The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-02-28
IfOlh DullC .! UUNone0U.
Some Important Measures Have
Been Passed.
MUCH is LEFT TO BE DONE.

MUCH is LEFT TO BE DONE.
Nicaragua Canal Bill, ship Subsidy. ana
War Revenue Measuras Pendlng-Ap-
preparations OF the Present Congress
Amount to : Very Large sum.
Washington, D. c., FEB. 0.-The
record OF the Fifty-sixth Congress is
now practically completed, although a
few important measures are still in the
balance. Chief among the questions
growing out Of the war has been the
attitude of the government toward the
new insular possessions. While this
question is still open to some extent,
the present Congress has enacted a law
for a complete form of government for
Porto Rico-legislative, executive, and
judlcial-together with a comprehen-
sive plan of raising revenues for the
island. The status of the Philippines
has been discussed at much length, but
with little tangible result. Cuban leg
islation has been in allegiance pending
the action of the constitutional owen
ton of Cuba in framing the constitu-
ton Of the island. Other insular leg
1slation was enacting a law giving
Hawaii a complete form Of territorial
government with an insular Legisla-
ture and judiciary, a Governor chosen
from Hawaii, and a delegate in the
House of Representatives. A delegate
from Hawaii and a Porto R,can COM
missioner have been accredited to
Washington.
Large Sums Appropriated.
The appropriations of the present
Congress will reach an unusually large
figure, aggregating for the two sessions
approximately S1,457, 269,457. This is
about $110, 000. 900 less than the aggre-
gate appropriations of the preceding
Congress, which covered the period OF
the Spanish war, when the a~ppropria-
tions ran in a single year up to $685.
231,615. The totals for the last two
sessions of the present Congress, as
recently summarized by Chairman
Cannon OF the House Committee On
Appropriations, ds as follows:
Appropriations, first session, includ-
ing sinking fund, S710,15O,s62.
Appropriations, second session, .n-
Guiding sinking fund, $747.11S,595.
Record of Flfty-sixth Congress.
The work of the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress, summarized, is as follows:
Congressional representation IN
creased to 1856 on basis of twelfth cen
sus, increasing total membership by 20
members.
Army canteen abolished.
Financial system reorganized and
gold reserve fixed at $3.50, 600, Oc0.
Complete code of government given
Porto Rico.
Complete code Of government given
Hawaii.
Army of 100, 900 provided and reor-
ganized on modern lines.
Total appropriations for session APP
proximate 81, 457, 269, 455, or about $11O,-
100000 less than during preceding Cun-
gress.
Provision made for extradition to In
sular possessions.
Code Of criminal laws provided for
Alaska.
Legislation Not Completed.
-Four of the most important meas
ures before the present Congress
namely: the N%icaraguan Canal bill,
the shipping subsidy bill, the Pacific
cable bill, and the oleomargarine bill.
have occupied much time. although
their enactment is not probable at this
late day in the session. The canal bill
was passed in the House Of Repre-
sentatives and authorized expenditures
of $140,000,000 with a present appro-
priation Of $40, 900, 900. The measure
was favorably reported to the Senate,
but owing to the complications arising
oversthe Hay-Pauncefote treaty the
Senate has not considered the bill and
1t Is likely to be n Of the measures to
die with the Congress.
The ship subsidy bill has been an
active subject of controversy in the
present Congress, and particularly in
the Senate. The House has taken no
action on the bill pending the contest
in the Senate.
The Pacific cable bill passed the Sem
ate at the first session and has been
pending in the House since.
The oleomargarine bill was passed
by the House early in the present SEES
sion. Its chief feature is that placing
a tax of 10 cents per pound on cleo
margarine when colored in imitation
of butter. In the Senate its passage is
still in doubt.
The last week Of this Congress in the
House will be mainly occupied with
conference reports on the appropria-
ton bills and the other numerous
measures now being fought over by
the managers of the two Houses.
Steal Ss0,oOO Worth Of .Tlmber.
Menominee, Mich. Feb. 26.-S. r.
Gibbs, secretary Of the Kirby-C arpen-
ter Company, has returned from New
Orleans, where he looked over the tim
Der holdings of the company. He made
the startling discovery that trespassers