Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-02-28
WORK OF CONGRESS.
REVIEW OF IMPORTANT Legs.
l.ATlON ENACTED.
appropriations Reach an Unusually
Large I4gure, Asgregating for the
Two Sessions Approximately $I, 457,-
269,457. lin portant NJ easures Passed.

Aside from the Porto Rican and Ha.
Wailan acts the Fifty-sixth Congress has
passed financial law establishing per-
manent gold reserve of about $15O,0OO,-
oOO, liking the ratio between gold and
silver and recognizing the bonding and
the banking systems of the treasury; re-
organizing the United States army on
basis Of 100000 men; reapportioning the
representation i'll Congress on the basis
OF the twelfth census; giving free
homes" ON the Indian lands; providing
for government participation in the
Louisiana purchase exposition in 1908, as
well as many other measures. But the
Congress closed withouta final action on
the Nicaraguan canal bill, the shipping
subsidy bill, the Pacific cable bill and
the oleomargarine bill.
The appropriations reach an unusually
large figure, aggregating for the two SEES
sions approximately 81, 457 ,2G9, 457. This
iSNabout $11O, 100000 less than the aggre-
gate appropriations of the preceding Con-
gress, which, however, covered the period
of the Spanish war; when the appropria-
tions ran in a single year up to 1898, 231,-
615. The totals for the last two sessions,
as summarized by Chairman Cannon of
the House committee on appropriations,
is as follows: Appropriations, first ses-
sion, including sinking fund, $710, $780,
S62: appropriations, second session, in
Guiding sinking fund, $747, lis, 500.
The act reorganizing the army and
placing the military establishment on a
permanent basis probably is the most i'm
portant piece of general legislation en-
no of
planning for a temporary extension of
the volunteer system, Secretary Root de-
vised a measure for a complete reorgan-
iZation of the army on modern military
lines, with a maximum force Of 100000
men and a minimum of about $4,000. AS
finally enacted the army bill provides
standing army to consist of fifteen regi
ments of cavalry, a corps OF artillery,
thirty regiments OF infantry, one lleuten-
ant general, six major generals, fifteen
brigadier generals and the usual staff
corps. The old regimental organization
of the artillery is discontinued. Author
ity is given the President to enlist ma
tives of the Philippines, when necessity
requires, not to- exceed $4,000 men.
provisional regiment of Porto Ricans also
is provided A feature of the act is the
prohibition of the sale of beer, wine OF
any intoxicating liquors in any post, ex-
change canteen or transport.
The financial legislation has been OF
unusual Importance, and has placed ON
the statute books the law establishing
the gold standard, providing for the re-
demption and reissue OF the interest
bearing bonded obligations of the United
States, establishing a permanent gold re-
serve Of 150,000,OOO, regulating national
banks and making numerous provisions
respecting circulation and the tax on cir
culation. This measure was drafted Dy
leaders of both houses prior to the meet
ing of Congress and became caucus
measure. After it's passage some ques-
ton arose as to the maintenance OF the
parity of the metals under the terms Oh
the BILL Bills to rectify this feature nave
been reported, specifically requiring the
exchange of gold for standard silver dol
lars. No action has been taken on them,
however.
The revenue legislation of the Congress
has been confined to an effort TO reduce
the taxation imposed when the war WIN
Spain began.
The act appropriating to the seVefal
States their representation IN the House
of REPRESENTATIVE 1OlI0Wcu dts d Ieotie
of the twelfth census. The census dis
closed various increases in the States
and new basis of representation was
prepared based on the changed condition
of the population. AS finally enacted the
total representation is fixed at $50 mem
hers, or twenty more than III the
present House
Hazing at West Point received atten-
ton, with the prospect that strong re-
strictive legislation will be enacted. Inc
Senate adopted anti-hazing provisions III
the military academy appropriation DILL
hit it remained for the last days OF the
session to determine just what restflc-
tions on hazing are to be imposed.
Besides the antitrust bill, passed py
the House and not acted upon by tue
senate. a resolution proposing constltu-
tional amendment giving Congress more
mower to deal with trusts was defeateu
in the House. Another measure defeated
in the branch where it originated was
that defining the power of Injunction ana
limiting the authority of the federai
courts to issue this process.