Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-03-05
RESS.
Unusually

Aside from the ~P,'rto Rican and Ha-
waiian acts the T sixth Congress has
passed a fnancia Nlishing a per
manent gold resghter of Nout S19o,0oo'
oOo' fixing the Xxi died on'een goid anG
silver and reor, ScndinG ana
the banking sys treasury; le-
organizing the | a-"lnent es army on i
basis of 100000 men ,-reApportioning tie
representation in Congress on the basis
of the twelfth census; giving free
homes" on the Indian lands; providing
for government participation in the
Louisiana purchase exposition in 1903, as
well as many other measures. But the
Congress closed without final action on
the Eicaraguan canal bill, the shipping
subsidy bill, the Pacific cable bill and
the oleomargarine bill.
The appropriations reach an unusually
large figure, aggregating for the two SEES
sions approximately 81, 457 PCS, 457. This
is about $110000,000 less than the aggre-
gate appropriations of the preceding Con
gress, which, however, covered the period
of the Spanish war, when the appropria-
tions ran in a single year up to 1898, 231, :
615. The totals for the last two sessions
as summarized by Chairman Cannon of
the House committee on appropriations,
is as follows: Appropriations, first ses-
sion, including sinking fund, $40, 15O,-
$50: appropriations, second session, in
Guiding sinking fund. $747, 1885.
The act reorganizing the army and
placing the military establishment on a
permanent basis probably is the most inn
portant piece of general legislation en-
acted during the session. Instead of
planning for a temporary extension of
the volunteer system, Secretary Root de-
vised measure for a complete reOrgan-
izatiOn of the army on modern military
lines, with a maximum force of 100000
men and a minimum of about $4,000. AS
finally enacted the army bill provides Il
standing army to consist of fifteen regi-
ments of cavalry, a corps of artillery
thirty regiments OF infantry, one lieuten-
ant general, six major generals, fifteen
brigadier generals. and the usual staff
corps. The old regimental organization
of the artillery is discontinued. Author
ity is given the President to enlist ma
tiTes of the Philippines, when necessity
requires, not to exceed $1,000 men. A
provisional regiment of Porto Ricans also
is provided. n feature of the act is the
prohibition of the sale of beer, wine or
any intoxicating liquors in any post, ex-
change, canteen or transport.
The financial legislation has been OF
unusual Importance, and has placed on
the statute books the law establishing
the gold standard, providing for the re-
demption and reissue of the interest
bearing bonded obligations of the United
States, establishing permanent gold re-
serve of $50, 900, regulating national
banks and making numerous provisions
respecting circulation and the tax on cir
culatiOn. This measure was drafted by
leaders of both houses prior to the meet
ing of Congress and became caucus
measure. After its passage some ques-
ton arose as to the maintenance of the
parity of the metals under the terms of
the bill. Bills to rectify this feature have
been reported, specifically requiring the
exchange of gold for standard silver dol
lars. No action has been taken on them,
however.
The revenue legislation of the Congress
has been confined to an effort to reduce
the taxation imposed when the war with
Spain began.
Inc act approprlatlng 10 the seVefal
States their representation in the House
of Representatives followed as a result
of the twelfth census. The census dis
closed various increases n the States
and new basis of representation was
prepared based on the changed condition
of the population. AS finally enacted the
total representation is fixed at 1856 mem
bers or twenty-nine more than in the
present House.
Hazing at West Point received atten-
ton, with the prospect that strong re-
strictive legislation will be enacted. The
Senate adopted anti-hazing provisions in
the military academy appropriation bill,
but it remained for the last days of the
session to determine just what restric-
tions on hazing are to be imposed.
Besides the antitrust bill, passed by
the House and not acted upon by the
Senate, resolution proposing a constitu-
tional amendment giving Congress more
power to deal with trusts was defeated
in the House. Another measure defeated
in the branch where it originated was
that defining the power of injunction and
limiting the authority of the federal
courts to issue this process.