New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-08
RETROSPECTIVE VIEW.
Continued from first page.
cept by some daring explorer among the uusty
archives OF a Democratic Administration
FREE HOMES LAW ENACTED

OF the Free Homes law. which signifies return
to the original homestead policy, which was tenn
porarily abandoned in a large measure ten years
ago. at the instigatfon and through the efforts
of William S. Holman and his Democratic party
associates in Congress. By this law the home
stead settlers on lands purchased from Indian
tribes since 1889 given the same privileges
as are enjoyed by homestead settlers on other
public lands bought from Indian tribes or other
wise acquired by the United States prior TO
that time.
Still another pledge Of the Republican Ma
tional platform redeemed in part at the
session which has just expired by the enactment
OF amendments to the pension laws. in the form
OF measure advocated by distinguished Union
survivors Of the Civil War and supported nv
the veterans of that great struggle with virtual
unanim1ty. This enactment confers additional
benefits on Union survivors of the war who
may be suffering from physical disabilities and
also on the dependent widows of Union veter-
ans who have passed away. The Senate also
passed a bill providing for a codification Of the
pension laws, and also providing that in
the adjudication Of any pension claim the fact
tnat the applicant was accepted and mustered
INTO the service shall be taken and held
prina facie proof that he was Of sound mind
and body at the date of his enlistment The
House Of Representatives has not yet taken
action these measures
An amended militia law enacted and the
annual appropriation for the militia was In
creased to $1,000 900.
Congress at it's recent session enacted a law
providing civil code and Judiciary system for
Alaska thus experimenting the legislation Of
the last Congress. which enacted a criminal code
for that Territory. This exceedingly neces-
sary and important legislation. in view of the
rapid increase Of population and the and
rich discoveries and development Of Alaska's
mineral and other natural resources.
THE CLARK AND ROBERTS CASES.
In it's recent session Congress was compelled
to deal with two cases involving the title of
members TO their seats, which were happily Of
an unusual If not unprecedented nature.
One was the Montana case in the Senate After
a long and painstaking investigation the
nittee charged with that duty reported unani-
mously that the title Of William A. Clark was
defective account Of bribery and corruption.
Of which he had been the beneficiary, and sub
mitted resolution declaring that for that rea-
son he was not entitled to the seat he then
occupied. 1t late in the session before
the resolution and report were submitted that
Mr.. Clark was enabled not only to forestau
prompt action by resigning his seat, but also to
prevent further action in the prior to the
adjournment
that of Mr.. Roberts, Of Utah, and that body
took prompt and decisive action A special COM
mittee appointed. which. after a patient
and exhaustive investigation, reported that Rob-
erts had been convicted Of bigany and was
living in polygamy at the time Of his election
a Representative in Congress. The commit
tee unanimous in its findings of the facts
but its members differed as to the proper course
be pursued to keep Roberts out OF the seat
to which he had been elected but was
titled. The most direct course was adopted.
that of not admitting him, instead OF first ad-
hitting and next expelling him
Both Mr.. Clark and Mr. Roberts had been
elected to i'll seats in Congress as Democrats.
When Congress assembled ten contested cleo
ton cases were pending in the House Of Repre-
sentatives; when = adjourned all that had been
reported by committees had been disposed Of
three Of them in favor of the contestants who
were Republicans and the rest in favor Of the
sitting members, who were Democrats. Close
observation OF the conduct Of these cases just-
des the opinion that each of them was carefully
and thoroughly investigated, the testimony i'm
partially weighed and the decisions fair and just
an opinion which would not always be sus-
tanned by the facts in regard to the investigation
and decision of election contests by Congress.
TREATIES RATIFIED
In the course of the session the Senate de-
voted good deal of attention TO various con-
venttons and treaties submitted for it's ap-
prevail One which ratified was the con-
vention between the United States, Great Brit
ain and Germany which annuls the trtpartite
treaty in regard TO Samoa By this convention
the United States acquired possession OF the
fertile island Of Tutuila, with the safe and
commodious harbor OF Page Page, over which
the Stars and Stripes now wave Another con-
vention between the same Powers which was
ratified provides for the settlement of claims
for losses alleged to have been caused by IN
warranted acts Of naval forces at the time OF
the Samoan disturbances. The convention
signed at The Hague by the plenipotentiaries
OF the United States and other Powers for the
pacific settlement of international controversies,
etc. was also ratified, signed at
The Hague last year TO adapt the principles
of the Geneva Convention Of 1854 to maritime
warfare Treaties between the United States
and Argentina and Peru, respectively. for the
extradition Of criminals were also ratified. It
may be noted that the extradition laws Of the
United States are amended to cover such
cases as that Of Nicely. who stands accused OF
the embezzlement of Cuban postal funda
THE APPROPRIATIONS
All OF the general appropriation bills To pro
vide for the support Of the Government during
the next fiscal year became laws. Some OF
these contained important legislative provisions
which cannot here be described in detail Among
them were provisions relating TO the tnporta-
ton of adulterated and dangerous articles; pro-
vtding a check on foreign inspection OF Amert-
can food products: reviving the grade Of lieu
tenant-general in the Army and advancing the
adjutant- general 70 the rank Of major general;
providing for aid 10 a centennial exposition and