The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-27
EXTRA SESSION sure
REASONS MULTIPLY WHY 1T CAN
NOT BE AVOIDED BY THE
PRESIDENT
NURSERY FOR NEW ISSUES
The Army Bill Proving a Source of
Political Debate in the House
Hawaiian Bill Is Not Accep abIe
to the DemOcrats-Alger in
New ROIe-Canafs Path Not Yet
Clear.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-(Special)-
Reasons multiply daily why an extra
session of the Fifty-sixth congress is
inevitable. The fact is that there is
at least three months good, substantial
work confronting congress, without
making any allowance for talk 'on the
state of the Union" Besides the un-
finished appropriation bills, the treaty,
the Vexatious question of the relative
merits of Schley and Sampson, in
volving as it does the whole system,
or lack of system of meritorious pro-
motions in the navy, the Nicaraguan
canal, and the encourag cement of our
merchant marine, proper territorial
government must be provided not only
for Alaska, but also for Hawaii
Regarding the latter territory some
thing already has been done, but much
more remains. A criminal code has
passed the house but the civi. ie.
upon which the increasing rig of
property depend, has only just been re-
ported, with no chance of considera-
ton before the 4th of March. Alaska
has been in the possession of the Unit
ed States for thirty odd years, and yet
but little has been done to establish
that orderly rule which is supposed to
so amply condone for the rapacity Of
the Anglo-Saxon.
In Hawaii the anomalous condition
still prevails of a United States terri
tory being subject to the laws of
defunct sovereignty. Monday last, the
house committee on territories, of
xtrl,f NTr Of inn iS q
member, reported bill providing a
territorial government for Hawaii. The
provisions are mainly along the lines
of the recommendations of the Hit
junketing committee, and follow the
precedents set by other territorial gov
ernments so far as local conditions
seem to permit The following are some
of the exceptions to the ordinary rule:
MAY PLAY AUTOCRAT.
The governor of Hawaii has the ad-
ditional powers of the president of the
republic of Hawaii when the same are
not inconsistent with the fundamental
laws of ths United States. This power
is conferred on account of distant and
necessary delay in communication; and
furnishes a strong argument in favor
of the government constructing a cable
as speedily as may be. For instance,
the governor has the right to suspend
the writ of habeas corpus, or whatever
it may be called in the Hawaiian
tongue
The supreme court judges are ap-
pointed for life. Members of the senate
must possess either $1,000 worth of
realty, or an annual income of $500; and
these two are also the qualifica atoms
of electors. All voters must be able
to read or write the English or Ha-
waiian language. Public lands are not
to be leased for agricultural purposes
for more than five years.
The minority report Of the Democrats
presents certain objections to the meas
ure, in accordance with the principles
Of the party Naturally, then, these are
against the ariStocratic tenure of the
judges, the limitation of suffrage by a
property qualification, and a further
provision which makes the supreme
court the tribunal to decide all legisla-
tive contest cases, instead of making
each house the sole judge of the qualih-
cations of it's members. 1t will readily
be seen that so important measure
is as much deserving of deliberate con-
sideration, as the condition, which
caused its drawing, Isl of sound and per-
nlanent settlement. But there is neither
the time nor opportunity availing for
this congress.
NURSERY OF ISSUES.
As was predicted the reorganization
bill in the house is proving a fecund
source Of political debate and a nursery
of issues for future campaigns; but the
needs of the service are not much near
er rational solution. The military mud
die is about as inextricable as even
Alger at his best could mix. The Hull
bill provides for an army of 100, 600
men, at an annual expense of about
100000 The Hay, or minority bill,
provides for 10000 regulars and SO. 600
volunteers, to serve for two years. at
an expense of about $50, ,OOO, 600 per wear.
In the senate is the Miles bill. which
provides for 5000 regulars and %. 900