The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-04
Record of the Year, However, Not
without other Notable Acts of
Constructive Legislation.
NEW LAWS FOR DEPENDENCIES
HAWAIIAN AND PORTO RICAN BILLS
ENACTED AND IN FORCE.
Much Discussion Concerning the Phil
ippines and Cuba - Nicaraguan
Canal BflI-Other Measures.

WASHINGTON. June 3.-The record of
the first session >of the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress is now practically closed and IL is
possible to survey the important work
1T has accomplished during the last six
months. 1t has 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
preceding Congress, which covered the
dramatic period when war was declared
against Spain. and also the period of re-
construction and treaty-making with
Spain, following the successful closing of
the war. But in work actually accom-
plished and started toward accomplish
ment the record of the present session
stands we'll In comparison with the most
energetic Congresses.
Our new territorial possessions have re-
ceived much attention. and while there
has been no definite action as to the Phil
ippines or Cuba, a form of government and
a means of raising revenue has been pro-
vided for Porto Rico. and a comprehensive
territorial form of government has been
given to Hawaii. The financial act has
made important changes in the laws re-
lating to the parity of metals, the bonded
indebtedness, national banks and the Sc
curity of the treasury by a gold reserve.
The Nicaraguan canal bill passed the
House and Is on the calendar of the Senate
ready for attention when Congress recon-
venes. The antitrust bill Is similarly ad-
vanced, though the antitrust constitution
al amendment has a defeat recorded
against It, The Pacific cable measure has
passed the Senate and is awaiting final
action In the House. The exclusion of
Brigham III. Roberts from a seat in tho
House. because of his polygamous status:
the refusal OF the Senate to admit Mr.
Quay on the appointment Of the Governor
of Pennsylvania and the sensational
charges. investigation and development of
the Senate In the case of Mr.. Clark, of
Montana, have added some exciting per-
sonal 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 recently. the Senate investigation of
the postal irregularities and other irreg-
ularities In Cuba.
The total appropriations cannot yet be
stated with exactness, as five bills are
pending, but the aggregate is close to
500 900 for the session.
IMPORTANT TREATIES.
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 Sa-
| moa and awarding to the United States
| the island of Tutuila with its valuable
| harbor of Pago Pago. has been ratified,
| while the commercial reciprocity treaties
with France and the British West Indian
| islands and the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
| concerning the interoceanic canal, go over
| without action.
| OF the legislation accomplished and now
| on the books, the financial act is regarded
as the chief achievement. The notewor-
| thy feature of the debate on this measure
was that party lines were broken. num-
ber of Democratic members from the
| Eastern and New England States joining
with the majority I'm passing IL. In the
| Senate also party lines were not entirely
regarded, Senators Lindsay and Caffrey
| voting for the measure and Mr.. Chandler
/ against IL. AS 1T became law by the
| Presidents signature on March IA 1t makes
| specific the declaration of the gold stand
| ard; provides a treasury reserve Of $780,
| 0o00 600; establishes a division of issue and
| redemption 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 and the tax they
| pay and extends operations to small COM
| munities. The act also contains a specific
declaration that its provisions ''are not In
| tended to preclude the accomplishment of
| international bimetalism.''
| Porto Rican legislation has been the most
fruitful theme of controversy. in Congress
and out, during the session. The discus
! sion first turned on the revenue bill. levy
ing duty OF Is per cent. of the Dingiey
rates on Porto Rican goods
The majority Of the ways
and means committee urged the con.
stitutionality and necessity of this course
while the minority. reinforced by Mr.. Me-
| Call, of Massachusetts,. member OF the
majority, maintained that the Constitu-
tion OF the United States extended to Porto
Rico, and 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 at
tention The debate in the House was
signalized by the division of the majority
which for time made the result doubt
full. 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
-
government. the measure became law