Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-06-15
THE RECORD OF CONGRESS-
That Body Adjourns Without Accom-
pIishinq a MeritorIous Act.

| suus So"J fNSJvNs NV "s''~~e SS~'''
pIishing a MeritorIous Act.
The first session of the Fifty-sixth
Congress djourned last Friday, and &
review of its work shows not an
achievement to the credit of the Re
publican majority in both houses.
The Porto Rico legislation is impe
rialistic in principle and is believed to
be unconstitutional. It. taxes the
Porto Ricans without giving them rep.
resentation. and imposes tariff duties
upon imports to the island from the
United States and exports,from the is
land to the United States. The gov
ernment of Porto Rico is practically
vested in Governor and Executive
Council appointed by Pres ident Nc
Kinley. The only redeeming feature
of the law is the provision restricting
the sale of franchises and imposing
limitations upon corporations. In all
other respects the act embodies the
imperiallstic ideas of the administra-
| tiOn.
| There has been no legislation at this
session in regard to the Philippines,
although the Porto Rico law is be-
lieved to foreshadow the legislation
which will ultimately be adopted for
our subjects in the far East if the Nc
| Kinley administration is continued in
power. A bill. introduced by Senator
Spooner, of Wisconsin, was favorably
reported, but it encountered strong
oppositl on and no action was taken by
the Senate. This bill empowered the
Executive to carry on the civil govern
ment in the Philippines until further
legislation by Congress. In the ab-
sence of definite legislation the Presi-
dent will continue to exercise the pow
er which be has assumed to be part
of his executive prerogative.
Congress has taken no step to ter
inmate the military occupation of
Cuba or to redeem the solemn pledge
OF independence which it gave to the
Cubans in 1898. In the debates in the
Senate Republicans laid down the
proposition that the Presidents au-
thority over the island is practically
unlimited as long as the military occu-
patton continues. The government of
ho so o1 or frnn, "och-
ington, and the only legislation which
has been enacted in respect to Cuba
grew out of the scandulous conduct of
dishonest officials sent from Washing
ton and employed in the Cuban postal
service. One official charged with
stealing large sum of money from the
Cuban postal fund escaped to the
United States. Congress has passed
a law providing for the extradition of
persons who have committed crimes in
our new possessions" and fled to the
United States or any of its territories
or provinces
Among the sins of omission of this
congress is the failure to reduce the
war-taxes. A surplus is piliug up in
the Treasury, but the Republican ma
jority in Congress has refused to light
en- the burdens of the taxpayers,
doubtless with the view of accumulat.
ing an immense fund to carry out the
imperial projects of the Administra.
ton. The reciprocity treaty with
France was not ratified, although it
was distinctly to the advantage OF
American customers. The protected
interests objected, and as they are al
powerful the Senate yielded to theil
demands. The bill providing for the
reorganization of the consular service
meritorious measure approved by the
business interests of the country, wal
allowed to die a natural death. The
Hay-Pauncefote treaty, providing fol
the neutrality of the Nicaragua canal
was held up in the Senate by the ad
vocates OF an interoceanic canal own
ed, controlled and fortified by the Uni
ted States. The House passed cana
bill, but the Senate postponed action
upon canal legislation until next ses
sion of Congress.
The country Is to be congratulated
that the Republicans did not have tn
courage to force action by Congress
upon the Shipping Subsidy bill. Thi
measure is designed to enrich a fev
shipowners at the expense of the tax
papers. 1t provides for an extrava
CANT system of bounties to be paid ou
of the national treasury. The measur
was favorably reported in both houses
but was not pressed to vote. Their
lis little doubt that it will be enacte
into law if the Republicans control th
! next administration. Action has beel
deferred to prevent the Democrat
from making the bill campaign issue
. In the closing days of the session tn
House passed an amendment to tn
Sherman Antitrust act, but the Sen
ate referred the amendment to 1t
Committee on Judiciary. The Reput
licans in the House also voted for
, constitutional amendment giving Cor
gress the power to regulate and trusts
- The Democrats opposed it and tn
amendment failed to received the two
thirds vote necessary for the adoI
tion.
The Record of the Republican mi
jority in Congress is not one whie
l. will add strength to the party. 1t is
n record of phenomenal extravaganza i
re appropriations and of surrender to tt
trusts and protected interests, esp
cially in the matter of the Porto Rics
tariff and the reciprocity treaty wit
J. France. Judged by the work of th
Congress the party richly deserves d
feat next November.