The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-29
A RETROSPECTIVE vIaw.
Achievements Ci the First essien o
the LVIth CJnh ress.

A'S u NLt lrst essle n o
the LVIth CJnh ress.
WASHlNG4,-., sune IA compre-
hensive review OF what has been accom-
plished by the Fifty-sxth Congress in ..s
hrst session. the duration Of which has
been shorter than that OF any preceding
long session OF Congress since 1880.
requires a glance at the achievements
OF the last Congress which preceded IT,.
both together covering the period since
the beginning Of the present National
Administration. and also the Keeping in
mind OF the fact that In the last c.
gress only one branch was controlled by
the Republican party. so that the sue
cess OF legislation depended to a consid-
cradle extent upon the cooperation Of
at least some members OF the opposition
The members OF all parties supported
with virtual unanImity the declaration OF
war against spain. the recognition OF the
Independence of the people Of cuba. the
appropriation of money to carry on the
war. and other measures for the nation-
al defence, and some members of the
opposition also supported the war reve-
nue. legislation, the ratification OF the
treaty OF peace with Spain, the annexa
ton Of Hawaii and few other meas
ures but there could be no arre.r,a-t
on % financial measure, aud tht Repub-
Hear House u Representatives was pow
erlot' 90 redeem In that Congress its
piedto in behalf OF sound money. No
further demonstration Of this fact was
necessary after It's rejection by a major
ity Of nearly nifty votes on January 81.
Eeo, OF the senate concurrent resolution
declaring In favor OF the payment Of the
IN In rtHfF FtFa. f..N
silver coin.
The tifty-hfth Congress. however, was
able TO redeem the pledges In the Re
publican National platform OF 1896 in re-
gard TO the revision OF the tariff. the an
neNation Of Hawaii and the requirement
OF n naval base In the West Indies. and
when II expired Cuba was free from
spanish rule. y bill 20 establish a uni
form system OF bankruptcy had also
been enacted into law; the homestead
laws had been extended over Alaska and
a criminal code provided for that Terri
tory. an Industrial commission had been
created. 20 Invest gate subjects In which
both labor and capital. as well as the
business interests were concerned: the
Army had been temporarily reorganized
and increased all measures necessary
for the prosecution OF the war had been
promptly passed. an appropriation TO pay
Spain t2O.uOOOOO for the surrender Of SOW
ercignty over the Philippine archipelago
had been mcde. and a number of other
important acts had been written in the
statute book.
GOLD STANDARD BILL PASSED.
when the Fifty-sixth Congress as
sembled last December, with the Repub-
lcans In control OF both branches, the
majority lost no time In its efforts TO
settle the financial question on "a sound
and enduring basis. Weeks before the
regular standing committees OF the House
OF Representatives were appointed d
financial bill was framed and brought
forward. and Il passed that body before
the Christmas holiday recess. On March
10 IL was approved by the President, and
thus another solemn pledge of the Repub-
llcan party was redeemed.
LEGtsLAT1ON FON NEW POSSES
SfONS.
The next great question to be dealt
with was one which involved the policy
OF future legislation In regard to the
territory acquired from Spain. a subject
which wns in terms referred to Congress
by the treaty OF Pars. II was there
fore Of paramount Importance that Con-
grcss should start right and act with de-
uncrution. The 4 orto RiCan tar Il bail.
with provisions for the establishment OF
"A civil government in the Island, was the
result No measure ever brought for
ward In Congress, at least within gen
Grafton. was the object OF such bitter
and savage assau.s, or 80 much invective,
Misrepresentation and deliberate false
hood on the part OF its opponents. as was
the Porto Rican bill. 10 became law on
April n. went into operation on May j,
ard its ,rst fruits are already reauzed In
increase II the islands revenues, re-
vlvaI of bus ness and Industries and an
Increase OF con ience. together with in
dfcatious OF growing contentment amorE
the i1bnbItants Of the island. An act was
also passed 10 give Porto Rico the b"ne-
Ht Of all the customs revenue on imports
from the island into the United States
during the existence Oh the military gov
ernmCnt.
Congress also passed and the President
approvcd u law providing n form OF gov
ernncnt for the Territory OF Hawaii
which is 20 supcrsede the provisional
government established on the ruins or
the haIf despotic and wholly corrupt po-
iiticaI organism known as the Kingdom
~ HnwnH Preparations are now making
20 cot the machinery % the uew govern
uent In operation, and thus another
picdre of the Republican National plat
form has been fully redeemed and the
pcorte cf Ifnwn. are rejoicing IN pros
reritv ana a. cir new and secure 20 IDEAL
rcintion. And Paramount" Blount is
aircndv forgotten. except hv some dor-
irg explorer among the rnustv archives
OF n Democratic Administration.
FREE HOMES LAW ENACTED.
Another pledge OF the Republican Ma