Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 March 1901 — WORK OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

WORK OF CONGRESS.

REVIEW OF IMPORTANT LEGISLATION ENACTED. Appropriations Reach an Unnaually Large Figure, Aggregating for the Two Sessions Approximately $1,457,209,437—Important Measures Passed. Aside from the Porto Rican and Hawaiian acts the Fifty-sixth Congress has passed a financial law establishing a permanent gold reserve of about $150,000,000, fixing the ratio between gold and silver and reorganizing the binding and the banking systems of the treasury; reorganizing the United States army on a basis of 100,000 men; reapportioning the representation iii 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 Nicaraguan 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 sessions approximately $1,457,209,457. This is about $110,000,000 less than the aggregate appropriations of the preceding Congress, which, however, covered the period of the Spanish war, when the appropriation* ran in a single year up to $893,231,613. The totals for the last two sessions, as summarized by Chairman Cannon of the House committee on appropriations, is as follows: Appropriations, first session, including sinking fund, $710,150,862: appropriations, second session, including sinking fund, $747,118,595. ThA art reorganizing the army nnd placing the military establishment on a permanent basis probably is the most important piece of general legislation enacted during the session. Instead of planning for n temporary extension of tine volunteer system, Secretary Root devised a measure for a complete reorganization of the army on modern military liaes, with a maximum force of, 100,000 men nnd a minimum of about 03,000. As finally enacted the army bill provides a standing army to consist of fifteen regiments of Cavalry, a corps of artillery, thirty regiments of infantry, one lieutenant general, six major generals, fifteen brigadier generals and the usual staff corps. The old regimental organization of the artillery is discontinued. Authority is given she President—to enlist nati\es of the Philippines, when necessity requires, not to exceed 12,000 men. A provisional regiment of Porto Ricans also" is provided. A feature pf the act is the prohibition of the sale of beer, wine or any intoxicating liquors ill any post, exchange, canteen or transport. The financial legislation lias been of unusual importance, and has placed on the statute books tbe law establishing the gold standard, providing for the redemption and reissue of the interestbearing bonded obligations of the United States, establishing a permanent gold reserve of $150,000,000, regulating national hanks and making numerous provisions respecting circulation and the tax on circulation. This measure was drafted by leaders of both houses prior to the meeting of Congress nnd became a caucus measure. After its passage some question arose as to the maintenance of the parity of the metals uuder the terms ol the bill. Bills to rectify this feature have been reported, specifically requiring the exchange of gold for standard silver dollars. No action has been taken on them, however.

The revenue legislation of the Congress has been confined to an effort to retlucs the taxation imposed when the war with Spain began. The net appropriating to the several Staten their representation in the House of Representatives followed as a result of the twelfth census. The census dis closed various increases in the States, and a new basis of representation was prepared based on the changed condition of the population. As finally enacted the total representation is fixed at 386 members, or twenty-nine more than iu the presetß House. Haziug at West Point received atten tion, with the prospect that strong restrictive legislation will be enacted. The Senate adopted anti-liazing provisions in the military academy appropriation bill, but it remained for the last days of the session to determine just what restrictions on hazing are to be imposed. Besides the anti-trust bill, passed b« the House and not acted upon by the Senate, a resolution proposing a constitutional 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 nnd limiting the authority of the federal courts to issue this process.