The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-02

Congress-.
On Thursday, the fourth day in this first
month of the last year of the nineteenth
century, Congress will meet pursuant to adj
journment. but really to iBaugurate the
work of the most important session since
the days Of Reconstruction II has been
seldom in the history of parliamentary goy-
eminent that any great law-making body,
representing the legislative power of a
first-class nation. has been called upon to
consider and to dispose of questions as
many and as serious as the Fifty-sixth
Congress will be compelled 20 pass upon
This year there is ready for the harvest
great crop of legislation rendered neczg-
sary by the mighty events and national
progress CT the past two years. For the first
time Congress viii have to face the fact.
practically, that the United States is a
world empire. with all the duties, RESPONSE
bilities, and necessities OF such d condition.
What these consist in or aggregate no one
yet can tell But they win develop impor-
family before the present members Of the
lower house lose their seats through bad
luck CT bad management or are again re-
turned 10 its forum in recognition Of TER
ability and accomplishments.
1t is hardly necessary to recite the list
of eminent measures which the party in
power desires to have enacted into Law as
early as possible Some OF them are na-
tional in character. and are rendered i'm
peratire By the change 10 which We have
referred. Others are partisan. and are be-
Ing pressed to the front by the trust and
monopoly power behine the Republican
throne They must have early and euthusi-
asiic attention that the psople interested
in them may be literally minded and con-
tribute freely of their larEesse 10 tne Hanna
campaign fund of this Presidential year.
First in the list OF Congressional victories
which the Administration hopes 10 secure
without delay the proposed currency legis-
iation may he mentioned. The bill which
has passed the House, aud It's more elabor
ale sister which is before the Senate. arc
TOO well understood TO require discussion
here on their merits. Both seek 10 dele
gate the money issuing power Of the Amer
lean people TO q class Of capitalists. and 10
confer upon them the option OF making
prosperity. or OF precipitating panic and
destruction by reducing the volume OF real
money and giving the bankers power TO
issue CT withdraw credit money, to suit
their interests from time 10 time. A few
years ago such a proposition would have led
10 revolution and drenched the country in
blood. Today it seems quite matter OF
course. and public opinion is comparatively
ouiescent, IL not complacent.
Then. it will be necessary to consider the
ouestion of government tor the Philippines
and our ether colonies. In view OF the OBJ
iections intcrposed by certain interests oil
sg-a-ian and industrial character. 1T may
be hard for our Legislators to respect the
Constitution in accordance with the true
intent and meaning of which any portion
of American territory is endowed with the
right OF free and unrestricted commerce
with all other parts. For example, when
we took over Porto Rico and, cutting OF
its old markets in Spain and Cuba, placed
a Dfngley tariff prohibition on its products
in the United States Of course We com
ADMINISTRATION ala not venture TO avoid, be-
cause Of the Connecticut Valley wrapper
planters and the Wheeling stogy farmers
not to mention the Sugar Trust. Similarly
Justice to Hawaii and the Philippines is
likely to be resisted by the sugar. tobacco
and other clements bitterly opposed to the
increase OF american territory productive
OF such things, but highly desired as con
tributory % the Republican exchequer this
year 1t IS, therefore, easy TO see that IL
will be difficult for Mr.. Mckinley to steer
the bark of legislation, in these respects
between the scylla Of justice-which h,
would like to ground on-and the Charyb
dis represented By the hat of Hanna.
Again. We may refer 20 the question of {
crescendo arrangement for the government
OF Cuba. which shall tend to redeem oul
public pledges and at the same time avoid
depression OF ;tose hopes which have beer
fostered ia The hearts OF Mr.. olney
Mr.. john ]. NcCook, and their asso.
ciates in the old. but by no means, dead
Spanish bond deal, but where there is /;
will there is a way. and this hardship maj
be overcome. perhaps, by enlarged sub
scriptions ON one side and renewed prom
Uses on the other. In the same line Their,
may b. obstacles in the way Of establish
ing perfect government in Luzon, wher,
already tbc Issue is being made that the re
ligious orders shall not treat their occu
patton OF two-thirds Of the islands arab,
area, under Spanish grants OF user. as
fee-simple title by prescription.
The Nicaragua Canal ought to be mat
ter CO intense interest 10 Congress. but al
the enemies OF an American waterway
have secured postponement. aud the out
side ooparceners Of the Administration ap
pear Ia have engaged in the foreign schem
10 reyainp the De Lesseps Panama projec
for the purpose OF introducing at least par
tial foreign coutrol over any interoceanl
ditch il Is impossible TO say what ma,
happen In thar connection. But. In a gen
eral way We may expect that, as the Adj
m,nistrstion has the Reed rules in tn
6ouse ard working and subseryient ma