Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-06-07
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 WIN
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 compari-
son with the most energetic congresses
Our new territorial possessions have
received much attention, and while
there has been no definite action as 10
the Philippines or Cuba, form OF gov
eminent and means of raising reve-
nue. has been provided for Puerto Rico,
and comprehensive territorial form
of government has been given to Ha-
wall. The financial act has made i'm
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
antitrust constitutional amendment
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
X. 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 LIST, 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 a
member of the far-western states sent
to India 4, 900 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 few minutes, made one of the
most sensational attacks on Great
Britain ever heard in the senate. H6
lambasted the nation for spending
hundreds of millions of dollars to crush
the South African republics, and EN-
phatically declared that if they ha'
any sympathy or hearts, instead of de
stroying the liberties of those repub
lies, the English people would sent
money to relieve the distress in thu
greatest dependency that country pos
sessed The debate was becoming 81
warm that Senator Aldrich arose AM
demanded the regular order.
At the conclusion of session lasting
eight hours, the senate on the 31s
passed the sundry civil appropriation
bill, which has been under considera
ton for nearly a week. The amend
ment providing for an appropriation o
IS. 000. 900 for the Louisiana Purchas
exposition, to be held in st. Louis i
1903, was continued in the bill. An ef
{ fort was made to reduce the amount t
, be appropriated, but it was unsuccess
full. An amendment was incorporate
providing for the beginning of the wor
on the memorial bridge between Wash
, ington and Arlington cemetery, to b
> erected in memory of the dead of bot
the union and confederate armies.
The house on the first, after a livel
E debate extending over two days, dc
feated the Joint resolution proposing
{ | constitutional amendment empowerin
0 congress to regulate trusts. 1t require
4 a two-thirds vote under the constitl
f ton to adopt an amendment to til
S constitution. The vote stood ayes Is
: NAYS 1871. The affirmative vote, Their,
n fore, was 80 short of the requisite tw'
thirds, 1872.
BY a vote of 3 to the senate con
b mittee on privileges and elections c
a the Goth voted to report adversely G
n Mr.. Corliss' amendment to the const
# tuition to elect senator's by the peopl
S This settles the amendment for tn
n session of congress.