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6
Tiie Commoner.
Vol. a, No. 35.
MHnonH
Current Topics.
Tho first sossion of tho 57th congress con
cluded its labors July 1, Republican leaders
claim to bo fully satisfied with tho result of tho
session. Democratic leaders also express satis
faction.
.s
John M. Burko, of Now York, has just given
$4,000,000 for tho purposo of founding a homo for
convalescents in that city. Mr. Burko, who is
now in hiB olghty-flrst year, made his fortuho in
tho West Indian trade. Ho is a devout Catholic",
but tho homo will bo opon to all worthy appli
cants, irrespective if creed.
Tho Mlnnosota republican convention indorsed
tho action of tho stato's congressional delegation
in regard to tho Cuban reciprocity measuro. As
tho Minnesota dologation opposed tho president's
policy of reciprocity with Cuba tho indorsement
of tho congressmen cannot bo construed othorwlso
than as a "slap" at the president.
With tho closo of tho fiscal year, Juno 30, tho
last of tho war taxes Imposed to defray tho ex
penses of the Spanish-American war disappeared.
In this disappearance tho government loses about
$79,000,000 a year in rovonuo. Tho largest single
item was tho rovenue from stock transactions, thi3
ono item furnishing about $12,000,000 yearly.
Tho International Sunday School convention
hold in Denver during tho lattor part of Juno was
tho largest in tho history of Sunday school work.
Considerable discussion was aroused over tho
proposition to eliminate the quarterly temperance
lessons from tho series prepared by tho lesson
committee. Tho proposition, however, met with
no favor from the lesson committee and was not
considered when tho matter was presented.
During the closing hours of congress appro
priation bills were passod to provide money for
paying tho deficiencies of tho Buffalo and Charles
town expositions. Although tho bills provided ex-
sidered as a precedent, it will bo, and managers of
future expositions will be inclined to prodigality in
tho matter of expenditures, relying upon congress
to make good all losses by taxing tho general
public.
American residents in London aro indignant
at Ambassador Choato because ho insisted upon
having tho Fourth of July quietly celebrated in
that city. Tho Amorican society usually has a
big banquet with speeches galore, but Mr. Choato
demurred this year, declaring that in view of tho
-king's illness good taste demanded that tho day
bo observed quietly. As Queen Alexandria is at
tending festivals and reviews tho Amorican resi
dents were unable to see any good reason for
abandoning their usual festivities.
tho humano methods used in dealing with "every
doyiso of unscrupulous treachery," when com- "
polled to "contemplate without roprlsal tho in
fliction of barbarous cruelties upon their com
rades and friendly natives." - ,
Mr. Cannon of Illinois, who pays considera
ble attention to appropriations and who aspires to
tho titlo of "Tho Watchdog of tho Treasury," has
exerted himself somewhat to show that this was
not a billion-dollar congressional session. It will
bo romombercd that tho 65th congressional session,
presided ovor by Thomas B. Iteed, became famous
and somewhat obnoxious because of its extrava
gant appropriations and it therefore became
known as tho billion-dollar congress. Theso ex
orbitant appropriations wore made, however, dur
ing a period of two years, while tho enormous ap
propriations made by tho present republican con
gress woro mado during a single session.
By unanimous vote tho legislature of Louis
iana has debarred from tho public schools of
that state all histories that do not give Admiral
Wlnflold Scott Schley full credit for tho naval
victory of Santiago. A heavy penalty is imposed
upon teachers who violato tho law by teaching
that Admiral Schley did not have supreme com
mand and is not entitled to full credit for tho vic
tory. It is helioved that other states will take
similar action, and publishers of school text
books aro in a quandary. The government records
show that Admiral Sampson was in activo com
mand during the battle, but tho public at large
still insists upon giving Admiral Schley the credit.
A vigorous fight was made with relation to
tho hour of adjournment, and tho purpose of tho
democrats who fought for delay involved a very
important matter. The democrats sought to have
tho motion for adjournment returned to the com
mittee with instructions to report so as to change
tho date of adjournment from July 1 to July 8.
The purpose of tho democrats was to have the
committee instructed to prepare a bill providing
for the removal of tariff duties from all trust
made goods.
Tho republicans, however, were determined
that tho tariff question should not bo considered
in any of its phases by this congress, and so tho
effort of tho democrats was defeated.
As "was anticipated trouble has arisen over tho
payment of the Chinese indemnity. China is un
able to pay the indomnity and tho "powers" havo
kindly consented to let the principle stand and
collect interest thereon. China offers to pay the
interest, but insists that payment be made upon
tho rate of exchange existing at the time the
award was made. This means a saving to China
of several million taels a year as compared with
the rate now existing, and a corresponding loss to
the "powers." Great Britain, Germany and Franco
refused to receive interest on that basis, but the
United States has insisted that China is right.
The indications aro that tho European nations
will admit tho rightfulness of China's contention
after further deliberation.
Sonator Dollivor, republican, declares that tho
republican congress has "fully and satisfactory
mot tho expectations of the Amorican people."
Ho declares that "the Philippine questions had
been disposed of in a manner which will forever
remain a monument to tho broad-minded and lib
oral policy of the Amorican government." Mr.
Dollivor sees but ono disappointment so far as
this session is concerned. This was with respect
to tho failure to givo Caba "preferential commer
cial relations with this country as urged by tho
president." - , ,
In an interview Senator Hanna says that "dur
ing the session just ended congress settled some
of the greatest legislative questions that havo
arisen since tho foundation of tho government,"
and Senator Hanna adds: "The republican ma
jority has demonstrated its ability to meet them
all. The results will redound to tho host inter
ests of the country." Mr. Hanna says that "ev
erything dono adds strength and confidence, in
sures for us a safe and sure olection of tho next
house of representatives, 'and a continuation of
the present prosperous conditions and guarantees
future national development."
