The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-06-08
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES.


56th congress is now practically closed,
and it is possible TO survey the impor-
tant 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
exciting than that of the preceding
congress, which covered the dramatic
period when war was declared against
Spain and also the period of recon-
struction and treaty making with
Spain following the successful close of
the war. But in work actually act
ually accomplished and started to-
ward accomplishment the record of the
present session stands well in COMPARE
son with the most energetic congresses.
Our new territorial possessions have
received much attention, and while
there has been no definite action as to
the Philippines or Cuba II form of gov
ernment and means of raising reve-
nue. has been provided for Puerto Rico
and n comprehensive territorial form
of government has been given to Ha-
wall. The financial act has made inn
portant changes in the laws relating
TO the parity of the metals, the bonded
Indebtedness, national banks and the
security of the treasury by gold re-
serve. The Nicaraguan canal bill has
passed the house and is on the calen-
dar of the senate ready for attention
when congress reconvenes The anti
trust bill is similarly advanced, the
I
has defeat recorded against it. The
Pacific cable measure has passed the
senate and is awaiting final action in
the house. The exclusion of Brigham
K. Roberts from a seat in the house be-
cause of his polygamous status, the re-
fusal 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 case of Mr..
Clark of Montana, have added some
exciting personal phases to the session.
The total appropriations cannot be
stated with eXactness, as five bills are
pending, but it is approximately $780,
900, 900 for the session.
A few minutes after the senate con-
vened on the 1st, Senator Perkins pre-
sented some memorials from business
organisations in California requesting
congress to make appropriations to re-
lieve the distress of the famine dis
tricts in India. He said he would not
make any recommendations himself,
for the reason that several days ago
member of the far western states sent
to India 1000 or more tons of food pro-
ducts, and Great Britain had never ac-
knowledged the donation or the cour-
tesy. just then Senator Hale inter
rupted Senator Perkins, and in a speech
of only a few minutes, made one of the
most sensational attacks on Great
Britain ever heard in the senate. He
lambasted the nation for spending
hundreds of millions of dollars to crush
the South African republics, and en-
phatically declared that if they had
any sympathy or hearts. instead of de-
stroying the liberties OF those repub-
lies, the English people would send
money to relieve the distress in the
sessed. The debate was becoming so
warm that senator Aldrich arose and
demanded the regular order.
At the conclusion of a session lasting
eight hours, the senate on the 31st
passed the sundry civil appropriation
bill, which has been under considera-
ton for nearly a week. The amend
ment providing for an appropriation of
So, 900 900 for the Louisiana Purchase
: - l.. Il II
1903, was continued in the bill. An eff
fort was made to reduce the amount TO
be appropriated, but it was unsuccess-
full. An amendment was incorporated
providing for the beginning of the work
on the memorial bridge between Wash
ington and Arlington cemetery, to be
erected in memory of the dead of both
the union and confederate armies.
The house on the first, after lively
debate extending over two days, de-
feated the joint resolution proposing a
constitutional amendment empowering
congress to regulate trusts. 1t requires
two-thirds vote under the constitu-
ton to adopt an amendment to the
constitution. The vote stood ayes 1874,
nays 131. The affirmative vote, there
fore. was 80 short of the requisite two
thirds, 1922
BY a vote of to the senate com
mittee on privileges and elections ON
the Goth voted to report adversely on
Mr.. Corliss' amendment to the consti-
tuition to elect senators by the people.
This settles the amendment for this
session of congress.
The Powers Fear Russia.