Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-03-04

Congressional representation increas-
ed to 1856, increasing total member
ship by 20 members.
Army canteen abolished.
Financial system reorganized and gold
reserve fixed at $150,000,0OO.
Code of government given Porto Rico.
Code of government given Hawaii.
Army of 100000 provided.
Appropriations for session approx
mate 81, 457 ,269, 455.
Provision for extradition to insular
possessions.
Code of criminal laws for Alaska.
The record of the fifty-sixth congress
is now practically completed, although
a few important measures are still IN
the balance Chief among the ques-
lions 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 law for
a complete form Of government for
Porto Rico-legislative executive, and
iudicial-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 legislation has been IN
allowance pending the action of the
constitutional convention of Cuba in
framing the constitution of the island.
Other insular legislation was enacting
a law giving Hawaii a complete form
of territorial government with an in
sular legislature and judiciary, a gov
ernor chosen from Hawaii, and dele
gate in the house of representatives.
A delegate from Hawaii and Porto
Rican commissioner have been ac-
credited to Washington.
In the senate the death Of Vice
President Hobart made the duties OF
presiding officer of the upper house de-
volve upon Senator Frye of Maine, the
president pro tempore. The house
during this congress has been under
an entirely new administration. With
the retirement of ex-Speaker Reed
the majority selected a new speaker
in General David B. Henderson of
Iowa. Mr.. Payne of New York be-
came chairman of the ways and means
committee, upon the death of the late
Representative Dingley of Maine, and
succeeded to the floor leadership Of
the majority, and Mr.. Richardson of
Tennessee became floor leader of the
minority, succeeding Mr.. Bailey OF
Texas.
Sums Appropriated.
The appropriations will reach an I'M
usually large figure, aggregating for
the two sessions approximately $1,457,-
269,455. This is about $110,000,000
less than the aggregate appropriations
of the preceding congress, which COW
cred the period of the Spanish war,
when the appropriations ran in a
single year up to $685., 2S1, 615. The
totals for the last two sessions of the
present congress, as recently sum-
married. by Chairman Cannon of the
house committee on appropriations, is
as follows:
Appropriations, first session, includ-
Ing sinking fund, $710,150,862.
Appropriations, second session, in
Guiding sinking fund, STAT 1885.
Our New Army.
An act recognizing the army and
placing the military establishment on
q permanent basis was passed during
the present session. The temporary
military Establishment, being limited in
operation until July 1 next, made it
imperative to supply military organ
iEation to take it's place. Secretary
Root devised a measure for complete
reorganization of the army on modern
military lines, with maximum force
of 100000 men and a minimum of
about 5000. The house passed the
bill before the holidays, but it was not
until Feb. that the measure became
effective as law.
AS finally enacted it provides
standing army, to consist of fifteen
regiments of cavalry a corps of artil-
Berry, thirty regiments of infantry, one
lieutenant general, six major generals,
fifteen brigadier generals, and the
usual staff corps. The old regimental
organization of the artillery is dis
continued. Authority is given the
president to enlist natives of the
Philippines when necessity requires,
Aot to exceed 10000 men. A provi-
sional regiment of Porto Ricans also is
provided.
a feature of the act which caused
much controversy is the prohibition of
the sale of beer, wine, or any intoxi-
eating liquors in any post, exchange,
or canteen, transport or other mill
tary property of the United States.
Financial Legislation.
the financial legislation has placed
on the statute books the law estab-
fishing the gold standard providing
for the redemption and reissue of the
Understanding bonded obligations of
the United States, establishing per-