Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-12-06
Washington.


The second session of the 56th Con-
gress of the United States began at
noon of Monday of this week, and will
exnire at noon of the first Monday of
March.
Speaker Henderson called the House
to order and Senator Frye the Senate.
The new members of both houses pre-
sented their credentials and were sworn
in, the deaths of members was reported;
both houses appointed committees to
wait upon the President; the Presidents S
message was read and the first days
session was ended. The desks of most
of the members were profusely decorat-
ed with flowers, making the chambers
look like a flower show The stack OF
flowers on Senator Hanna's desk was so
large that he could not occupy his usual
seat, while Joe Sibley's desk in the
House was covered with violets.
In the talk among the members re-
garding the business that would come
before them, the ship-subsidy bill SEEM
ed to have precedence
The Message is very long and is an
exhaustive review of our national af-
fairs, both domestic and international.
The keynote of his suggestions is
caution. Our unparalleled prosperity
is cited as a possible invitation for ex-
travagant expenditures and unneces-
sary appropriations. Economies should
not be lost sight of and the abundance
of the present should, in measure, be
husbanded for the future In the
opinion of the president our prosperity
il of the durable character, but this
does not lessen the responsibilities of
the present The time is one of great
opportunities, an era in which to pro-
mote Legitimate industrial and com
mercial expansion" 1t also has Its
perils and these must be avoided. He
strongly urges against the use OF our
growing power as a nation, for conquest
and oppression. directing attention to
the fact that the foundation of our
government is liberty; its superstructure
peace.
The position taken by the govern
ment of the United States in dealing
with the Chinese question is illustrated
at length. Prediction, based upon
present conditions, is made that
satisfactory settlement will eventually
be had. 1t is also made plain that some
binding assurance must be given for the
future protection and safety of those
natives who become converts to foreign
ha rrr,QGtinn nf n
demnity, the president takes the high
ground that in lieu of financial tender
Compensation may be made in part by
increased guarantees of security for
foreign rights aud immuuities, and,
most important of all. by the opening of
China to the equal commerce of all the
world" The open door must remain
ajar. Recognizing the existence of
The Hague court of arbitration, he con-
ours with Russia as to the wisdom of
referring to that body the settlement of
indemnities.
Legislation which will insure the
parity of gold and silver is recommend
ed, as is also an exemption to the ex-
tent of $50, 900, 600 of the more burden
some features Of our war tax. The
merits of the shipping subsidy bill are
featured and reasons given for lmmedl-
ate favorable action. The wonderful
growth of our steel industries, our
rapidly increasing export trade, and
constantly increasing naval expenditures
are incorporated among other causes
which demand that we take first rank
among the commercial maritime powers.
Favorable progress in the pacifi-
cation of the PHILIPPINE islanders is re-
ported, and congress notified that the
president is awaiting its action in the
formation of plan of stable govern
ment.
In discussing the needs of the army
the president strikes an insistent note
He believes that so long as the present
disturbed conditions continue the pres
ident should be given authority to in
crease the present numerical force to
100. 600 men. From $4,000 to go, 900
men will soon be needed in the Philip
pines, and additional to this force 49,
600 natives should be recruited.
Reyerting to the recommendations
made in his last message, asking for
early action in regard to remedial legis-
lation to restrict combinations of capi-
tai, organized into trusts, the president
reiterates what he said then and adds:
Restraint upon such combinations as
are injurious, and which are within
federal jurisdiction, should be PROMPTLY
applied by congress" To this extent
only can the president 60 il being gen
orally recognized that the necessary
corrective legislation upon this subject
must be supplied by the legislatures of
the various states.
Representative Showalter was quot
ed as follows; There never was better
and more comprehensive message trans
mitted to Congress. The President has
treated most thoroughly of the Philip
pine islands and presents the situation
in China clearly and concisely," and
Representative John DalzeD, of Pitts
burg-"The message of the President
is clear concise and to the point 1t
goes into the Philippine question
exhaustively and treats of Cuba
and Porto Rico to the fullest ex-
tent. / am sure the message is just
what the Republicans expected, and it
will receive the hearty Endorsement Of
every one of them, while at the same
time acting as guide for Congress in
legislation to be enacted in the future.
The President also deals with our mer-
chant marine and makes recommend
ations for its improvement That is a
part of the Republican platform. in
dorse most heartily every word in the
message.
The Tax on Medicines.