New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-08

law is that as result of the refunding opera
lions there will be gradual and large reduction
of the annual interest on the public debt, and
to that extent tightening of the burden Of tax
alton on the people; and still another VIII be the
establishment of hundreds OF small banks
throughout the country for the benefit and con-
ycnience of the farmers and small merchants
and manufacturers. The fear that these new
and small. institutions would be badly or I'M
safely managed has already been dispelled to
very considerable degree by the fact that many
OF them are virtually branches of older and
stronger banks, whose management is in the
hands OF men trained in the school OF experience
and OF high reputation for ability and probity.
The relation of alliance between the stronger
and the weaker also serves The convenience and
needs of the customer of the latter by providing
him with certain banking facilities which he
had not before enjoyed and would not otherwise
have.
NEW ISLAND GOVERNMENTS.
Another very important act Of legislation at
the recent session was the law providing a
government for the Territory of Hawaii. That
and the Porto Rico law marked the first steps
IN what might properly be called a colonial sys-
tern. The government set up in Hawaii be-
lieve TO be suited TO that country and it's people,
and IL differs in important respects from the one
provided for Porto Rico, in which more power
IS reserved to the general Government Both OF
the enactments involved new and serious prop
lens, all OF which were dealt with In broad
and liberal manner.
AS to Porto Rico faced condition Of
things which could be dealt with in either one of
only two ways. large proportion OF the
plantations and farms well as the harvested
cane. and all Industries had been thus pros
trated or wiped out of existence The industrial
population comprising 50 per cent of the total.
was idle, because there was nobody able to
employ labor and pay wages. The situation was
q desperate one; three-fourths of the people
were facing starvation; means OF relief must be
found. One was to appropriate money out Of
the National Treasury. That objection
able measure which few would choose ap
prove. The other was to use the revenues al
ready collected and to supplement them by the
revenues TO be collected from time to time by
duties imported articles which the well-to-do
Congress chose, and the wisdom of the choice
has already been justified. We hear no more
tales OF starvation: commerce and business
revivfng. and the Porto Ricans hopeful and
cheerful.
ALASKAN CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
The Alaskan legisa ton has attracted less pub
lie attention than that relating TO Hawaii and
Porto Rico but il was of great Importance, and
Congress has laid broad and deep the founda-
lions Of civil government in that Territory
which is provided with both criminal and
civil codes and judiciary system, with machin-
cry to operate ii.
At the recent session two things were done
which established for all time two sound prin-
ciples. One of these is that is rich
Senate and retain a seat therein, and the other
is that the House OF Representatives will not
admit TO a seat among its membership a man
who is known 10 be offender against the
laws which were made to safeguard the Ameri-
can family and protect society. The lessons
were severe, and they probably will never be
forgotten.