Gilpin observer., 1902-01-09
CHRONOLOGY
ef THE YEAR
Events of Importance That Have
Marked the Past Twelve Months.

Two events overshadowed all others In
the frst year of the new century. one
was the assassination of William Mckin-
ley, president of the United States. and
the other the death of Queen Victoria,
bringing to a close the longest and in
many respects the most remarkable
reign in British history. Each of the two
great English-speaking nations of the
world was thus called upon to mourn
for It's highest representative of author
ity and to face what at one time might
have been a serious crisis in Its AFFAIRS;
but in neither case was there even the
sembance OF political or Industrial d1s-
turbance or of governmental instability.
Theodore Roosevelt became president and
Edward VII. king precisely in the manner
prescribed by law and the close of 1901
finds each country as tranquil and secure
as 1t was twelve months ago
In the United States the affairs of
greatest Importance before the public,
aside from the murder of the president,
were the new Hay-Pauncefote canal
treaty, the Schley inquiry. the Supreme
court decisions in the insular cases, the
formation of the United States Steel cor
poretfon and other gigantic combinations
of capital, the panic in the New York
stock market, and the princely gifts to
educational institutions by Andrew Car
negie. John d. Rockefeller. d. X. Pear
sons and others.
The Year Politically.
Politically, the year in the United
States was a rather eventful one. will
liam Mckinley began his second term as
president of the United States on the 4th
of March, when he was inaugurated
with Theodore Roosevelt as vice-presi-
har ha cfr
down by an assassin and Mr.. Roosevelt
became the chief executive. No other
changes took place at the time but in
December the postmaster-general.C Charles
e. Smith. and the secretary of the treas
ury. Lyman J. Gage. resigned. Henry C.
Payne of Milwaukee was chosen to
ceed the former and Leslie NJ. Shaw,
governor of Iowa. the latter.
Work of seth Congress.
Among the important laws enacted at
the second session of the 56th congress
were these: Reorganizing the army on
the basis of . force of from $4,000 to
lO000O men; materially reducing the war
revenue taxes; increasing the member
chip of the house of representatives from
S57 to 3S6 by reapportioning the con-
gressional DISTRICTS; abolishing the army
canteen. The river and harbor bill, the
Nicaragua canal bill and the ship SUBJ
sidy bill were measures that failed to
pass.
Our Insular Problems.
Considerable progress toward the settle
ment of the insular problems was made.
The greater portion of the Philippine
islands had been brought under complete
control early in the year and the capture
of Aguinaldo by Gen. Funston March %
did a great deal to hasten the work of
pacifcation. On the 4th of July civil
government was established with Will
liam HI Taft q the civil
At the same time the military authority
In the islands was transferred from
Gen. Arthur Macarthur to Gen. A. r.
Chaffee Opposition to United States rule
1t not entirely at an end. In Samar
bolomen attacked a detachment of the 9th
Infantry Oct. is. killing ten and wounding
six men. Other less disastrous
counters have occurred.
Trade with New Possessions.
Under a decision of the United States
Supreme court rendered Dec. 2 it was
held that the Philippines became domes-
tic territory Immediately upon the rati-
fcation of the treaty OF peace and that
In the absence of legislation by congress
duties levied upon the products of the
islands were Illegal. 1t was further held
that the right Of congress to pass laws
for the regulation of the islands was un-
restricted, coming from the constitution
itself. In substance 1t was held the col
lection of duties on products coming from
Porto Rico between the time the treaty
of Paris went into effect and the date
when the Foraker tanf act became a
law was Illegal; that The island of Porto
Rico is n territory appurtenant and be-
longing to the United States but not a
part OF the United States within the rev.
enue clause of the constitution. and that
the Foraker act is constitutional
Relations with Cuba.
The relations to exist between the
United States and Cuba were determined.
at least temporarily. by the adoption of
the Platt resolutions by congress in June.
Briefly, these provide that the govern
ment of the island shall retain Its inde-
pendence of all foreign countries that
the United States may intervene to pre-
serve such Independence. that the acts
Of the United States during the period of
military occupancy shall be ratified that
sanitary plans for the prevention of cpl
denies shall be carried out and that this
country shall be permitted to buy or lease
naval or coaling stations at points to be
agreed upon.
On the 2lst of February the constitution
as agreed to by the members of the
Cuban convention was signed by the
members of that body. II IL based large
iy upon that of the United States Dec.
81 Gen. Tomaso Estrada Palma was
elected the first president of Cuba
Free trade between Porto Rico and the
United States went into effect July %, the
anniversary OF the landing of the Amerl-
can troops on the island in 1889 Civil
government under the provisions of the
Foraker act was established in MAY, 1900
and the first governor was Charles H.
Allen. He was succeeded this year by
William H. Hunt
President McKinIcy's Murder.
The facts in the assassination of Presi-
dent william Mckinley are still too