Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-03-07

Congressional representation iucreas,
ed to $50, increasing total member
ship by - members.
Army Cauteen abolished,
Financial system reorgani9ed and gold
reserve fixed at $l5O,0O0,O00
Code Of government given Porto Rico,
Code of government given Hawaii.
Army of 100000 provided.
Appropriations for session approx
mate $I457 269,455,
Provision for eNtradition to insular
possessions.
Code OF criminal laws FOR Alaska,
The record of the tifty.sixth congress
Is now practically completed, although
y few important measures are sttN in
the balance. Chief among the ques-
lions growing out of the war has been
the attitude OF the government toward
the new insular possessions. While this
question is still open to some extent, the
present congress has enacted law for
a complete form of government for
Porto Rico--legislative, executive, and
together with a comprehen-
sive plan of raising revenues Tor the
island.
The status of the Philippines has
been discussed at much length, but
with little tangible result,
Cuban legislation has been in
allegiance pending the action of the
constitutional convention of Cuba in
framing the constitution of the island,
Other nsular legislation was enacting
a law giving Hawaii complete form
of territorial government with an In.
sular legislature and judiciary, a gov
ernor chosen from Hawaii, and dele.
gate in the house of representatives.
A delegate from Hawaii and a Porto
aican commissioner have been ac-
credited to Washington,
In the senate the death Of Vice
President Hobart made the duties of
presiding officer of the upper house dc.
volye upon Senator Frye of Maine the
president pro tempore. The house
during this congress has been under
an entirely new administration With
the retirement of eX-Speaker Reed
the majority selected a new speaker
in General David b. Henderson of
Iowa. Mr. Payne of New York be-
| came chairman of the ways and means
committee, upon the death of the late
Representative Dingley of Maine, and
succeeded to the floor leadership Of
the majority, and MIR. Richardson of
Tennessee became floor leader of the
minority, succeeding Mr.. Bailey Of
Texas.
Sums Appropriated.
The appropriations Will roach an UNI
usually large figure, aggregating for
the two sessions approximately $1,457,.
269 ass This is about $1l0,000,000
less than the aggregate appropriations
of the preceding congress. which GOV.
cred the perio of the Spanish war.
when the appropriations ran in a
single year up to 1898 ,231,6l5. The
totals for the last two sessions OF the
present congress, as recently sum
house committee on appropriations, Is
as follows
Appropriations, first session, includ-
Ing sinking fund, $710150,SG2
Appropriations, second session. in
Guiding sinking fund $747, 1856
Our New Army.
! An act reorganizing the army and
placing the military establishment on
a permanent basis was passed during
the present session. The temporary
military Establishment, being limited In
ororation until July / next, made 1t
imperative to supply a military organ.
-ation to take its place Secretary
! Root devised a measure for a complete
reorganization Of the army on modern
| military lines, with a maximum force
/ Of 100000 men and a minimum OF
about $4,000 The house passed the
/ bill before the holidays, but it was not
until Feb. 2 that the measure became
| effective as law.
Az finally enacted 1t provides a
standing army, to consist OF fifteen
.egments Of cavalry, a corps OF artll.
cry, thirty regiments Of infantry, one
/ lieutenant general, six major generals,
/ fifteen brigadier generals, and the
usual staff corps. The old regimental
organization Of the artillery is dis
continued. Authority is given the
president TO enlist natives OF the
| Philippines when necessity requires,
Iot to exceed 10000 men. A proyi.
sional regiment Of Porto Ricans also is
! provided
4 feature Of the act which caused
mach controversy is the prohibition OF
the sale Of beer, wine, or any intoxl.
Clting liquors in any post. exchange,
Or canteen, transport or other mill.
tary property Of the United States.
Financial Legislation.
The financial legislation has placed
! On tho statute books the law estab-
fishing the gold standard providing
for the redemption and reissue Of the
/ .nterestbearing bonded obligations or