The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-25
INTO HISTORY.

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE)
of the act which caused much controversy
is the prohibition of the sale of beer, wine,
or any intoxicating liquors in any post ex-
change or canteen, transport or other MILL
tary property of the United States.
The fundamental legislation of the Con-
gress has been OF unusual Importance ana
has placed on the statute books the law
establishing the gold standard, providing
for the redemption and reissue of the inter-
est bearing bonded obligations OF the
United States, establishing a permanent
gold reserve of $150000,000. regulating ma
tional banks, and making numerous pro-
visions respecting circulation and the tax
on circulation. This measure was drafted
by leaders of both houses prior to the meet
ing of Congress and became a caucus
measure. After its passage some question
arose to the maintenance of the parity
of the metals under the terms of the bill.
AT the present sessions bills to rectify this
feature have been reported. specifically re-
quiring the exchange of gold for standard
silver dollars. No action mas been taken
on them, however.
REVENUE MEASURES.
The revenue legislation of the Congress
has been confined to an effort to reduce the
taxation imposed when the war with Spain
began. Prior to the opening of the present
session a comprehensive plan of revenue
reduction was framed by the Republican
members of the ways and means commit
tee This plan was introduced on the OPEN
ing of the session and passed before the
holidays. At aroused little party opposition.
as the minority supported the proposed re-
duction and urged also income tax. The
bill, as ii passed the House, reduced reve-
nue. about $40. 5000. the chief reductions
being on beer and in the removal of the
stamp taxes on kilograms, bank checks,
commercial papers, life insurance policies,
proprietary articles and many other arti-
Giles. In the Senate an entirely new substi-
tute was passed. This, however. retained
the main features of the House bill. but
materially changed the rates throughout,
making reductions on tobacco in various
forms and restoring the tax on bank
checks. This revenue reduction measure
is still in controversy between the two
houses, the conference committee not hav-
ing reached an agreement.
The act apportioning to the several States
their representation in the. House of Repre-
sentatives followed as a result of the
twelfth census. The census disclosed vari-
Gus increases in the States and new ba-
sis OF representation was prepared based
on the changed conditions of the popula-
ton. The contest on the bill was confined
10 the House of Representatives, where
prospect that some States would lose IN
representation AS finally enacted the to-
tai representation is fixed at $50 members,
or twenty-nine more than in the present
House.
Hazng at West Point received attention
at the present session, with the prospect
tnat strong restrictive Legislation Will be
enacted. Public attention was directed TO
the matter by the death of Oscar L. Booz
of Pennsylvania, q former cadet who had
suffered severely from hazing. An investi-
eating committee was appointed by the
House and an elaborate inquiry made The
report OF the investigation severely ar
raigned hazing and recommended stringent
laws for dismissal of cadets from West
Point for any brutal practices. The Senate
adopted anti-hazing provisions in the Mil
itary Academy appropriation bill. This
has aroused a counter movement. however
and Ii will remain for the last days of the
session TO determine just what restrictions
on haZing are TO be imposed
Government participation and aid in the
Louisiana purchase exposition seems as
sured during this Congress. AT the first
session a Senate amendment to the sundry
civil bill pledged the government TO appro-
pirate S5,O0C.000 when st. Louis had raised
SlO,OoO.OO0 The bill Is now pending and is
likely TO become a law, making the appro-
prfation S,0O0.O00 and providing general
plans for the exposition. The enterprise
Will have an international as well as a ma
tional scope, and will take on the dimen-
sions of the worlds exposition at Paris
and Chicago.
FREE HOMES.
Among the many other important general
measures enacted during this Congress are
those giving free homes on the public
lands acquired from the Indians and known
as the free homes act:' providing a sys-
tenn of extradition for insular possessions.