Evening journal., 1900-06-04

Washington, jane 4.-The record of
the first session of the Fifty-sixth con-
gress Is now practically closed, and it
is possible to survey the important
work it has accomplished during the
last six months. II has been a busy
congress, the busiest, according to vet
eran officials, in many years. In some
respects the work has been less excit-
ing than that of the preceding con-
gress, covering the dramatic period
when war was declared against Spain,
and also the period of reconstruction
and treaty making with Spain follow
ing the successful close of the war.
But in work actually accomplished and
started toward accomplishment the
record OF the present session stands
well in comparison with the most ener-
getic congresses.
Our new territorial possessions have
received much attention, and while
there has been no definite action as to
the Philippines or Cuba, form Of
government and a means of raising
revenue has been provided for Porto
Rico and a comprehensive territorial
form OF government has been given
to Hawaii. The financial act has made
important changes in the laws relating
to the parity of the metals, the bonded
Indebtedness, national banks and the
security of the treasury by a gold re-
serve. The Nicaragua canal bill has
passed the house and is on the calendar
of the senate ready for attention when
congress reconvenes.
The antitrust bill is similarly adj
vanced, although the antitrust con-
stitutional amendment has a defeat re-
corded against It. Representative Lit
tlefeld's bill amending the Sherman
antitrust law went through the house
Saturday with but one vote against it.
Mr.. Mana, of Illinois The bill, as it
goes TO the senate, makes violations OF
the law a crime instead of a misde-
meanor, as 1t was under the Sherman
act. The term Of Imprisonment is
doubled in the new bill, the maximum
now being two years instead OF one,
though the minimum Of six months
still holds.
The Pacific cables measure has pass
ed the senate and is awaiting final ac-
tion in the house. The exclusion Of
Brigham II. Roberts from a 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
developments IN the senate in the case
of Mr.. Clark, of Montana, have added
some exciting personal phases to the
session. Investigations have been pro-
life, including the inquiry into the
cour d'Alene mining riots in Idaho,
the various inquiries on polygamy
growing out of the Roberts case and
more recently the senate investigation
of the lOstal and other Irregularities
in Cuba.
The total of appropriations cannot
be stated with exactness, as five bills
are pending, but it is approximately
500, 100000 for the session.
The extradition bill, applying to all
insular possessions and dependencies,
has passed both houses and doubtless
will become a law. It is designed
mainly to reach cases like that Of
Charles f. w. Neely.
The Nicaraguan 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 has
passed the house and has been made
the special order in the senate begin
ming Dec. 10 next.
The senate has passed a bill for a
cable to the Philippines and beyond
TO be constructed and maintained un-
der government control. but no action
has been taken on it in the house.
The general pension laws have been
materially changed by the present con-
gress, largely as a result of the efforts
Of the Grand Army Of the Republic,
which secured the passage of a bill