The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-06-09
WAS A BUSY SESSION.
Much Work Of Importance by the
Fifty-Sixth Congress.
Record of the First Session shows
Pnssage OF Many Laws Covering
vexed QuestiOns-A Brief
summary Is Given.

Washington, June 1.-The record of the
| first session of the Fifty-sixth congress Is
now practically closed, and IL is possible to
| survey the important work II has accom-
plished during the last six months 1t has
been busy congress-the busiest accord
Ing to veteran officials, In many years. In
some respects the work has been less ex-
citing than that of the preceding congress,
which covered the dramatic period when
war was declared against Spain, and also
the period of reconstruction and treaty
making with Spain following the successful
close of the war. But In work actually ac-
| complished and started toward accom-
plishment the record of the present session
| stands well In comparison with the most
energetic congresses.
Our new territorial possessions have re-
ceived much attention. and while there has
been no definite action as to the Philippines
or cuba, form OF government and a means
OF raising revenue has been provided for
Porto Rico, and comprehensive territorial
form of government has been given to Ha-
| wall. The financial act has made important
changes In the laws relating to the parity
of metals, the bonded indebtedness, ma
tional banks and the security of the treas
ury by gold reserve. The Nicaraguan
canal bill has passed the house and is on
the calendar of the senate ready for at
tention when congress reconvenes. The
antitrust bill is similarly advanced, The
antitrust constitutional amendment has a
defeat recorded against 1t. The Pacific
cable measure has passed the senate and is
awaiting final action In the house.
Legislation Partly Advanced.
The Nicaraguan canal bill and the ship
ping subsidy bill are notable instances
or legislation partly advanced during the
present session, but not enacted into law.
The canal bill has passed the house and
has been made the special order in the
senate beRinninn DRpanohar Tba
shipping bill is on the calendar of each
house with favorable recommendation
from majority membership of the sem
ate and house committees.
Antitrust legislation has come promi-
nently into attention in the house at the
close of the session. the house having
passed new antitrust bill and defeated
constitutional amendment.
The senate has passed bill for a cable
to the Philippines and beyond. to be con-
structed and maintained under govern
ment control but no action has been
taken on 1t in the house
The restriction of oleomargarine has
been productive of considerable agita-
/ ton, mainly in committees, and a radi-
cal restrictive bill has been reported to
the house.
Some Unpleasant Features.
The exclusion of Brigham H. Roberts
from seat in the house because of his
polygamous status, the refusal of the
senate to admit Mr.. Quay on the APP
pointment of the governor of Pennsyl-
vania, and the sensational charges, in
vestigation and developments in the sem
ate in the case of Mr.. Clark, of Mon
tana, have added some exciting personal
phases to the session Investigations have
been prolific, including the inquiry into
the Occur d'Alene mining riots in Idaho
the various inquiries on polygamy grow
ing out of the Roberts case, and more re-
ton Ian nf fhn
postal and other Irregularities In Cuba.
Appropriations.
The total of appropriations cannot yet
be stated with exactness, as five bills
are pending, but II is approximately
0,0O00 900 for the session.
Treaties Acted Upon.
The senate in executive session has
being occupied to a considerable extent
with important treaties or these the
treaties with Great Britain and Germany
closing the tripartite government in
Samoa and awarding to the United States
the island of Tutuila, with its valuable
harbor of Pago-Pago, has been ratified
while the commercial reciprocity treaties
with France and British West Indian is
lands and the Hay-Pauncefote treaty,
concerning the interoceanic canal, go over
without action.
The Financial Act.
OF the legislation actually accomplished
and now on the statute books, the finan-
cial act Is regarded as the chief achieve
ment of the year. The noteworthy fea-
ture of the debate on this measure in
the house was that party lines were
broken to some extent. number of
democratic members from the eastern
and New England states joining with the
majority in passing 1t. In the senate also
party lines were not entirely regarded,
Senator's Lindsey and Caffrey voting for
ha ON nd Senator Chandler against
1t. AS it became law by the presidents
signature on March IA, 1t makes SPECIFIC
the declaration of the gold standard. pro-
vides a treasury reserve of $l5OOOO,OO es-
tabishes division of Issue and redemp-
ton of the treasury, provides for the re-
demption and reissue of Understanding
bonds of the United States, and makes
new regulations as to national banks,
their circulation, establishment In small
communities and the tax they pay. The
that its provisions "are not intended to
preclude the accomplishment of interna-
tional bimetallism."
Porto Rican Revenues.
Porto Rico legislation has been the most
fruitful theme of controversy In and out
of congress during the session. The dis
cussion first turned on the revenue bill,
levying a duty of Is per cent. of the Ding
ley rates on Porto Rico goods. The ma
joritya OF the ways and means committee
urged the constitutionality and necessity
Of this course, while the minority, reen-
forced by Mr.. Mccall, of Massachusetts,.
member of the majority, maintained that
the constitution of the United States ex-
tended to Porto Rico, and that congress
was inaugurating a new and dangerous pre-
cedent by giving the island any other law
than that of the rest of the country. Elk
element ran high under the spur of wide
spread public attention. The debate in the
house was signalized by the division OF the
majority, which for a time made the re-
suit doubtful, but the bill ultimately passed.
The contest in the senate was animated but
less acute, the senate changing the entire
scope of the measure by adding complete
form of civil government. In this form,
raising revenue and establishing an island
government, the measure became law.
Subsequently II was amended so as to limit
corporate franchises, and on the presi-
dents recommendation an act was passed
appropriating for the use of Porto Rico the
s., 095, 455 collected from island sources since
its acquisition.
Our New Possessions.
Next In Importance in the accomplished
work Of the session Is the act Ito provide
a government for the territory OF Hawaii"
The debates on II in the senate and house
aroused little division save on matters OF
detail. The act provides a system of gov