Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1901-02-26
THE BILLS PASSED.
The Most Important Deals With the
Spanish War Possessions, Finance
aud the New Army some
Needed Bills Pending.

uan, growing out ~ the Spanish war
m, ls,cn the attitude " the government
tovuud oar u,uhr possessions Whuc
chm, question b, >ril opn 90 soinc cN.
tent. cJngu.,, has cuagicd a law tw "a
comp,ctc f'rm 'tTNSyumcut Tor Puerto
RiN,. legislative. 30. O. and Judicial
tosth,r with a c,r,, 80 Y plan of
uiaus r,rnucs ten island The
status az che rhih Anue, has t'cn am
uuiai,ug ,our-c ~ de,ate iu both
bu,nchcs of congress, particularly in the
senate
An important achievement IN insuhr
legislation WI, the law giving Hawaii
n complete form ~ territorial govern
meut with an in,ulnr Legislature. a lu
dietary. governor. chosen from Tia
wall. and delegate IN the house of rep.
rcscntatives. This law passed at the
first session has hccu so far effective
that the second session saw the appear
ance of the delegate from Hawaii, MIR.
Wilcox. who is the first official repre-
sentative ON the floor Of congress from
one u the island possessions Of the
United States, \ Puerto Rican com.
mission has also been accredited to
Washington under the law passed at
this session.
In actual work accomplished the
Fifty.sixth congress has an exception
ally large record II has passed a inan.
cial law, establishing permanent gold
reserve Of about $4,000. 900, fixing the
ratio between gold and silver, and rcor.
gnnizing the bonding and banking sys.
TENS Of the treasury; recognizing the
United States army on a basis ~ lO0,
600 men; rcapportioning the represen.
tati0n In congress un the basis Of the
, twelfth census which provides for %
more members; giving free homes ON
y the Indian lands, providing FOR govern.
ment participation in the Louisiana
! purchase in 1903.
u The appropriations Of the present
congress will aggregate sl,i5i,2 300. $50.
This Is about SllO.OOO,OO0 less than the
aggregate appropriations Of the proceed.
= ing congres, which, however, covered
9 the period Of the Spanish war when
b the appropriations ran i'm a single year
J. up 20 SSg3, 23l6lj
The reorganization Of the army Is
\ probably the most important piece Of
general legislation during the present
j. congress, Instead Of planning for "a
Temporary extension of the volunteer
n system, Secretary Root devised a meas.
% urc for a complete reorganization ~ the
army ON modern military lines, with "a
- maximum force Of 100000 men and "A
5 minimum Of about 5000.
Four important measures, the Nicarl.
guam canal bill, the pacihc cable bill.
! the oleumarmrine and the shipping
p subsidy bills are not likely 20 pass this
, congress The canal bill which passed
.r the house authorized the expenditures
of $40, 900, 600 witha present appropria-
4 ton Of 100000. The measure was
. fayorably reported 20 the senate, but
, owing 10 the complications arising over
p the Hay Pauncefote treaty the senate
has not considered the bill and It d.
likely 20 be one Of the measures 70 die
with congress
The shipping subsidy bill has been an
active subject Of controversy in the
present congress and particularly IN M,
contest has been long and bitter tn,
house has taken mo- action on the bill
pending the contest In the senate
The pacidcca cable bill passed the senate
at the first session and has been pending
In the house since II provides for ,
cable 10 Hawaii aud the Philippines nm
der government management The bill
a. reported "a the house was favorabl,
20 private construction Of the cable. Tn,
house has failed 20 act, however, an,
the prospect, are that the measure vii
fail.
The oleomarmrine bill which wa
passed by the house places a tax Of u
cents % pound on olcomarmrino whcl
colorcd IN imitation ofbuttcr. However
the bin ha. met sharp opposition in th
senate.
Quite q number Of other measures ID
general legislation more or les. impol
tant will expire with the end Of On
congress, after having secured % ccrtu
degree Of consideration These includ
the joint resolution proposing o c1u-
muoual amendment for the election
i United State, senators by rho vote
the people. which was passed Ia al
house. but has remained Enacted upu
bv the senate; bill to establish the ID
mrtmont OF commerce and iudustr,
i authorizing the president % appoint
4 commission to study the commercial an
4 Industrial conditions of China and il
] pan. aud hill 20 regulate trusts ar
4 other organizations in restraint of trad