Willmar tribune., 1900-06-13
w GRK 0)F CO GRESS.
Record Of First Session Of the Fif-
ty-Sixth Legislature. Z. "
Many Laws Covering Vexed cues.
tions Have Been Passed-Our New
Possessions Have Received
Much Attention.

washington, June 4.-The record Of the
nrst session of the Fifty-sixth congress is
now practically closed, and it is possible
10 survey the important work it has ac-
complished during the last six months.
II mas been busy congress-the busiest,
according to veteran officials, in many
years. In some respects the work has
been less exciting than that of the pre-
ceding congress, which covered the dra-
matte 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 accom-
phsned and started toward accomplish
ment the record of the present congress
stands well in comparison with the most
energetic congresses.
Our new territorial possessions have re-
ce1ved much attention. and while there
mas been no definite action as to the Phil
| lppines or Cuba, a form of government
| and q means of raising revenue has been
provided for Porto Rico, and a compre.
hens:ve territorial form of government
mas been given to Hawaii. The financial
act has made important changes in the
| laws relating to the parity of metals,
the bonded Indebtedness, national banks
| and the security of the treasury by q
gold reserve. The Nicaraguan canal bill
mas passed the house and Is on the cal
endar of the senate ready for attention
when congress reconvenes. The anti.
| trust bill is similarly advanced The anti
trust constitutional amendment has de-
| feat recorded against it. The Pacific
| cable measure has passed the senate and
is awaiting final action in the house.
Some UnpIeasant Features.
The exclusion of Brigham H. Roberts
from a seat in the house because of his
polygamous status, the refusal of the
| senate to admit Mr.. Quay on the cp-
pointment of the governor of Pennsyl-
vania, and the sensational charges. in
Vesttgation and developments in the sen.
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 Coeur dAlene mining riots in Idaho,
| the various inquiries on polygamy grow
Ing out of the Roberts case, and more re-
Gently the senate investigation of tho
postal and other irregularities in Cuba.
| Appropriations.
The total of appropriations cannot yet
be stated with exactness. and five bills
are pending, but it is approximately
s70o, ,OOO0,O0 for the session.
Treaties Acted Upon.
| Ihe senate in executive session has
been occupied to considerable extent
with important treaties. Of these the
treaties with Great Britain and Germany
closing the tripartite government in
!
the island of Tutuila, with it's 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, a number of
! democratic members from the eastern
and New England states joining with the
majority in passing it.
| Pensions.
| The general pension laws have been
materially changed by the present con-
gress. largely as a result Of the efforts
OF the Grand Army of the Republic,
which secured the passage of bill
amending the law of June q. 1890. SO
as to permit the ''aggregating' of disa-
! bilities. and changing the provision as
to widows so that a widow may receive
pension when she is without means of
support other than her daily labor, and
has an actual net income 2ct exceeding
$780, etc.
! "Free Homes'' Act.
The free homes. act has at last be-
come law 1t provides for the patenting
of homesteads on the public lands ac-
l>Quired from the Indians on the payment
| of the usual fee and no other or further
| charges. This opens to free homestead
entry many millions of acres of public
lands in the west, heretofore sold at
| stated figures per acre.
| Other Legislation.
| Other measures which have passed one
house or the other, but are still pending,
! include those for the election of sena-
| tors by the people; authorizing the presi-
dent to appoint commission to study
commercial conditions in China and Jap
an: for increasing the efficiency of the
army by making service in the staff
corps temporary; extending the eight
hour law: increasing the annual allow
ance to the militia of the country from
$400, 900 to 81, 100000