The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-07-17
WHAT CONGRESS DID.
Senator Louis E. McCOmas Review
the Work of the Last
Session.
MANY IMPORTANT MEASURES PASSED
The Maryland Senator Expresses Regret
at the Failure to Reach an Agreement
on Cuban Reciprocity-some of the
Things That Were Accomplished.

the session of Congress just closed:
Congress this session had to meet
serious questions. 1t determined to
build the Isthmian canal, which will
be the Panama route, the shortest
and ultimately a sea-level canal.
Last session it reduced the Span
ish War tax Sal, 900, 900; this session it
repealed the remainder, $4,000, 00O
annually. 1t is curious coincidence
that this Congress has taken off a
burden of S113, 100000 in taxes per
annum, and during 1900-1901 the Gov
eminent applied $113,OO0,OOO to the
sinking fund to reduce the national
debt. This reduction, by the way, is
more than the total reduction of the
public debt during all of the nine
years preceding 1900. 1t is a great
achievement, within four years after
the foreign war, to repeal all war tax
alton. This speaks well for country,
people and government.
L hO oSt PIC ClllllS lLnlU1GlOl vi
dairy products gratifies the farming
interests and certifies butter to the
cities.
1.-The Philippine problem was Crap
pied with courageously. First, we
passed the Philippine revenue bill,
liberal to the archipelago and just to
our own people. Finally we passed
the Philippine civil government bill.
The war there is over, quiet gradu-
ally extends throughout the islands
and this civil government is the great
est advance made in Asia in all its
history. My fear is not that we go
too slowly, but that perchance we go
TOO fast.
After years of effort this Congress
made the Census Office a permanent
bureau. This is important to com
merce and education.
1--WE have commenced the import
ant work of irrigating and retaining
the arid lands. This had to be com
menced. The danger is the reclama-
ton may go faster than our revenues
warrant.
1.-THE laws excluding Chinese labor
ers were renewed by this Congress.
Zone fruit of Republican ascend
ency is that almost without notice
the act providing for the extension of
charters of national banks became a
law. This means much for business
stability.
81 have instanced only the most
important legislation. Many bad
propositions were defeated. Many
experiments were, at least, postponed.
Il much regret that the Democrats,
aided by a few Republicans in the
House, prevented the President and
the great body of Republicans in the
Senate and House from according
reciprocity in trade of Cuba and our
selves. This is not right and will not
prevail. There may be an extra SEES
CiOh vi tilC kC1ulC luI6I III LIlc
year to ratify that treaty.
1.-The Fifty-first Congress was as
sailed as a billion-dolIar Congress.
On that cry the Democrats came into
power, and in the Fifty-third Con-
gress controlled both branches and
the executive. Straightaway this
Democratic Congress became a billion
dollar Congress, and the people scarce
remembered it. The total appropri-
ations for the next fiscal year aggre-
gated $776, 100000. Of course, the
total is never expended, but it is quite
large enough in any view. Demo
cratic members on the stump will
criticise the total of appropriations,
when they themselves voted for the
largest expenditure and fought hard
est for local appropriations for pub
lie buildings and rivers and harbors.
sit is remembered that the last
Democratic administration issued
bonds for $685., 100000 for current ex-
penses and the public credit, while
the present administration next year
may look for $40, 100000 surplus even
after the enormous reduction of taxes.
"The pension appropriations begin
to decrease. This year they fell off
Aye and one-half millions. The pa
thetic explanation is near at hand, for
the sundrY civil bill doubles the ap.
preparation for the plain headstones
provided for marking the graves OF
the dead soldiers of the Union. These
veterans who stood firm against every
onset are now rapidly falling before
the last great enemy.
ITO sum it up, the wise men who
looked with apprehension upon the