Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-06-07
WORK OF CONGRESS-.
A Survey Of What Has Been Done
During the Last Six Months.
FINANCIAL ACT The CHIEF WORK,


Washington, June 4.--The record
OF the first session Of the Fifty-sixth
congress is now practically closed and
IL is possible to survey the impor-
tant work it has accomplished during
the last six months. Our new terri
torial possessions have received much
attention, and while there has been
no definite action as to the Philip
pines or Cuba, a form OF government
and q means of raising revenue has
been provided for Porto Rico and a
comprehensive territorial form OF gov
eminent has been given to Hawai-.
The exclusion of Brigham II. Rob
erts from seat in the 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 develop
ments in the senate in the ease OF Mr..
Clark, of Montana, have added some
exciting personal phases to the SEES
sion.
The total Of appropriations cannot
yet be stated with exactness, as five
bills are pending, but it is approx
mately S7OO,OOO,O0O for the session
OF the legislation actually accom-
plished and now on the statute books
the financial act is regarded as the
chief achievement of the year AS
IL became law by the presidents
signature on March "A, it makes spe-
cifc the declaration of the gold stand
ard, provides treasury reserve OF
$3.50, 100000 establishes a division OF
issue and redemption of the treasury,
provides for the redemption and re-
issue OF interest bearing bonds of the
United States and makes new regula-
lions as to national banks, their cir
culation, establishment In small com
munities, and the tax they pay. The
act also contains specific declara-
ton that Its provisions "are not in
tended to preclude the accomplish
ment of international bimetalism.'
The extradition BILL applying to all
insular possessions and dependencies,
has passed both houses and doubtless
will become law. 1t is designed
mainly to reach cases like that OF
Charles +. W. Nicely.
The Nicaraguan canal bill has
passed the house and has been made
the special order in the senate be-
ginning December 10 next. The ship
ment bill is on the calendar of each
house with favorable recommends
ton from n majority membership of
the senate and house committee.
Antitrust legislation has come
prominently into attention in the
house at the close of the session. the
house having passed new antitrust
bill and defeated constitutional
amendment.
The restriction Of oleomargarine
has been productive of considerable
agitation, mainly in committees, and
radical restrictive bill has been re-
ported to the house,
The general pension laws have been
materially changed by the present
congress, largely as u result of the
efforts Of the Grand Army of the
Republic, which secured the passage
of n bill amending the law of June n,
1890, so as TO permit the "aggregat-
ing" of disabilities and changing the
provision as to widows, so that n
widow may receive pension when she
is without means of support other
than her daily labor and has an ac-
tual net income not xececding $780,"
etc.
The Stree homes" act has at last
become law. 1t provides for the pat
enting of homesteads on 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 agriculture to restore game birds
which are becoming extinct.
Considerable general legislation is
carried on appropriation bills. These
provisions include the amendment to
the military academy bill making the
commanding general of the army a
lieutenant general and the adjutant
general of the army major general;
also the amendment to the sundry
civil bill appropriatng $5,OOO,OOo for
the st. Louis exposition. Both of
these bills are still pending.
The Alaska code bill, giving a com
plete system of laws to the territory,
has passed both houses and undoubt-
edly will become law, Other meas
ures which have passed one house or
the other but are still pending in.
clude those for the election of sena-
tors by the people; authorizing the
president to appoint commission to
study commercial conditions in China
and ,JaDan. for increasing thp eff