Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1900-06-13
Washington correspondence;

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Washington correspondence:
c. HE record of the first session of
the Fifty sixth Congress is now
u closed ald it is possible to survey
the important work it has accomplished
during the last six months. 1t has been
a busy Congress, the busiest, according
to veteran officials, in many years. In
some respects the work has been less ex-
citing than that of the preceding Con-
gress. 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 accomplished and started toward
accomplishment the record of the present
session stands well in comparison with
the most energetic Congresses.
Our new territorial possessions have
received much attention, and while there
has been no definite action as to the Phil
ippines or Cuba, form of government
and a means of raising revenue have
been provided for Porto Rico and com
prehensive territorial form of govern
ment has been given to Hawaii. The
financial act has made important changes
in the laws relating to the parity of
metals, the bonded indebtedness, nation
al banks and the security of the treas
ury by a gold reserve. The Nicaraguan
canal bill has passed the House and is
on the calendar of the Senate ready for
attention when Congress reconvenes. The
antitrust bill is similarly advanced, the
antitrust constitutional amendment has
a defeat recorded against it. The Pa
cifc cable measure has passed the Sen
ate.
The Roberts cnd Clark Cases.
The exclusion of Brigham II. Roberts
from a seat IN the Hone because of his
polygamous status, the refusal of the
Senate to admit Mr. Quay on the appoint
ment of the GG2ern of Pennsylvania,
and the sensational charges, investigation
and developments in The Senate in the
case of Mr.. Clark of Montana have add
ed some exciting personal phases to the
session.
investigations have beer prolific, in
Guiding the inquiry into the Occur
D'Alene mining riots in Idaho, the vari-
Gus inquiries on polygamy growing out
of the Rob, rts case and more recently
the Senate investigation of the postal and
other irregularities in Cdba.
l.
imately S700, 900 for the session.
The Senate in executive session has
been occupied to considerable extent
with important treaties. OF these the
treaties with Great Britain and Ger
many, closing the tripartite government
of Samoa and awarding to the United
States the Island of Tuluila, with its val
liable harbor of Pago-Pago, has been
ratified, while the commercial reciprocity
treaties with France and the Beitish
West Indian Islands and the Hay-Paun-
cefote treaty conee ming the interoceanic
canal, go over will ut action.
The New Financial Law.
OF the legislation actually accomplish
ed and now on the statute books the
financial act is regarded as the most i'm
portant of the year. The noteworthy
feature of the debate ON this measure in
the House was that party lines were
; broken to some extent, number of Dem
ocratic members from the Eastern and
New England States joining with the
majority in passing it. In the Senate
also party lines were not entirely re-
garded. Senators Lindsay and Caffrey
voting for the measure and Mr.. Chandler
against it, As it became a law by the
Presidents signature on March ii, it
makes specific the declaration of the gold
standard, provides a treasury reserve of
S13OC 100000, establishes a division of
issues and redemption of the treasury,
provides for the redemption and reissue
of interest-b bearing bonds of the United
States. and makes new regulation as to
national banks, their circulation, estab-
lishment in small communities and the
tax they pay. Tie act also contains a
declaration that it's provisions ARE not
intended to preclude the accomplishment
of international bimetallism."
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 revenue bill,
ievying a duty of ID per cent of the Ding
ley rates on Porto Rico goods. The ma
5ority of the ways and means committee
urged the constitutionality and necessity
of this course while the minority, re-
enforced by Mr.. Mccall of Massaehu
setts a member of the majority, main
tanned that the constitution of the United
States extended to Porto Rico and that
Congress was inaugurating a 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 attention
The debate in the House was sgnaliZed
by the division of the majority, which for
a time made the result 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 a complete form
of civil government. In this form, rails
ing revenue and establishing an island
government, the measure became law.
Subsequently it was amended so as to
limit corporate franchises and on the
Presidents recommendation an act was
passed appropriating for the use of Porto
Rico the 81, 095, AS collected from island
sources since its acquisition.
Hawaii and the Philippines.
Next in Importance in the accomplish
ed work of the session is the act Ito
provide government for the territory of
Hawaii" The debates on it in the Sen
ate and House aroused little division save
on matters of detail. The act provides
q system of government much like that Of
territories. with Governor appointed by
the President. Legislature Of two
houses. franchise rights practically the
same as those of voters in the United
States. with the additional qualification
that q voter shall ''be able to speak, read
and write the English language or the
Hawaiian language" Administrative and
judicial officers are provided and the isl