New-York tribune., 1901-12-03
LVIITH CONGRESS MEETS
BEGINS WORK WITH CONFl-
DENCE AND COURAGE.
REPUBLICAN MAJORITY STRONG AND
HARMONIOUS-OPPO
DISORGANIZED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1

Washington. Dee. 2-The LVIIth Congress.
which organized for work to-day. promises to
break no records for Legislative vigor legis-
latve invention. Its resourcefuness will be
taxed by TO such novel and puZzins problems
as thrust themselves the attention If its two
immediate predecessors For the tasks it faces
1t feels itself equipped ana instructed by the
enlightenEg experiences of the last four years.
In that period the nation has virtually adjusted
itself TO the new conditions of sovereignty
created by the acquisition and government of
the insular dependencies wrested from Spain.
The seal of approval set by the Supreme Court
on the theories which undere the Foraker
Porto Rican act has dispelled all doubts 10th
a to the right and the capacity of Congress TO
meet the Issues raised by the nou-extension of
the constitution proprio vigOre TO the terri
tory decided by the Paris Treaty. TO-day's de-
cisions and those of May last alike chart a
broad and easy way to the final settlement Of
this country's insular problems-a settlement in
v hlch the new Congress and its successors will
be called upon to play very difficult or trying
part Freed In so large a measure from the
burdens OF responsibility which weighed on the
LVth and LVIth Congresses. the Congress
which has just organized will turn again to the
narrower problems and issues of domestic poll
tics. finding in this latter field activities alb
sorbing enough. perhaps, but scarcely SO ex-
legislative sessions of 1898. 1899 1900 and 1901
occupied. The two houses began their
work to-day with every sign of courage and
confidence
The Republican majority, strengthened IN
each branch and guided by the trusted ana ex-
perienced leaders under whom the labors OF the
last four years had been so brilliantly ols-
charged had every reason TO look forward with
reinsurance to another fruitful and successful
session. Facing a disorganized and helpless op-
position, the party in power could fairly expect
TO accomplish without serious embarrassment
any legislative tasks it might set itself Its
only fear lay in the temptations OF excessive
neutrality-suspicious. which it will be the policy
of the leaders of both branches TO put pehlhu
them as consistently possible
There is little prospect that any issue can
arise in the LVIIth Congress as dangerous to
party discipline the contention persisted III
by an influential group of Republicans in the
LVIth Congress that Porto Rico should enjoy
the immediate benefits of free trade with the
United States. But any differences of opinion
which may come to light on issues of domestic
policy like tariff rates reciprocity concessions
are to yield to the same practical ana
skilful management which unified the party
three years ago, in the face of many noisy pro
tests, on the question of unrestricted trade Win
Porto Rico So little has the leadership in both
Houses been affected by the ordinary Vlclssl-
tudes of politics that 1t would be difficult to
name more than a single important committee
in either branch to head which new chairman
will have TO be chosen. The Republican or
panization is therefore an exceptionally drilled
and qualified one, from which the maximum OF
legislative work is be expected with the mini
mum of personal or factional friction Con-
servatism and unity therefore likely to be
the chief motives of party policy in the new
Congress-