The Yale expositor., 1901-03-01
WORK DONE BY CONGRESS.
Some important Measures Have
Been Passed.
MUCH Is LEFT TO BE DONE.
Nicaragua Canal Bill, Ship Subsidy, and
War Revenue Measures Pending-Ap-
preparations OF the Present Congress
Amoant to n Very Large Sum.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 26.-The
record OF the Fifty-sixth Congress is
now practically completed, although a
few important measures are still in the
balance. Chief among the questions
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
judicial-tegether with comprehen-
sive plan of raising revenues for the
island. The status of the Philippines
has been discussed at much length, but
with little tangible result. Cuban leg
islation has been in allegiance pending
the action Of the constitutional conven-
ton of Cuba in framing the constitu-
ton OF the island. Other insular leg
islation was enacting a law giving
Hawaii a complete form Of territorial
government with an insular Legisla-
ture and judiciary, Governor chosen
from Hawaii. and delegate in the
House of Representatives. A delegate
from Hawaii and a Porto Rican com
missioner have been accredited to
Washington.
Large Sums Appropriated.
The appropriations of the present
Congress will reach an unusually large
figure, aggregating for the two sessions
approximately $1,457, 269,457. This is
about S110, 100000 less than the aggre-
gate appropriations Of the preceding
Congress, which covered the period of
the Spanish war. when the appropria-
tions ran In single year up to 1898.
231,615. The totals for the last two
sessions of the present Congress, as
recently summarized by Chairman
Cannon Of the House Committee on
Appropriations, Is as follows:
Appropriations, first session, includ-
ing sinking fund, $710,151,862.
Appropriations, second session, in
GLIDING sinking fund, STAT, 1885.
Record Of Fifty-si1th Congress.
The work of the Fifty-sixth Con-
gress, summarized, is as follows:
Congressional representation in
creased to 1856 on basis of twelfth CEN
sus, increasing total membership by 29
members.
Army canteen abolished.
Financial system reorganized and
gold reserve fixed at $150,000,000.
Complete code of government given
Porto Rico.
Complete code of government given
Hawaii.
Army of 1000 provided and reor-
ganized on modern lines.
Total appropriations for session ap.
proximate 81, 457, 269 ass, or about $11O,.
000,0 900 less than during preceding Con
gress.
Provision made for extradition to in.
sular possessions.
Code of criminal laws provided fol
Alaska.
Lssisia,Is. Not Completed.
Four of the most important meas
ures before the present Congress
namely: the Nicaraguan Canal bill
the shipping subsidy bill, the Pacific
cable bill, and the oleOmargarine bill
have occupied much time, although
their enactment Is not probable at this
late day in the session. The canal bill
was passed in the House Of Repre-.
sentatives and authorized expenditures
Of $40, 900, 0C0, with present appro.
priation of $10,000,000. The measure
was favorably reported to the Senate
but owing to the complications arising
over the Hay-Pauncefote treaty the
Senate has not considered the bill anG
it is likely to be one of the measures tc
die with the Congress.
The ship subsidy bill has been ar
active subject OF controversy in the
present Congress, and particularly In
the Senate. The House has taken ne
action on the bill pending the contest
in the Senate.
The Pacific cable bill passed the Sen.
ate at the first session and has beer
pending in the House since.
The oleomargarine bill was passed
by the House early in the present SEES
sion. It's chief feature is that placing
a tax of 10 cents per pound on cleo
margarine when colored in imitation
of butter. In the Senate its passage il
still in doubt.
The last week of this Congress in the
House will be mainly occupied will
conference reports on the appropria
ton bills and the other numerou.
measures now being fought over by
the managers of the two Houses.