Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-06-04
Summary Of the Laws Enacted Dur.
ing the Present Session, About
to End.
Review Of the Important Incidents
and an Estimate ofthe Work
Accomplished
The Roberts Case, Gold Bill and
Porto Rico Tariff the Most
Notable

gress is now practically closed. and i'll
work actually accomplished and started
toward accomplishment the record of
the session compares We'll with previous
congresses.
The new territorial posses sioEs have
received much attention, and while
there has been no definite action as TO the
Philippines or Cuba, ii form of govern.
ment and a means of raising revenue
have been provided for Porto Rico and
a territorial form of government has
been given TO Hawaii.
The financial act has made Important
changes in the laws relating 70 the pari-
tN of metals, the bonded Indebtedness.
national banks and the security OF the.
treasury by a gold reserve.
The Nicaragusln canal bin has passed
the house and is on the calendar of the
senate ready for attention When con-
sfess rsconvenes
The antitrust bill is similarly ad-
Nanced. while The anti-trust eonstitu-
tioral amendment has defeat record
ed against it.
ThefPacitie cable measure has passed
the senate and is aMaiting final action
iii the house.
The exclusion of brigham II. Roberts.
from u seat IN the house because. of his
pelygamcusS status, the refusal OF the.
senate TO admit Mr.. Quay on the APP
pointment of the governor Of Psnnsyl
Naliia. and the sensational charges, in-l
vegtigatien and developments in the.
s'snatesin the cage Of Mr.. Clark of Mon
IlI,l .
phases to the session.
The senate in executive session has
been occupied 10 a considerable extent
NTH important treaties. OF these the
treaties With Great Britain aud Ger
many closing the tripartite government
in Samoa ard awarding To the United
States the island of Tutuila with its
valuable harbor of Pango- Panso have
been ratified. While the commercial re-
cprocity treaties With France ard The
British West Indian Islands and the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty concerning the
inter-oceanic canal go over Without ac-
ton.
OF the legislation actually accom-
plished and now OH the statute books
the financial act is regarded as the chief.
achievement of the year. The uote-s
worthy feature of the debate on this
measure in the house was that party
e lines We're broken TO some extelit. "a
number of democratic members from
the eastern and New England states
joining with the majority in passing IL
: " the senate also party lines We're not
entirely Regarded Senator'S Lindsay
and caffrey voting for the measure
and Mr. Chandler against it.
AS it became II law by the presidentfs
signature on March "a it makes specific
the declaration of the gold Standard
provides a trea surS reserve Of sl5DGao.-
900, establishes a division of is sue and
redemption of the treasury, provides for
the redemption and reissue Of Interest,"
bearing bonds of the United States. and
makes new regulations as 10 national
banks. their circulation, establishment
III small communities, and the tax they
pay.
The act also containsa specific declar-
aticn that its provisions are rot I'M
tended to preclude tha accomplishment
Of International biiGletahism.
The Porto Rico discussion first turned
or the revenue bill, leYying a duty Of
IS per cent oftl.e Dngley rates on Porto
rico goods The majority Of the ways,
and Means committee urged hi corstf-
while the minority reinforced b. Nh.
Mccall of Massachusetts, IL member. al
The majority. maintained chat tho con-
stitution of the United States extended
to Porto5Rico. and that congress MAS in.
auguratngl a new end dangerous prece-
dent by giving the island otller law thar
that of the rest of the country Excite
n,ent ran high undar the spur of WIDE
spread public attention. The debaieeir
the HOUSE vas signaliaed by the division
Of I'll. aiority, which for a time made
the result doubtfltl but the bin ulti-
malely passed.
The contest in the senate was amin
ate:l but less acute the senate rhaGgins
the entire scope of the8ueasure by add
ing a complete form Of civil government
in this form. raising revenue antlsestiib
fishing an island government, the meas
ure became a law.
Subsequently it was amended 50 as /,
8 limit corporate franchises, and on tn
presidents recommendation an act wa
passed appropriating for the use d
Porto Rico the se095. $50 collected from
S island sources since8i;s acquisition.
Next in Importance in the accomp
lished work of the session is the ac
to provide a government.for the Terri
Tory OF fldMall.7s5ln he debates on II III
the senate and house aroused little divi
sion save on matter Of detail.
The act provides a system of govern
nent much like that OF territories witt
a governor appointed by the president
q a Legislature of two houses. franchis
rights practically the same as those q
voters in the United States, With the ad
ditional qualification that voter shal
"be able to speak, read and write TIL
English of the Hawaiian langueage.'
Administrative and judicial officer
are provided, and the island is given
delegate to the house of representative
of the United States, chosen by tn
people, with a right to debate in tn
house, but not a right to Vote
PHILIPPINES AND CUBA.
The Philippines and Cuba have accu
pied much attention in the way Of de
bate and the adoption Of resolutions G
inquiry. The spooner bill. providin
that when all Instruction against tn
authority OF the United States shall b
at an end. then all military, civil. an
judicial powers shall, otherwise pre-
yided by congress. be carried on undo
the direction of the president, forme
the basis OF the senatorial debate .
the Philippines, but was fruitless Of az
w finn The only 51e1fsla tiOn Al to Cllha