Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1900-06-13

Cohsivss Was inauSLratnh ii new ana
dangerous precedent by giving the
island any other law than that of tbs
rest of the country.
PASSAGE OF THE POkTO RICAN
BILL.
excitement ran high under the spur
vi widespread public attention The dc.
Ddieh IN the House was signalized bv
Nie ulN!sion OF the majority. which for
d liIne made the result doubtful but
,he plii Ultimately passed The con.
.esI III the Senate was animated but
iess acute, the Senate changing the on.
'l[e scope OF the measure by adding
complete form OF civil government In
this form, raising revenue and estab-
fishing an island government the
measure became law. subsequently, il
was amended so as to limit corporate
franchises, and on the Presidents rec
ommendation an act was passed appro-
priatinG for the use of Porto Rico for
the S2.O95, ,45o collected from island
sources since it's acquisition.
Next in Importance in the accomp-
tlshed work OF the session is the act
to provide government for the Ter
ritory OF Hawaii" The debates on if
II the Senate and House aroused little
1ivision. save on matters of detail The
act provides a system of government
much like that of Territories, with a
governor appointed by the President,
Il legislature of two houses. franchise
rights practically the same as these of
voters in the United States with the
additional qualification that a voter
shall be able to speak, read and write
the English or Hawaiian language"
Administrative and judicial officers are
provided. and the island is given a
Delegate to the House of Representa-
tives of the United States. chosen by
the people. with a right to debate in
the House but not a right TO vote.
CUBA AND THE, ,.EhlLIPPINES.
The Philippines and Cuba have occu-
pied much attention IN tile way or de-
bate and the adoption of resolutions of
inquiry. The Spooner bill providing
that when all insurrection against the
authority of the United States shall be
at an end then all military civil, and
! judicial powers shall. unless otherwise
provided by Congress. be carried on
under this direction of the President,
, formed the basis of the Senatorial de-
bate on the Philippines, but was irut-
less of action. The only legislation as
to Cuba is of Il comparatively minor
character, relating to Cuba shipping.
The eXtradition bill applying 10 all
! insular possessions and dependencies.
has passed both Houses and doubtless
| will become a law. 1t is designed main
| ly to reach cases like that of Charles
| f. w. Neely.
The Nicaragua 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 pass
ed the House and has been 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 a ma
! jority membership OF the Senate and
/ House committees.
1 ATTENTION PAID TO TRUSTS.
Anti-trustlegislatio has come prom
/ inently into attention in the House al
/ the close of the session. the House hav-
! ing passed a new antitrust bill and
defeated a constitutional amendment.
! The Senate has passed a bill TO-
/ cable to the Philippines and beyond, to
| be constructed and continued under
/ government control, but no action has
| been taken on it in the House. The le
! Striction of oleomargarine has been
! productive of considerable agitation,
mainly in committee. and a radical re-
| strictiYe bill has been reported to 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
amending the law of June 27. 1890, so
! as TO permit the "aggregating" of disa-
/ bilitiCs. and changing the provision as
| to widows so that widow may To-
/ ceive pension when she is without
means of support other than her daily
/ laboF and has an actual net income
not exceeding $3.50" etc.
The free homes" act has at last he
! come law. 1t provides for the patenting
! of homesteads on the public lands ac,
| quircd from the Indians on the pay
ment of the usual fees. and no other
further charges. This opens to free
/ homestead entry many millions OF
! acres public lands in the West
/ heretofore sold n stated figures per
/ acre. Another measure passed of some
/ general interest permits the Secretary
/ of Agriculture to restore game birds
which are becoming extinct. and pro-
| vides means for the restriction of
/ traffic in dead animals. birds. etc,
from State to State the latter provs-
| ion being in part designed 10 limit the
! destruction of song birds for the sale
| Of their plumage.
PRESENTATION OF FRGGATE CON
STITUTION.
Among the other miscellaneous acts
of the session are those for the pre-
servation of the historic frigate Con-
stitution and extending the work OF
! the twelfth census.
Considerable general legislation is