The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-04

the first session OF the Fifty-sixth con-
gress is now practically closed. and it
is possible to survey the important
work it has accomplished during the
last six months
1t has Oeen a busy congress, the
busiest. according to veteran officials,
IN years. The work has been less ex-
citing than that Of the preceding con-
gress, which covered the dramatic pc
Rod when war was declared against
Spain, and also the period of recon
struetion and treaty making with
Spain following the close of the sue
cessful war. But in work actually ac-
complished and started toward accom-
pllshment, the record of the present
session stands well in comparison with
the most energetic congresses.
Imperialistic Legislation.
Our new territorial possessions have
received much attention, and while
there has been no definite action as
TO the Philippines or Cuba a form Of
government, and a means of raising
revenue has been provided for Porto
Rico, and a comprehensive territorial
form of government has been given to
Hawaii. The financial act has made
important changes in the laws relat-
ing to the parity of metals, the bonded
Indebtedness, national banks and the
security of the treasury by a gold re-
serve.
The Nicaraguan canal bill has passed
the house and is on the calendar of the
senate ready for attention when con-
gress recOnvenes. The antitrust bill
is similarly advanced; the antitrust
constitutional amendment has de-
feat recorded against it. The Pacific
cable measure has passed the senate
and is waiting final action in the house.
The exclusion of 3. Il. Roberts from
a seat in the house BECAUSE Of his po-
IygamOuS sentiments, the refusal of the
senate TO admit Mr.. Quay on the ap-
pointment Of the governor Of Pennsyl-
Vania and the sensational charges, in
vestigatiOn and developments in the
senate in the case of Mr.. Clark of
Montana, have added some exciting
phases to the senate.
Investigations have been prolific. in
Guiding the inquiry into the COuer
d-Alene mining riots in Idaho, the va
riOus inquiries on polysamy growing
out Of the Roberts case, and more re-
Gently the senate investigation of the
postal and other Irregularities in Cuba.
Big Appropriations.
The total of appropriations cannot
yet be stated with eXactneSs, as five
bills are pending, but it is approx
nlately 500 600 for the session.
The senate, in executive session, has
been occupied TO a considerable extent
with important treaties. OF these the
treaties with Great Britain and Ger
many closing the tripartite govern
ment in Samoa and awarding TO the
United States the island of Tuitila
Re no rHC If "a pa On
has been ratified, while the commercial
reciprocity treaties with France and
the British West Indian islands, and
the Hay-Pauncefote treaty concerning
the interoceanic canal so over without
action.
OF the legislation actually accom-
plished and now on the statute books,
the financial act is regarded as the
chief achievement of the year. The
noteworthy feature Of the debate on
this measure in the house was that
party lines were broken 20 some eX-
tent, q number Of Democratic members
from the eastern and New England
states joining with the majority in
passing il.
IN the senate, also, party lines were
not entirely regarded, Senators Lind
say and Caffrey voting for the meas
ure, and Mr.. Chandler against it. AS
il became a law Oy the presidents sig
nature on March II, it makes specific
the declaration of the gold standard,
provides a treasury reserve OF S1S0,0O0,
O00 establishes a division Of issue and
redemption of the treasury, provides
fer the redemption and reissue of in
teTest-b bearing bonds Of the United
States, and makes new regulations as
10 the national banks.
Porto Rican Legislation.
Porto Rico legislation has been the
most fruitful theme Of controversy in
and out of congress during the session.
The discussion first turned on the rev
enue bin levying a duty of 10 per sent
of the Dingley rates on Porto Rico
goods. The majority of the ways and
means committee urged the cOnstitI,-
uOnality and necessity Of this course
while the minority, reinforced by Mr..
Mccall of Massachusetts, a member of
the majority, maintained that the con-
stitutiOn of the United States extended
TO Porto Rico. and that congress was
inaugurating a new and dangerous
precedent by giving the island any
other la.y than that of the rest of the
country.
Excitement ran high under the spur
OF widespread public attention. The
debate in the house was signalized by
the division of the majority. which for
the bin ultimately passed. The con-
test in the senate was animated but
less ACUTE, the senate changing the en-
tire scope of the measure by adding
d complete form of civil government
IN this form, raising revenue and es-
tablishing an island government, the
measure became a law. Subsequently
it was amended So as 10 limit corporate
franchises. and on the president S
recommendation an act was passed APP
pointing for the use of Porto Rico the
secs 455 collected from the island
sources since its acquisition
Hawaiian Government.
Next in Importance in the accom-
plished work of the session is the act
to provide 4 government for the ter
ritory of Hawaii" The debates on il
in the senate and house aroused little
division save on matters of detail The
act provides a system Of government
much like that Of territories with a
governor appointed by the president d
legislature of two houses, franchise
rights practically the same as those OF
voters in the United States with the
additional qualification that voter
shall he able 10 speak read and write
the English or the Hawaiian Ian
gUage."
Administrative and judicial officers
are provided and the island is given q
delegate to the house of representatives
of the United States, chosen by the
people. with a right TO debate in the
house but not right TO vote.
The Philippines AMI Cuba have occU-
pied much attention in the way of de-
-, 80 +l,o s4ortfau of resolutions III