The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-02-25
[ He r
Work Done by the Fifty.Sixth Con.
gress at Both lis Sessions.
THE IMPORTANT BILLS
Which Were Enacted Into Law Were
Exceptionally Numerous.
THE NEW INSULAR POSSESSIONS |
% Given Much Attention, but the
Question Is Still an Open One.
APPROPRIATIONS WERE VERY LARGE
Aggregate Will Be Very Near Billion
and Hall DolIars-The Flnan-
cial LEGISLATION.
THE NEW INSULAR POSSESSIONS
20 Given Much Attention, but the
Question Is Still an Open One.
APPROPRIATIONS WERE VERY LARGE
Aggregate Will Be Very Near a Billion
and Hall Dollars-The Finan-
cial LEGISLATION.

lne flnly-slSth congress Is now practically
completed, and although few important
measures arc still in the balance 1t is
possible to take survey of the wide range
OF legislation within the two sessions. Chief
among the questions growing out of the
spanish war has been the attitude of the
government toward our new "lnsular pos
sessions While this question is still open
to some extent, yet the present congress
has passed upon one OF Its most important
phases by cnacting law for complete
form of government for Porto Rico, legis-
lative and executive and judicial, together
with a comprehensive plan for raising reve-
MUGS for the island.
The status of the Philippines has been an
unfalllng course of debate in both branches
Of congress. particularly in the senate Al
the first session Senator Spooner proposed
brief measure conforming the presidents
authority to shape the affairs of the Islands
until congress had passed finally upon ques
tionS relating to their political status This
proposition In an amended form has now
boon offered as an amendment to the army
appropriation bill.
An important achievement In lnsular leg
lslation was the law giving Hawaii a cont
plctc form of territorial government, with
an insular legislature and judiciary; a gov.
erncr, chosen from Hawaii and delegate
in the house of representatives. This law,
passed at the first session, has been so far
effective that the second session saw the
anpearancc of the delegate from Hawaii.
Mr.. Wilcox. who is the first Official rep
resentatiye on tho floor of congress from
one of the island possessions of the United
States
(. A Porto Rico commissioner. Mr.. Degatau,
has also been accredited to Washington
under the law passed at the first session.
l., actnal work accomplished the Fifty
SIXTH congress has an exceptionally large
record. II has passed financial law es-
tohI,sbinr permanent gold reserve of
obont s15o 600 600 fixing the ratio between
rold and silver and reorranizlng the bond.
I'M, and hnnlinp systems Of tae tereasnry.
rcorconiziny thc United States army ON n
los,s Of 100 600 mon. reonportioning the
concentration in congress ON the bnsls OF
tbo twelfth census: giving free homes
on Indian lands proyidin. for government
nart,cipation In the Louisiana purchase ex-
position in 1903 But some Of the most I'm.
nortont measures are still in doubt and
ouife likely to expire without 6nal action.
including the Nicaragua canal bills; the
shipping subsidy BILL the Pacific cable bill
and the olcomargarlne bill.
In the senate the death of Vice Presi-
dent Hobart made the duties of presiding
Officer devolve upon Senator Frye OF Maine,
the president pro TEN.
That the house had to elect new speak
er meant much for Of late years the power
In the hands Of the speaker and MS lnnu-
enc, on legislation have grown steadily
greater General David Is. Hendersons re-
election as speaker Of the next congress is
n foregone conclusion.
Tho approprlatlons Of the present con-
gress will aggregate 81, 457 269,45I. This is
about $40 coo 900 less than the aggregate
annrorrt,tons of the preceding congress-
I'm I,,y,aver. covered the period 6f the
- ,,ho, the annropriatiSns ran
I'll voor nm to s9e3. 2srGE The
~ Se~e ,ast tvo sessions Of tbe pres.
lo'''N' ~ 'l- .a.ont,y sp,,n ir,zcd nv
cnt eoNs'eSs' 80 40 borsa I,n,,nIttee
Nh"'i il'ui N 49, ore no follow4
On app ,,,,d,,, eintino f,nn
fHEt ev9S''"'
p o'"oo'oo- ,.o,,,d,,c eta,tn, frna
eeeohu Sess'VN'
s't''lio''''
The act reorganlzing the army is propupiS
the most Important piece OF genera iesiS
lation enacted duurg the present congress-
Instead Of planning for tfnporary eN'