The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-04
Impure Blood Invites Dis

ment 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 Brig
ham H. Roberts from a seat in the
house because of his polygamous status,
the refusal of the senate to admit Mr.
Quay on the appointment of the COVER
nor of Pennsylvania, and the sensation
al charges, investigation and develop
ments in the senate in the case of Mr.
Clark of Montana have added some ex-
citing personal phases TO the session.
Investigations have been prolific. in
Guiding the inquiry into the Occur
d'Alene mining riots in Idaho, the var
ious inquiries on poIygany growing out
OF the Roberts case and more recently
the senate investigation of the postal
ard other Irregularities in Cuba.
The total Of appropriations can not be
stated with exactness, as five bills are
pending.
The senate. in executive session, has
been occupied to a considerable extent
with important treaties. OF these the
treaties with Great Britain and Ger
many closing the tri-partite govern
ment in Samoa 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 ac-
ton.
Of the legislation actually accomplish
ed and now on the statute books, the
financial act is regarded as the chief
achievement Of the year. The note
worthy features of the debate on this
measure in the house was that party
lines were broken to some extent-a very
few Democratic members from the
eastern and New England states join
ing with the majority in passing it. In
the senate party lines were not entirely
regarded Senators Lindsay and Canery
Cham
dler against it. AS it became a law by
the presidents signature on March IA,
it makes specific the declaration of the
gold standard.
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 rev.
enue bill, levying a duty of Is per cent.
of the Dirgiey rates on Porto Rico
goods The majority ofsthe ways and
means committee urged the constitu-
tioralitY and necessity Of this course,
while the minority, reinforced by Mr..
Mccall of Massachusetts. a member of
the majority, maintained that the con-
StitCtion of the United States extended
to Porto Rico, and that congress was
inaugurating q new and dangerous prec-
edent by giving the island any other
law than that of the rest of the cOun-
try. Excitement ran high under the
sDur of widespread public attention.
The debate in the house was signaliZed
by the division of the majority, which
for q 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, raising revenue and es-
/ tablishing an island government, the
1 measure became a law. Subsequently
| it was amended so as to limit corporate
! franchises, and on the presidents rec
]
priating for the use of Porto Rico the
| 81 O95.455 collected from island sources
since its acquisition.
Next in Importance in the accomp-
/ lished work of the session is the act Ito
provide a government for the territory
/ of Hawaii" The debates on it in the
senate and house aroused little division
save on matters of detail. The act pro-
vides system of government much like
| that of territories, with governor ap-
| pointed by the president, a legislature
| of two houses, franchise rights prac-
| tically the same as those of voters in
the United States, with the additional
| qualification that a voter shall be able
to speak read and write the English
| or the Hawaiian language.
| Administrative and judicial officers
are provided and the island is given a
| delegate to the house of represen tives
| of the United States, chosen by the peo-
pie. with q right to debate in the house,
but not a right to vote.
The Philippines and Cuba have oc-
euped much attention in the way OF
debate and the adoption of resolutions
of inquiry. The Spooner bill providing
that when all insurrection against the
authority of the United States shall be
at an end and then all military. civil
and judicial powers shall, unless other
wise provided by congress. be carried
on under the direction of the presi-
dent formed the basis of the sena-
I torial debate on the Philippines, but
was fruitless of action. The only leg
islation as to Cuba is of q compare
lively minor character, relating to Cuban
shipping.
The extradition bill, applying to all
insular possessions and dependencies
has passed both houses and doubtless
will become a law. 1t is designated
mainly to reach cases ike that OF
| Charles F. W. Neeley.
The Nicaraguan canal bill and the
| Shipping subsidy bill are notable in
stances of legislation partly. advanced
| during the present session, but not en-
/ acted into law. The canal bill has
passed the house and has been made q
special order in the senate beginning
December 10, next. The shipping bill
Is on the calendar of each house with
favora BILE recommendation from a ma
/ iority membership of the senate anc
| house committees.
Antitrust legislation has come prom
4 inently into attention in the house a.
4 the close of the session, the house hav-
ing passed a new antitrust bill aftel
defeating Democratic amendments Il
it and defeated a constitutional amend
nent. The senate has passed a bill TO
/ a cable to the Philippines and beyond
to be constructed and maintained unde
government control. but no action ha
been taken on it in the house.
The restriction Of OleOmargarine ha