Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-06-12
washington Correspondence:

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Washington correspondence:
CO HE record of the first session OF
the Fifty-sixth Congress is now
- closed and it is possible TO survey
the important work it 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 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
IT, 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
ciic cable measure has passed the Sen
ate.
The Roberts and Clark Cases.
The exclusion of Brigham II. Roberts
from a seat in the House because of his
polygamous status, the refusal of the
Senate to admit Mr.. Quay on the appoint
ment of the Governor 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 been prolific, in
Guiding the inquiry into the Occur
D'Alene mining riots in. Idaho, the vari-
Gus inquiries on polygamy growing out
of the Roberts case and more recently
the Senate investigation Of the postal and
other irregularities in Cuba.
The total of appropriations is approx
imately $700,000,000 for the session.
The Senate in executive session has
been occupied to q 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 British
West Indian Islands and the Hay-Paun-
cefote treaty concerning the interoceanic
canal, go over without 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 IA, it
makes specific the declaration of the gold
standard, provides a treasury reserve of
S130,O00, 900, establishes a division of
issues and redemption of the treasury,
provides for the redemption and reissue
of interest-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. The act also contains a
declaration that its 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,
levying a duty of 10 per cent of the Ding
ley rates on Porto Rico goods. The ma
jority of the ways and means committee
urged the constitutionality and necessity
of this course while the minority, re-
enforced by Mr.. Mccall of Massachu-
sctts. n 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 signalzed
by the division of the majority, which for
a time made the result doubtful, but the
bin 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 $2,095, 445 collected from island
sources since its acquisition.
Hawaii and the Philippines.
Next in importance in the accomplish
cd work of the session is the net ITO
provide government for the territory of
Hawaii" The debates on il in the SEN
ate and House aroused little division save
on matters Of detail. The act provides
a system of government much like that OF
territories, with a Governor appointed by
the President. a Legislature of two
houses, franchise rights practically the
same as those OF voters in the United
States. with the additional qualification
that voter shall BE able 10 speak, read
and write the English language or the
Hawaiian language" Administrative and
| judicial officers ace provided and the isl
and is given a delegate to the HOUSE OF
Representatives Of the United States,
chosen by the people, with a right TO de-
| bate in the House, but not a right &c
l vote.
The Philippines and Cuba have occu-
pied much attention III the way OF de
hate and the adoption IL resolutions Of
| inquiry. The Spooner birs providing that
when all armed opposition to the author'
ity of the thiifed States shall be at an
end. then all military. civil and Judicial
| powers shall. until otherwise provided b!
| Congress, DC carried on under the direc
ton u the President, formed the basi.
OF the senatorial debate on the Philip