Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-25
A GOOD RECORD.
Vast Amount Of Work Done
by Present Congress.
Questions Growing from Late War
Settled to Some Extent.
In Actual Work Accomplished Record Is f.
cCr.ioaa'ly Large.

Warrington, Feb. .i.-Thc record Of
the seth tonga cs.; il now practically
completed and although few important
measures are Jtiil i'll the balance it is
possible to take Il survey Of the wide
range of Legislation considered ana en-
acted within the two sessions compris-
ing tie Congress now drawing TO a
close. 1t has been an eVentfui Cong
reSS in many respect and although
lacking the thrill and excitement Incl
dent TO the war with Spain yet ii in
heritcd much OF the work of recon
Struction and expense made necessary
these questions growing out of the war
has been the attitude Of the govern
mcnt toward our now insular posses
sions. While this question is still open
To some extent yet the present Con-
Srcss has passed upon one of its most
important phases before enacting law
for complete form OF government for
Porto Rico. legislative, executive and
judicial. together with comprehensive
plan of raising revenues for the island.
The status of the Philippines has been
an unfailing source Of debate III both
branches of Congress, particularly in
the Senate. Resolutions of criticism
and inquiry have been discussed at
much length but with little tangible
result. At the first session Senator
Spooner proposed a brief measure, con
firming the Presidents authority to
shape the affairs of the island until
Concr. s. had passed finally upon ques-
tons relating to their political status.
This proposition in an amended form
has NOW been grated upon the army
appropriation bill, although il is TO be
determined whether the provision VIII
he accepted by either or both Houses.
cuban legislation has been in abey-
ancc pending the action of the constr
tutinnal convention Of cuba in framing
the constitution Of the island. Another
achievement in insular leSis-
lation was that of enacting Il law Civ
ing Hawaii Il complete form OF t"rritor-
| iai government with an insular legiSla-
turc ana judiciary. governor. chosen
from Hawaii and a delegate in the
House of Representatives,. This law
passed at the first session. has become
SO far effective that the second session
saw the appearance Of 4 delegate from
a u.
fetal representative on the floor Of
Congress from one of the island pos
sessions of the United States. The
Porto Rican commissioner. Mr.. p"Tc-
tau. also has been accorded to Wash
ington under the law passed at the iirSt
session.
In actual work accomplished the 18th
Congress has al exceptionally large
10 ord. Aside from the Porto Rican ana
Hawaiian acts already mentioned this
Congress has passed a financial Law
establishing Il permanent gold reserve
Of about $l10.o00G eco; fixing the value
between cold ana silver and rc-organ-
ling bonds ana the banking systems
of the treasury; recognizing the
United States army on a basis of 100
go men. "-apportioning the represent
alton in Congress on the basis OF the
18th census. giving free homes q.
the Indian lands. providing for govern
mcnt participation in tn" Louisiana
purchase exposition of 1903. as well as
many other measures of Wild" general
Importance. Eut tho Congress comes
20 a close with some Of the most i'm
pottant measures before il still in
doubt, and quite likely To expire With
out final action. including the Nicara
qua canal bill. the shipping subsidy
bill tie Pacific cable hill and the pleo-
margarine bill. In the fate Of some of
these measures is very much in doubt
out at this late day in the session the
chances are decidedly against them.
in the Senate the death of Vice Pres
dent Hobart made the duties Of pre-
~.
volvc upon Senator Frye Of Maine. the
President pro tcmpore. His ability as
a parliamentarian had beccn recogniz-
ed in his selection as President pro
tcmpore. and during this Congress he
has presided over the deliberations of
the Senate in q most acceptable man
ner. The House during this session of
Congress has been under an entirely
new administration. With the retire
ment of ex-Speaker Reed a spirited
contest for the spcakership was prom
iScd. but before Congress convened
the candida ties had withdrawn one by
one in favor of Gen. David b. Hender-
son Of Iowa. and he became the unani-
nous choice Of the Republican caucus.
speaker Henderson has been one of the
recognized leaders of the Republican
side and was very popular before he
assumed the Savel. but had distin-
Cuished himself more as debater
than as par!iamentarian. The great
success Of his administration there
fore, has been the more surprising and
pronounced. Mr.. Payne of New York,
who became chairman of the ways and
means committee upon the death OF
TIE late Repre- sentative Dingley Of
Continued on page s.