King Edward VII. continues to improve in
health rapidly. His rapid recovery contradicts :n
largo measuro the long-continued reports that ho
has been leading a dissipated life. King Edward
is more than GO years old, and his rapid recovery
from a severe surgical operation indicates that he
is still a man of splendid physique, strong con
stitution and good health. No man of his ago
could, after a life of severe dissipation, recover so
rapidly from such an operation as the ono per
formed upon him. It will be several weeks be
foro the king is able to appear in public, and it
will doubtless be months before the coronation
ceremonies will take place. Indeed? it Is barely
possible that ceremonies such as planned and
abandoned will not bo again undertaken.
President Roosevelt seized upon July Fourth
as tho date for issuing his proclamation declaring
peace in the Philippines and extending pardon to
-all political offenders. By tho terms of tho proc
lamation tho civil, government supercedes tho
military government. Tho president occupies con
siderable space in his proclamation with praise
for the. soldiers who havo performed arduous du
ties in tho archipelago, and commends them for
Congressman Griggs, chairman of the demo
cratic congressional committee, thinks that the
republican congress has done many things tho
people of the country don't want and failed to do
many things the people want. In Mr. ' Griggs'
opinion, this congress will be repudiated at tho
polls in the November elections. Mr. Griggs
claims that tho congress has not only repudiated
tho plain platform promises relating to tariff "re
vision and Cuban reciprocity, but it has appro
priated moro of tho people's money than ever
before was appropriated in a single session of
congress. Ho points to the failure of tho re
publican congress to give the people relief in tho
matter of trusts as good grounds for believing
-that the people will not indorse the work of this
session at tho polls next November.
corning tho case of Colonel Arthur Lynch. Col
onel Lynch, a British subject, enlisted in the Boer
army. While in the field ho was elected to par
liament by an Irish constituency. When he ar
rived in London to take his seat he was arrested
on tho charge of treason. Before his arrest and
imprisonment tho war was ended and amnesty de
clared. Whether the declaration Includes Lynch,
is a question. Just now ho is considerable of an
elephant on tho hands of tho British authorities,
and while it is not likely that he will be allowed
to sit in parliament it is prohable that he will bo
allowed to go after a nominal punishment. Great
Britain is not in a frame of mind to do things
calculated to keep the Boor war proceedings
prominently before the public. The people who
pay the taxes have enough already to remember
that war by.
The holding of great annual church and re
ligious society conventions is growing more pop
ular each year. The arfnual meetings of the Chris
tian Endeavor .societies create widespread inter
est and railroads aro taxed to the utmost to pro
vide for the traffic. The Epworth League and
Baptist Young People make their annual meet
ings great events, and a vast amount or good la
accomplished. One of the great religious gather
ings of the year will bo held in Omaha next Octo
ber, 16 to 25, when the Disciples church hold their
annual meeting. It is believed that upwards of
25,000 visitors will be called to Omaha by this
meeting. The growing interest in religious work
is due in largo measure to the enthusiasm aroused
at these annual religious meetings of all denominations.
Tho fatalities attendant upon Fourth of July
celebrations this year are greater in number
than ever. This is not due to any particular
growth in patriotic observance of the day, but to
the deadly dynamite cracker and the blank cart
ridge. Tho fulminite contained in tho blank
cartridges seems to be prolific of tetanus germs,
and wounds caused by one of them usually re
sults in lockjaw. In his wild desire to make a
noise the average American boy or man seeks
the largest firecracker obtainable, and this desiro
is gratified by manufacturers of firecrackers who .
use dynamite instead of powder. Tne result is a
bomb that scatters death with lavistiness.' 'Many ' '
Cities have adopted ordinances .forbidding the salo
or use of these "cannon crackers," but the cas
ualty reports indicate that the ordinances are not
enforced.
It is worthy of comment that tho same con
gress that adopted the Philippine bill, a measuro
which provides so far as the Filipinos are con
cerned, taxation without representation, and
which imposes upon them a government against
their will, appropriated $100,000 for the purpose -of
erecting statutes of Count Pulaski and Baron
Steuben, the revolutionary heroes. These statues
are to bo erected in the city of Washington.
It does not seem to have occurred to the re
publican leaders that the inconsistency of their
actions will have any material effect upon the
people.
Mr. Sulzer of New York made the motion
postponing the date of adjournment from July 1
to July 8, but the motion was lost by a vote of 51
yeas to 104 nays; and finally the adjournment res
olution was carried by a vote of 137 yeas to 76
nays.
The British government is in a quandary con-
After the conference report on the Philippine
bill had been adopted, Senator Carmack of Ten
nessee called up his resolution providing for a
continuance of the investigation by the Philippine
committee and also providing for a visit to the
Philippine islands by the committee at an early
day. This precipitated an Interesting discussion.
Mr. Spooner vigorously attacked the minority of
the Philippine committee, and declared that their
purpose was to make "an attack upon tho Ameri
can army."
Senator Carmack denied that any attack had
been or was contemplated by the democrats upon
tho army and he said that any fool could chargo
such a calumny and any parrot could be taught to
repeat it. Tho result was that the resolution was
referred to a committee, which action being in
terpreted, means that the investigation of he war
in the Philippines is at an end, so far as the re
publican senate is concerned.
Senator James K. Jones, chairman of tho
democratic national committee, declares that
tho results of the present congress have not met
the expectations of the country. Ho
points out that when congress assembled there
was a strong feeling throughout the country in
favor of some reduction of tariff taxation. Con
gressman Babcock and other republican leaders in
the west came to Washington with loud declara
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