The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-06-06
WORK OF ONGRESS.
BUSIEST SESSION, so OFFICIALS SAY.
IN MANY YEARS.
Financial Law Accomplished-Measu to
Aid Porto Ricons Passed-A Form of
Government and Means of Raising
Revenue For Island Adopted.

| hhOh'hS. " ustS Dttu u DuSy COuSTcSS,
busiest, according to veteran officials, in
many years. In some respects the work
has been less exciting tran that of the
preceding congress, 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. In work actually accom-.
| plished and started toward accomplish.
ment, the record of the present session
stands well in comparison with the most
energetic congresses.
Our new territorial possessions have
received much attention and while
there has been no definite action as to
as to the Philippines or Cuba, a
form of government, and means Of
raising revenue has been provided for
Porto Rico, and n comprehensive terri
torial form of government has been
| given to Hawaii. The financial act has
made important changes in the laws re-
lating to the parity of metals, the
bonded Indebtedness, national banks
and the security of the treasury by
gold reserve. The Nicaraguan canal
bill has passed the house and is on the
calendar of the senate ready for atten.
ton when congress reconvenes. The
antitrust bill is similarly advanced. The
trust 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 Brig
ham H. Robert, from a seat in the
house because of his polygamous status,
the refusal of the senate to admit Mr..
Quay on appointment of the governor
of Pennsylvonia, and the sensational
charge, investigation and developments
III the senate in the case of Mr.. Clark,
of Montana, have added some exciting
personal phases to the session. Investi-
cations have been prolific, including the
inquiry into the Couer d'Alene mining
riots in Idaho, the various inquiries on
polygamy growing out of the Roberts
case, and more recently the senate in
vestigation of the postal and other IT.
regularities in Cuba.
The total of appropriations cannot yet
be stated with exactness, as five bills
are pending, but it is approximately
500, ,000, 600 for the session.
The senate, in executive session, has
been occupied to considerable extent
with important treaties. Of these the
treaties with Great Britain and Ger.
many closing the tripartite government
in Samoa and awarding to the United
States the island of Tatuila. with its
valuable harbor of Pago Pago, has been
ratified. while the commercial recip-
rocity treaties with France and the
British West Indian islands, and the
ay-Pauncefote treaty concerning the
inter-oceanic canal, go over without
action.
OF the legislation actually accom-.
plished and now on the statute books,
the financial act is regarded as the chief
achievement of the year.
An act providing tariff 10 per cent
of the Dingley rate for Porto Rico and
providing civil government passed, also
on the presidents recommendation an
act was passed appropriating for the
use of Porto Rico, the $2,095, ,455 col
lected from island sources since its ac-
QUESTION.
An act also passed to provide gov
ernment for the territory of Hawaii.
The Philippines and Cuba have occu-
pied much attention in the way of de-
bate and the adoption of resolutions of
inquiry. The Spooner Philippine bill
failed to be acted upon. The only legis.
lation as to Cuba is of a comparatively
minor character, relating to Cuban
shipping
The extradition bill, applying to all
insular possessions and dependencies,
has passed both houses and doubtless /
become law. 1t is designed mainly
to reach cases like that of Charles +.
w. Neely.
The NicBraguan canal bill and the
shipping subsidy bill are notable in
stances of legislation partly advanced
during the present session, but not en-
acted into law. The canal bill passed
the house and was made the special
order in the senate beginning December
10, next. The shipping bill is on the
calendar of each house with favorable
recommendation from II majority men,
bership of the senate and house COM
mittees.
Antitrust legislation has come promi.
nently into attention in the house at the
close of the session, the house having
passed a new antitrust bill and defeated
a constitutional amendment.
The senate has passed bill for cable
to the Philippines and beyond, to be
constructed and maintained under gov
ernment control, but no action has been
aken on it in the house.
The restriction of oleomargarine has
ieen productive of considerable agita-
tion, mainly i'll committees, and rad
ical restrictive bill has been reported to
the house.
The general pension laws have been
materially changed by the present
congress, largely as result of the ef-
forts of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie which secured the passage of bill
amending the law of June "a, 1890, so
ms to permit the "aggregating" OF dis
abilities, and changing the provision as
to widows 50 that widow may receive
pension when she is without means of
support other than her daily labor, ana
had an actual net income not exceeding
$3.50, e'c.
Tho a.frnn hnmnsn not hna nt lnct