The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-06-14
WHAT CONGRESS HAS DONE.
The Session Now Practically Closed the Busiest
i'm Many Years.
i'm Many Years.

&C. now practically closed, and IT Is pos
sible 10 survey the important work II has
accomplished during the last six months.
II has been a busy congress--the bust
est according to veteran officials, In
many years. In some respects the work
mas been less exciting than that Of the
preceding congress, which covered the
dramatic period when war was declared
against Spain, and also the period of re-
construction and treaty making with
snain following the successful close of
the war.
Hut I'm work actually accomplished
aud started toward accOmpIish me- mt
the record of the present session
stnnds well in com risOD with the
most energetic congresses.
Our new territorial possessions have re-
ceiyed much attention, and while there
has been no definite action as to the
Philippines or Cuba, form OF govern
ment and a means OF raising revenue
have been provided for Porto Rico and
n comprehensive territorial form OF gov.
eminent has been given TO Hawaii.
The Financial Act
has made important changes in the laws
relating to parity OF metals, the bonded
Indebtedness national banks and the Sc
curity Of the treasury by gold reserve.
The Nicaragua canal bill has passed the
house and is on the calendar Of the SEN
ate ready attention when congress
reconyenes. The antitrust bill Is similar
" advanced, the antitrust constitutional
amendment has a defeat recorded against
It. The Pacific cable measure has passed
the senate and is awaiting
Final Action I'm the House.
The exclusion of Brigham III. Roberts
from a seat in the house because OF his
polygamous status, the refusal OF the
senate to admit Mr.. Quay on the appoint
ment of the governor OF Pennsylvania.
and the sensational charges, investigation
and developments In the senate in the
case Of Mr.. Clark OF Montana, 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 growing
out OF the Roberts case, and more recent
ly the senate investigation of the postal
and other Irregularities in Cuba.
The Total Of Appropriations
cannot yet be stated with exactness. as
five bills are pending, but II is approx
mately $TO0, 100000 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 Germany, closing
the tripartite government in Samoa and
awarding to the United States the island
of Tutuitla, with its valuable harbor Of
Pago-Pago, have been ratified, while the
commercial reciprocity treaties with
France and the British West India
islands and the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
concerning the interoceanic canal, go over
without action.
OF the legislation actually accom-
plished and now on the statute
books, the financial net Is regarded
as the g.eat achievements of the
year.
The noteworthy feature of tho debate
on this measure in the house was that
party lines were broken TO some extent.
n 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, Senators Lindsay and
Caffrey voting for the measure and Mr..
Chandler against 1t. AS II became law
by the presidents signature on March II,
II makes specific the declaration OF
The Gold Standard,
provides a treasury reserve of $4,000.
COO, establishes a division of issue and re-
demption of the treasury, provides for
the redemption and reissue Of interest
bearing bonds OF the United States and
makes new regulations as to national
banks. their circulation, establishment i'm
small communities and the tax they pay.
The act also contains a specific declara-
ton that its provisions ARE not intended
to preclude the accomplishment of inter.
national bimetallism.'
Porto Rico Liquidation
has been the most fruitful theme of con-
troversy in and out Of congress during the
session The discussion first turned on
the revenue bill, levying duty of Is per
cent OF the Ding,ey rates on Porto Rico
goods. The majority Of the ways and
means committee urged the constitution
atty and necessity of this course. while
the minority, reinforced by Mr.. Mccall Of
Massachusetts, member Of the major
fty. maintained that the legislation OF the
United States extended to Porto Rico and
that congress was inaugurating new
and dangerous precedent by giving the
island any other law than that of the
rest OF the country.
Excitement Ran High
under the spur OF widespread public at
tention. The debate In the house was
signalized by the division Of the majority.
which for a time made the result doubt
full, but the bill ultimately passed. The
contest in the senate was animated but
less acute. The senate changed the en-
tire scope of the measure by adding
complete form Of civil government. In
this form, raising revenue and establish
Ing an island government, the measure
became a law Subsequently 1t was
amended so as to limit corporate fran
chises, and on the presidents recon-