The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-03-12
WORK OF THE F1FTY-s1xrH CONGRESS
A Review of Its Most Important Acts-Finan-
cial and Army neutrality-suspicious.
Famous Bills That Go Over.

AAO H116y-OlA6u Will 6OOay
complete it's labOrs. In actual work
accomplished it has an exceptionally
large record. Aside from the Porto
Rican and Hawaiian acts this Con-
gress has passed a financial law estab-
fishing a permanent gold reserve of
about $3.50, 900, 900, fixing the ratio
between gold and silver, and re-or-
ganizing the bonding and banking
systems of the Treasury ; re-organiz-
ing the United States army on a
basis of 100, 900 men re-apportion-
ing the representation in Congress
on the basis of the twelfth census !;
giving E'free homes" on the Indian
lands providingfor government par
ticipatiOn in the Louisiana Purchase
Exposition in 1908, as we'll as many
other measures of wide general i'm
pOrtance.
The appropriations of the present
Congress will aggregate for the two
sessions approximately 81, 457, 1885,
457. This is about $11O, OOO, 900 less
than for the preceding Congress
which, however, covered the period
Of the Spanish war when the appro-
priations ran into a single year up
to 1898, 231, 615. The totals for the
present Congress, as recently sum-
married by Chairman Cannon, of
the House committee appropriations,
follow: Appropriations, first ses-
sion, including sinking fund, $780,
15O,862. Appropriations, second ses-
sion, including sinking fund, $747,-
118, 500.
The act recognizing the army
and placing the military establish
ments on a permanent basis probably
is the most important piece of gen.
eral legislation enacted during the
present session, and one of the most
important measures placed on the
statute books in recent years.
1t was not until February 2, that
the measure became effective as law.
AS finally enacted it provides a stand
ing army, maximum 100000 and
minimum IS, 600, to consist of Is regi-
ments of cavalry, a corps of artil-
lery, 80 regiments infantry, one lieu
tenant general, six major generals,
Is brigadier generals, and the usual
staff corps. The old ~regimental or
g~anization of the artillery is discon-
tinued. Authority is given the Presi-
dent to enlist natives of the Philip
pines when necessity requires, not
to exceed $4,000. A provisional
regiment of Porto Ricans also is pro-
vided. A feature of the act which
caused much controversy is the pro-
hibitiOn of the sale of beer, wine, or
any Intoxicating liquors in the post
exchange Or canteen, transport or
other military property of the United
States.
The financial legislation has placed
on the statute books the law estab-
fishing the gold standard, providing
for the redemption and reissue of
the interest bearing bonded Obliga-
tions of the United States, establish
ing a permanent gold reserve of
$3.50, 900, 900, regulating national
banks, and making numerous pro
visions respecting circulation and
the tax on circulation.
A bill was also passed to extend
the charters of national banks for
another period of twenty years after
1902, when the present extension ex
pires.
The revenue legislation of the Con
gress has been confined to an effort
to reduce the taxation imposed when
the war with Spain began. The bill
as passed reduces the revenue about
$40, 900, 900, the chief reductions be
ing on beer, tobacco and in the re
moval of the stamp taxes on bank
checks, kilograms, commercial
papers, life insurance policies, pro
prietary medicines and many other
articles.
The act apportioning to the several
States their representation in the
House of Representatives followed
a S a result of the twelfth ensus 1t
fixes at 1856 members, an increase
of 20.
Charges of treason we're made
against Delegate Wilcox, of Hawaii,
but the Delegate was upheld in the
right to his seat, on the ground that
the charges referred to action prior
to the Hawaiian territorial act. AT