The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-06-14
Session of Both Houses Closed OF
Thursday.
MANY MEASURES WERE ENACTED,
The Geld Standard Bill, Porto Rlcan
Act and Plan OF Government For
Hiwa:i.

the WNOle country, SOISleSS iuJouiA -
ed on Thursday. Following is a sum
mary Of It's work, from the Washing
ton Post:
The record of the first session Of the
Fifty-SiXth Congress is now closed,
and it is possible to survey the
important work it has accomplished
during the last six months. 1t has been
busy Congress, the busiest, according
to veteran officials in many years. in
some respects the work has been less
exciting than that Of the preceding
Congress, which covered the dramatic
period when war was declared against
Spain, and also the period Of recon-
struction and treaty making with
Spain following the successful close OF
the war But in work actually accomp-
lished and started toward accomplish
ment, the record Of the present session
stands we'll 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
the Philippines or Cuba, form OF gov
ernment and a means Of raising rev.
enue has been provided for Porto Rico
and a comprehensive territorial form
of government has been given to Haw-
ali. The financial act has made i'm
portant changes in the laws relating to
the parity of the metals, the bonded
indebtedness, national banks and the
security of the Treasury by gold re-
serve.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
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 advanced. The anti
trust constitutional amendment has a
defeat recorded against it. The Pacific
cable measure has passed the Senate,
and is awaiting final acL.on in the
House.
The exclusion of Brigham H. 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 Penn
sylvania, 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. 1nves-
LEGATIONS have been prolific, including
the inquiry into the Occur dAlene
mining riots in Idaho. the various in
quiries on polygamy growing out Of
the Roberts case, and more recently
the Senate investigation of the postal
and other irregularities in Cuba.
The total of appropriations cannot
yet be stated with exactness as five
bills are pending, but it is approXi-
mately S70O,0 100000 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 govern
ment in Samoa and awar-.ng to the
United States the island Of Tutuila,
with its valuable harbor of Pago, has
been ratified, while the commercial re-
ciprocity treaties with France and the4
British West Indian Islands and the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty concerning the
inter-ocean canal go over without ac-
ton.
NEW LAWS ON THE STATUTE
BOOKS.
Of the legislation actually accomp-
lished and now on the statute books,
the financial act is regarded as the
chief achievement Of the year. The
noteworthy feature of the debate on
this measure in the House was that
party lines were broken to some eX
tent, a number Of Democratic members
from the Eastern and New England
States joining with the majority in
passing it. In the Senate. also. party
lines were not entirely regarded. Sena-
tors Lindsay and Caffery voting for the
measure and Senator Chandler against
it. AS it became law by the Presi-
dents signature on March IA, it makes
specific the declaration Of the gold
standard, provides Treasury reserve
of Sl50, 900, coo, establishes a division
of issue and redemption Of the Treas
Vry. provides for the redemption and
reissue Of interest-bearing bonds OF
the United States. and make pew reg
ulauous as 10 national banks, their
circulation, establishment in small
communities, and the tax they pay.
The act also contains specific deClar
alton that its provisions ARE not in
tended to preclude the accomplishment
OF international bimetallism.'
Porto Rico legislation has been the
most fruitful theme Of controversy il
and out of Congress during the ses-
sion. The discussion first turned on the
revenue bill levying duty Of IS per
cent. of the Dingley rates on Porto
Riro poods The majority of the Ways