The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-04


corporate franchises. and on the Presi-
dents recommendation an act was passed
appropriating for the use of Porto Rico.
the s2Oa ass collected from island sources
since its acquisition.
HAWAIIAN MEASURE.
Next in Importance in the accomplished
work of the session is the act ''to provide
government for the Territory OF Hawaii"
The debates on IL in the Senate and House
aroused little division. save on matters of
detail. The act provides system of gov
ernment much like that of Territories,
with Governor appointed by the President
and a Legislature of two houses. Fran
chise rights are practically the same as
those of voters in the United States. with
the additional qualification that voter
shall be liable 10 speak, read and write
the English ar the Hawaiian language.
Administrative and judicial officers are
provided. and the island is given a dele
gate to the House of Representatives of
the United States. chosen by the people,
with a right TO debate in the House, but
not right to vote.
The Philippines and Cuba have occupied
much attention in the way of debate and
Spooner bill, providing that when all in
surrection against the authority OF the
United States shall be at an end. then all
military. civil and judicial powers shall.
unless otherwise provided by Congress. be
carried on under the direction of the Pres
ident, formed the basis of the senatorial
debate on the Philippines. but was fruit
less of action. The only legislation as TO
Cuba is of a comparatively minor char
acter. relating to Cuban shipping
The extradition bill, applying to all in
sular possessions and dependencies has
passed both houses and doubtless will be-
come law. 1t is designed mainly 10
reach cases like that of Charles F. w.
Neely.
The Nicaraguan canal bill and the ship
ping subsidy bill are notable instances of
legislation partly advanced during the
present session, but not enacted into law
The canal bill has passed the House and
has been made the special order in the
Senate. beginning Dec. 10 next. The ship
ping bill is on the calendar of each house.
with favorable recommendation from a
majority membership of Senate and House
committees.
nently to attention in the House. that body
having passed a new antitrust bill and
| defeated a constitutional amendment.
The Senate has passed a bill for a cable
to the Philippines and beyond, to be con-
structed and maintained under government
control, but no action has been taken on it
| in the House. The restriction of oleomar-
garine has been productive of considerable
| agitation, mainly in committees. and rad
ical restrictive bill has been reported to
| the House.
PENSION LAW CHANGES.
| The general pension laws have been ma
! terially changed by the present Congress,
| largely as a result OF the efforts of the
| Grand Army of the Republic, which se-
| cured the passage of the bill amending
the law Of 1890 so as TO permit the 'aggre-
eating" of disabilities, and changing the
provision as to widows SO that a widow
may receive pension when she is without
| means of support other than her daily
labor and has an actual net Income not ex-
| ceeding $780," ETC.
| The free homes act has at last become
law. 1t provides for the patenting OF home
| steads the public lands acquired from
| the Indians on the payment of the usual
fees and no other or further charges. This
opens to free homestead entry many mil
lions of acres of public lands in the West
heretofore sold at stated figures per acre
Another measure passed of some general
interest permits the secretary of agricul-
ture to restore game birds which are be-
coming extinct.
| Among other acts of the session are those
for the preservation of the historic frigate
| Constitution and for extending the work
of the twelfth census.
Considerable general legislation is car
ried on appropriation bills. These provi.
| sions include the amendment to the Mill.
tary Academy bill making the command
Ing general of the army lieutenant gen.
eral and the adjutant general Of the army
| a major general; also the amendment tC
4 the sundry civil bill. appropriating S.,
100000 for the st. Louis exposition. Botf
| of these bills still pending The nava
| appropriation bill adds two battleships
three armored cruisers, three protected
cruisers and five submarine boats to tn,
naval strength. and may include specia
| legislation as to armor plate and a gov
ernment plant. The other appropriation
bills, in the main, carry the usual gov
ernment supplies.
The Alaska code bill, giving complet,
civil system of laws to the territory. hai
passed both houses and undoubtedly will
become law. Other measures which hav,
passed one house or the other, but ar
still pending. includes those for the elec
tion of senators by the people; authorizing
the President to appoint committee L
study commercial conditions In China an,
Japan; for increasing the efficiency of tn
army by making service in the staff. corp
temporary; extending the eight-hour law
increasing the annual allowance to tn
militia of The country from 100000 to 81.
100000.
HOUSE READY TO ADJOURN.