Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-07


more than double the circulation of ali
2 other Ottumwa papers combined.
THE FIFTY-sIXTH CONGRESS.
The work Of the ffty-sixth congress
Is practically completed. If the an
nounced program is carried out it will
adjourn today, leaving behind it rec
ord for legislation unsurpassed not
only as to the amount but as to i'm
portance and value to the country. It
has been a busy congress, the busiest,
according to veteran officials, in many
years. In some respects the work has
{ been less exciting than that of the pre-
sceding congress, which covered the dra-
matte period when war was declared
against Spain and also the period of re-
construction and treaty-making with
Spain following the successful close of
the war. But in work actually accom-
plished and started toward accomplish
ment the record of the present session
4 stands well in comparison with the
most energetic congresses.
II $50
The country's new territorial posses
sions have received much attention, and
while there has been no definite action
as to the Philippines or Cuba, form
OF government and means of raising
revenue has been provided for Porto
Rico and comprehensive territorial
form Of government has been given to
Hawaii.
The financial act has made impor-
tant changes in the laws relating to
the parity Of metals, the bonded in
s debtedness, national banks and the Sc
curity OF the treasury by a gold re-
serve. The Nicaraguan canal bill has
passed the house and is on the calen-
dar Of the senate ready for attention
when congress reconvenes. The anti
trust bill is similarly advanced; the an
THRUST constitutional amendment has
! g defeat recorded against it. The Pa
cific cable measure has passed the SEN
! Ute and is awaiting final action in the
house.
The exclusion of Brigham 81. Roberts
from seat in the house because of his
polygamous status, the refusal of the
senate to admit Mr.. Quay on the APP
pointment of the governor of Penn
sylvania, and the sensational charges,
Investigation and developments in the
senate in the case of Mr.. Clark of Mon
tana have added some exciting person.
al phases to the session.
Investigations have been prolific, in
Guiding the inquiry into the Couer d
Alene mining riots in Idaho, the vari-
GUS inquiries on polygamy growing out
I of the Roberts case and more recently
4 the senate investigation of the postal
and other irregularities in Cuba.
The total appropriations cannot yet
be stated with exactness, as five bills
are pending, but it is Approximately
A $700,000,0O0 for the session.
The senate in executive session has
been occupied to a considerable extent
with important treaties. OF these the
treaties with Great Britain and Ger
many closing the tripartite government
4 In Samoa and awarding to the United
States the Island Of Tutuila, with it's
valuable harbor of Pango-Pango, have
been ratified, while the commercial re-
ciprocity treaties with France and the
British West Indian Islands and the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty concerning the
inter-oceanic canal cannot go over
without action.
OF the legislation actually accom-
plished and now on the statute books
the financial act is regarded as the chief
achievement of the year. The note
worthy feature of the debate on this
measure in the house was that party
lines were broken to some extent, a
3 number of democratic members from
the eastern and New England
states joining with the major
ity in passing it. In the sem
ate also party lines were not entirely
regarded, Senators Lindsay and Caff-
reg voting for the measure and Mr..
Chandler against it.
As it became a law by the president's
signature March IA, it makes specific
the declaration of the gold standard,
provides treasury reserve of $780,
100000, establishes division of
issue and redemption of the treasury,
provides for the redemption and reis-
sue OF interest bearing bonds of the
United States, and makes new regu-
! lations as to National banks, their cir
culation, establishment in small COM