News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-07-09
The Work Of Conqress.


matter of fact Congress is fairly rep
resentative of the prevailing public
sentiment of the country and does
not go far astray from the predomi-
nent popular desire. The adjourn
ment will no doubt be followed by
the usual food of condemnatory
comment. Yet review of what has
been done during the long session
since December last shows much ac-
complished that is entitled to ap-
prevail by the people.
Congress had some unusual and
delicate questions to confront. The
conditions arising out of our acqui-
sition of the Philippines and our re-
lations to Cuba called for careful
study and wise elaboration. As re-
CARDS the Philippines, very impor-
tant steps have bean taken. The
enactment of tariff law for the
islands, which became eff 9ctive early
in March, placed the fiscal manage
ment on a new basis and inaugurated
system which not only provided
needed revenue for government pur-
poses but put the commerce and In
dustry of the archipelago in posi-
ton assuring them unhampered de-
yelopment and thus encouraged the
traffic with other countries. The
trade of the Philippines had long
suffered from the effect of Spanish re-
strictions and the consequences OF
war. The gain under the new regu-
lations has been decided, and the
islands have every promise of COM
mercial prosperity. The bill pro-
viding for civil government in the
Philippines, which has just been
agreed upon in conference, is of still
wider scope. 1t establishes civil
power throughout all the islands ex-
cept those inhabited by the savage
Moros and by pagans, and grants a
large measure of self-government
through a representative body of
native legislators elected by popular
vote when in the discretion of the
President and the opinion OF the
Philippine Commission such repre-
sentative assembly can be safely es-
tablished.
Numerous other matters OF great
moment to the country have had
confederation by Congress-, and in
most cases the action taken has been
such as to assure vast public benefit.
The outcome of the discussion over
the isthmian canal project has been
eminently satisfactory. The act
passed empowers the President to
purchase the Panama Canal, If a
good title can be obtained for $40
100000, and work is to be pushed
theoretically. If a satisfactory
agreement as to the Panama route
cannot be reached the Nicaragua
plan is to have the preference. In
anv event the United States is to
have a ship canal connecting the At,
lantic and the Pacific Oceans, and
the agitation of many yearsis to enc
in a definite and practicable under
taking fraught with incalculable com
mercial and political benefits to thu
nation.
Congress at it's first session hal
also renewed the Chinese exclusion
act, guarding this country from tn
INJURIOUS effects of peculiarly oh
noxious form of immigration. Ii
has passed the bill for the irrigation
of arid lands in the West, under tn
provisions of which an area imperia
in extent can be made fertile, pro
ductive and inhabitable, adding in
calculably to the wealth and welfar
of the country. 1t has enacted a lay
which cumpels oleomargarine manu-
facturers to sell their product to
what it is and which thus protect
honest butter from fraud and mis-
representation. 1t has provide
proper protection for the Presiden
and other high officers of the gov
eminent and established suitabl
penalties for attacks upon their live
by anarchists or other assassins. |
has repealed all the special war revt
nue. measures, relieving the peopl
from taxes which aggregated $40
100000 annually. 1t has provide
generously for all public needs in th
way of ordinary government ez
penditure, for pensions, for buildings
for rivers and harbors, for improy
ing the White House and enlargin
the facilities for the transaction {
executive business, for modernism
and increasing the accommodation
at West Point Military Academy an
for scores of other purposes justifie
by the public demand.
The failure of Congress to pass th
bill for reciprocity with Cuba is great
ly to beregretted. utitis PRACTICAL
certain that the measure will be take
up early in the next session, and n
doubt conclusion satisfactory t
the American people and just to Cub
will be reached. The bill admittin
the territories ofArizona, New Mexic
and Oklahoma to the Union as state
also goes over, and the general opir
ion no doubt will be that such dis
position was wise. A little delay i
that case can do no harm.
AS whole the work of the first SCI
sion of the Fifty-seventh Congress
will stand inspection on it's merit
and reflects high credit upon th
Republicans, who have had contrC