days after the
extra session began the Dingley tariff
bill was reported. 1t passed the House
within two weeks of the opening of
the session; passed the Senate May
9TH; became a law July oath.
HARDLY LESS IMPORTANT
was the consideration in the Senate
of the general treaty of arbitration
negotiated by President Cleveland with
Great Britain. The progress of the
treaty, in the executive sessions of the
Senate, attracted worldwide attention,
finally resulting in the defeat of the in
strument. The extra session also
brought forth four appropriation bills,
passage in the preceding Congress,
and were not considered as properly
chargeable to this Congress. Some
general legislation was enacted, includ-
ing the suspension of President CIeve-
lands order setting aside 21,000, 900
acres of forest reserves; providing for
gradual abandonment of sectarian
Indian schools; extending relief to Mis-
sissippi flood sufferers, and to the des-
titute in Cuba and in India. The Gu
ban problem began to present an acute
phase at this early session, and the
Senate passed a resolution recognizing
the Cubans as beligerents, which, how
ever, did not pass the House.
The second session of the present
Congress is remembered as
THE GREAT WAR SESSION.
1t saw the culminator of the pent-up
sympathy for suffering Cuba; the dec
laration that the people of Cuba ought
to be and are free and independent;
the declaration of war against Spain,
and the enactment of those vast emer-
gency measures for prosecuting the
war. There were many messages from