Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/242

ccxx and George Gray, Senators of the United States, and Whitelaw Reid, were appointed peace commissioners on the part of the United States. On the 1st of October they met in Paris five commissioners similarly appointed on the part of Spain. Their negotiations resulted in the treaty of peace which was signed at Paris on the 10th day of December, 1898, transmitted to the Senate Jan. 4, 1899, and ratified by that body Feb. 6, and by the Queen Regent of Spain, Mar, 17, 1899. II. STATES AND TERRITORIES

The Union comprises 13 original States, 7 States which were admitted without having been organized as Territories dependent on the Union, and 25 States which had been Territories. Each State has its own constitution, which must be republican in form, and each constitution derives its authority, not from Congress, but from the population of the State. In the case of the original States the colonial charters were adopted, with more or less modification, as State constitutions; the other States, before entering the Union, had constitutions already made. Admission of States into the Union is granted by special Acts of Congress, either (1) in the form of "enabling Acts," providing for the drafting and ratification of a State constitution by the people, in which case the Territory becomes a State as soon as the conditions are fulfilled, or (2) accepting a constitution already framed and at once granting admission.

Each State is provided with a Legislature of two Houses, a Governor, and other executive officials, and a judicial system. Both Houses of the Legislature are elective, but the Senators (having larger electoral districts) are less numerous than the members of the House of Representatives, while in some States their terms are longer and, in a few, the Senate is only partially renewed at each election. Members of both Houses are paid at the same rate, which varies from $150 to $1500 per session, or from $1 to $8 per day during session. The duties of the two Houses are similar, but in many States money bills must be introduced first in the House of Representatives. The Senate has to sit as a court for the trial of officials impeached by the other House, and, besides, has often the power to confirm or reject appointments made by the Governor. In most of the States the sessions are biennial, the Governor having power to summon in extraordinary session, but not to dissolve or adjourn. State Legislatures are competent to deal with all matters not reserved for the Federal Government by the Federal Constitution, or falling within restrictions imposed by the State constitutions. Among their powers are the