The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1904-05-05
WHAT CONGRESS DID,
LONG SESSION DESPITE EARLY
ADJOURNMENT.

Cuba and Panama Treaties Ratified
EconomyWas Practiced-Total Appro-
priations Are $751;, ,574, ,627.9e-Ex-
pected Surplus $50, 5,OOO.OOO.
Two legislative acts stand out as the
principal accomplishment of the two ses-
sions of the Fifty-eighth Congress. The
reciprocity treaty with Cuba was chang
ed to bill having its origin in the House
because one of its provisions touched the
matter of revenue, and therefore it was
held that under the constitution the Rep
resentatives should take the iniatitive.
The pledge of the United States to Cuba
was fulfilled by means of this bill. The
House passed the measure during the ex-
traordinary session and sent it to the
Senate. where it was debated and passed
early in the second session.
| The treaty with Panama was the sec
ond Of the chief legislative labors Of
Congress. The Senate ratified the treaty
without amendment, though while it was
under discussion it gave rise to virulent
attack and debate on the part of the
Democrats, who declared the President
had exceeded his authority in the recog-
VI tHc EepuDuC Ol dHtuld
| The Senate ratified the Chinese COM
mercial treaty, by means of which the
United States secured two open ports in
Manchuria. Congress also undertook leg
islation for the government of the Fan
ANA canal zone, a subject which led to
! many differences between House and
Senate.
There was marked conservatism
throughout the session in the matter of
supply bills. They were handled quick
ly and with the economy which often
marks the methods of Congress prior to
presidential campaign. All told, the
money appropriated for government uses
amounted to nearly S7OO,OOO,OoO. The
revenues of the government are estimat-
ed at $704. 100000
Appropriations Are $7S1 ,574, $1,000.
Chairman Hemenway of the House
committee on appropriations on the clos
ing day issued a statement showing the
appropriations made by Congress at this
session amount to S7S1 ,514, ,629.99. This
amount includes $26, ,SO1 ,S43 93 appropri-
ated for deficiencies and $565OO, 900 sub
mitted under the estimates Of permanent
appropriations for application out Of sur.
whole sum Of apparent appropriation is,
therefore, S69S, ,272. 1906. The estimat-
ed revenue for the fiscal year 1905 is
lures of Sc. 199, ,274.66.
1t Is further estimated that the usual
growth Of revenue and the usual expen-
ditures Of the government, which aver.
age per cent less than the estimates,
will further increase this surplus to at
least $35,0OO,00O. The expenditure per
capita in the United States is shown to
be $I.97. the lowest of any of the great
powers by wide margin. The appropri-
ations in the aggregate this session are
more than $20,OOOOOO less than last ses-
sion.
Estimates We're Cut.
Heads Of the various government de-
partments sent in estimates of their
needs, and these estimates exceeded the
estimated revenues by about $40, ,OOO, 900.
The figures will show what Congress did
In the way Of cutting down the estimates
as presented. No general measure carry.
ing provisions for new public buildings
was allowed to pass. Ordinarily an om-
nibus bill is put through which provides
for postofices and other government
buildings in towns all over the country
which have congressional influence
enough to get what they ask. The ma
jority refused likewise to consider any
river and harbor bill which had for its
object new work and the expenditure OF
large sums Of money.
There was agitation for a service PEN
sion bill for war veterans involving the
Of
however, refused to consider it at this
session, and the nearest approach to rec
ognition of the one fact Of service as be-
ing sufficient for pension was in allow.
ing an appropriation of 81 100000 for the
payment of pensions to men who came
under the provisions of the general or.
der of the Secretary Of the Interior, which
made age an evidence of physical dis.
ability to perform manual labor. This
age pension order was provocative OF
Democratic assaults, but the Republicans
succeeded in showing to the discontinue
Of their enemies that like recognition
Of age disability and like order were
made by the Secretary of the Interior
under the administration of Crow Cleye- |
land.
The postal frauds occupied the atten- |
tion of Congress and the Overstreet re- |
port, which seemed to implicate represen- |
tatives in Pernicious activity on behalf of |
their district postmasters, caused a row.
An investigation ordered by the House
cleared every member of the suspicion /
of improper conduct
A resolution introduced by Representa-.
tive Martin of South Dakota resulted in |
an order for the investigation of the aE
legged beef trust by the Department OF
Commerce and Labor.
In the House impeachment proceed
ings against Federal Judge Swayne Of
the northern district of Florida we're be-
gun, but the matter finally went back to
committee and will be taken up again at
the next session.
The House passed a bill admitting
Oklahoma and Indian territory as one
State and Arizona and New Mexico as
another, but the Senate took no action
on the matter.
As far as the labor world is concern
ed the eight-hour bill was shunted by the
House to the Department of Commerce
and Labor for an investigation and the
bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Grosvenor was put over to the
next session.
The right Of Reed Smoot, Senator from
Utah, to a seat in the United States
Senate is still under investigation.
The report Of the naval board which
gave preference to Lake Bluff, ILL.,, as
the site for the great lakes naval training
station was thrown out and there was
substituted in the naval appropriation
bill an amendment providing for a board
to select a site. The amendment carries
with it an appropriation of S25O,O00 to
purchase land and begin the work OF
founding the station for the training Of
sailors.
Congress passed bill authorizing the
lowering of the government dams two
feet at Kampsville and LaGrange. Ill.
Illinois Senators and Representatives
succeeded in getting into the postoffice
bill an item of money
which will allow the uSe of the tlIIlnelS