The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1901-03-02
WHAT THE PRESENT
CONGRESS- HAS DONE
Wide Range Of Legislation consio
cred ard Enacted in ses-
sions Of the 56th
IMPORTANT MEASURES ARE PASSED.
Porto Rican and Hawaiian Acts, a Tlnan.
cial Law, Keapportionmcnt und Army
Reorganization Mensures Some
OF the Achievements.

#-r ~ s"S
Washington, Feb. 25.-The record OF
the Fifty-sixth congress is now prac-
tically completed, and although a few
Important measures are still in the bal
ance, it is possible to tai a survey of
the wide range of legislation considered
and enacted within the two sessions
comprising the congress now drawing
to a close. 1t has been an evertful con-
gress in many respects. II although
lacking the thrill and excitement Incl
dent to the period of the wal with Spain
yet it inherited much of the work of
reconstruction and expense mad nee
essary by the events of that a
Chief among these questions growing
out of the war, has been the attitude
of the government toward Our new IN
sular possessions. While the question Is
still open to some extent, yet the pres
ent ongres has passed upon one of
its most important phases by enactinS
Il law for a complete form of govern
ment for Porto Rico-legislative, eNecu-
tive Inc judicial--tosether with a COM
prehensive plan OF raising revenues Tor
the island.
philippines Much Debated.
The status of the philippines has
been an unfailing source OF debate j?
both branches of congress, particular
" in the senate. Resolutions of crit
icism and inquiry have been discussed
at much length. but with little tanSl-
Bile result. AT the first session SEN
ator Spooner proposed a brief meas
ure, confirming the presidents author
ity to shape the affairs of the islands
until congress had passed finally upon
questions relating to their political
status. This proposition i'll an amend
ed form has 0 been grated upon
the army appropriation bill, although
it Is yet to be determined whether the
provision will be accepted by either Or
both houses.
Cuban legislation has been in abey-
ance pending the action of the consti-
tional convention in Cuba in framing
the constitution of the island.
Another important achievement in
insular legislation was that of enactinS
a law giving Hawaii a complete form
of territorial government, with an in
sular legislature and judiciary. a gov
ernor, chosen from Hawaii, and a dele
| gate 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
the delegate fom Hawaii, Mr.. Wilcox,
who is the first official representative
on the floor of congress from one of
the island possessions of the United
States. A Porto Rican commissioner.
Mr.. Degetau, has also been accredited
to Washington under the law passed at
the first session.
Actual Accomplishments.
In the actual work accomplished. tbs
~Tifty-sixth congress has an exception
ally large record. Aside from the For
TO Rican ana Hawaiian acts already
mentioned, this congress has passed a
financial law establishing a permanent
gold reserve of about $150,C coo, 900, fixing
the ratio between gold and silver, and
re%organizing the bonding and the bank
Ing systems of the treasury, reorganiz.
ing tie United States army on a basis
of 100, 900 men, reapportioning the
representation in congress on the basis
of the twelfth census, giving "fres
homes" on the Indian lands; providing fol
government participation In the Louisi.
ana purchase exposition in 1893, as well al
many other measures of wide general i'm.
portance, but the congress draws to j
close with some of the most important
measures before it still In doubt and
quite likely to expire without final action
including the Nicaragua canal bill, the
shipping subsidy bill, the Pacific cable
bill ard the oleomargarine bill. The fate
OF some of these measures is very much
In doubt, but at this late day in the SEES.
sion the chances are decidedly agains.
them.
Largo Appropriations.
The appropriations of the present con
Eress will reach an unusually large Tig-
ure, Aggregate for the two sessions ar.
p~roxilnately S1,15T, 259, 45I. This is about
S110, DOC, 900 less than the aggregate appro-
rriations of the preceding congress,
which, however, covered the period OF the
Spanish war. when the appropriations
ran in a single year up to $3.50, 23l, Gl5. TIL
totals for the last two sessions Of the
| present congress as recently summarized
by Chairman Cannon of the house COM
,nittee on appropriations are as follows:
Appropriations first session. includinl;
sinking fund. $40, $50, SCI; appropriations
second session, including sinking fund.
$74, lie, COS.
! New Presiding Officers.
In the senate the death OF Vice Presl-
dent Hobart made the duties of presiiiny
officer of the upper house Gevaslc upon
senator Frye of Maine, the president 1lro
tempore. His ability as a parliamentary
ian has been recognized in his selection
as president pro tenn, and during this
congress he has presided over the delib-
e%rations of the senate In a most ucceptu,
BILE manner.
The house. during this congress, ha
been under an entirely new administers
ton. With the retirement of ex-Spcaker
Iteed. the mapor1ty selected a new speak
err. This meant much. for of late years
the power in the hands of the speaker
and his influence On legislation have
grove steadily greater. A spirited con-
test for the speakership was promised.
but before congress convened the candi
dates had withdrawn one by one in favo
OF General David b. Henderson of Iowa
and he became the unanimous choice OF
the republican caucus. Speaker Hem
derson has been one of the recognized
leaders on the republican side, and was
very popular before he assumed the
gavel, but has distinguished himself more
as a debater than as a parl]iarnentarian.
He has created no animosities, and his re-
election to the next house is a oregone
conclusion.
Mr.. Payne of New York, who became
chairman of the ways and means com
nlittcc on the death of the late Repre-
sentative Dingley OF Maine, succeeded TO
the floor leadership of the majority. and
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee became floor
leader OF the minority, succeeding Mr..
Bailey of Texas, who retired from the
leadership OF his side of the house at the
close of the last congress-.
FOUND DEAD IN The STREET.
Prom tnent Chicago italian sassinated