Willmar tribune., 1901-03-06
WORK or CONGRESS.
Brief Resume Of the Important Leg.
1siatlon Enacted.
The Total Appropriations Amount to
$1.45' PCS, ,457 Gold Standard
Fixed by Law Congress
s1onal ReapportiOnment.

| ~S ~o$"A ApQf0Qf1atlOAS amount to
| $1,45s ,200, ,457 - Gold Standard
| Fixed by Law - Congress
| sional Reapportionment.
| washington, Feb. 26.-The record
OF the Fifty-sixth congress is now
practically completed, and although
lew Important measures are still
IN the balance it is possible to take
survey OF the wide range of legisla-
| ton considered and enacted within
| the two sessions.
Aside from the Porto Rican and
hawaiian acts this congress has
passed financial law establishing a
permanent gold reserve of about
$3.50 100000, fixing the ratio between
gold and silver; and reorganizing the
bonding and the banking systems of
the treasury; reorganizing the Unit
ed States army on basis of 100000
men; reapportioning the representa-
ton in congress on the basis of the
twelfth. census; giving free homes
on the Indian lands; providing for
government participa ton in the Lou
ls'ana purchase exposition in 1908, as
well as many other measures. But
the congress draws to a close without
final action on the Nicaraguan canal
bill, the shipping subsidy bill, the Pa
cific cable bill and the oleomargarine
bill.
Appropriations.
The appropria tions of the present
congress will reach an unusually
large figure, aggregating for the two
sessions approximately $1,457, 1863, ,457
This is about $110,0OO,OOO less than
the aggregate appropriations of the
preceding congress, which, however,
covered the period of the Spanish
war, when the appropriations ran in
single year up to $s93,231, ,615. The
totals for the last two sessions, as
summarized by Chairman Cannon, of
the house committee on appropria-
tions, is as follows: Appropriations,
first session, including the sinking
fund, $710,150,s62; appropriations,
second session, including sinking
fund, $747,11s,595.
Army Reorganization.
The act reorganizing the army and
placing the military esta ablishment on
permanent basis probably is the
most important piece of general leg
islation enacted during the present
session. Instead of planning for
temporary extension of the volunteer
system, Secretary Root devised
measure for a complete reorganiza-
tion OF the army on modern military
lines, with maximum force of 1OO,-
600 men and a minimum of about 63,-
600. AS finally enacted the army bill
provides a standing army to consist
of IS regiments of cavalry, a corps of
artillery, 80 regiments of infantry,
one lieutenant general, six major gen
erals, IS brigadier generals and the
usual staff corps. Tne old regimental
organization of the artillery is dis
continued. Authority is given the
president to enlist natives of the
Philippines, when necessity requires,
| not to exceed $4,000 men. A provi-
sional regiment of Porto Ricans also
is provided. A. feature of the act is
the prohibition of the sale of beer,
wine or any intoxica ting liquors in
any post exchange, canteen or trans
port.
Gold Standard Fixed.
The financial legislation has been
of unusual Importance and has placed
| on the statute books the law estab-
fishing the gold standard, providing
for the redemption and reissue of the
interest-bearing bonded obligations
of the United States, establishing
permanent gold reserve of $15O,OOO,-
900, regulating national banks and
making numerous provisions respect
ing circulation and the tax on circu-
lation. This measure was drafted by
leaders of both houses prior to the
meeting of congress and became a
caucus measure. After it's passage
some question arose as to the main
tenance of the parity of the metals
under the terms of the bill. At the
present session bills to rectify this
feature have been reported, specifical-
ly requiring the exchange of gold
for standard silver dollars. No ac-
tion has been taken on them, how
ever.
HeappOrt1Onm nment.
The act apportioning to the several
states their representation in the
house of representatives followed as
a result of the twelfth census. The
census disclosed various increases in
the states, and a new basis of repre-
sentation was prepared based on the
changed condition of the population.
AS finally enacted the total repre-
sentation is fixed at 3S6 members, or
20 more than in the present house.
Hazing at West Point received at
tention, with the prospect that
strong restrictive legislation will be
enacted. The senate adopted anti
hazing provisions in the military
academy appropriation bill, but it
will remain for the last days of the
session to determine just what re-
strictions on hazing are to be i'm
posed.
Defeat Anti-Trust Bills.
Besides the antitrust bill, passed
by the house and not acted upon by
the senate, resolution proposing a
constitutional amendment giving con-
gress more power to deal with trusts
WAS 6ofaafo1 in tho hO,,So Ano+hor