The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1902-12-11
FEATURELESS
Little OF Special Importance Being Done
by Congress-Mr. Rislsy henews
His Regular Correspondence

Washington, D. c., Dec. 8, 1907
Especial Correspondence.)- )-The open
ing of the last half of the Fifty-seventh
congress is a matter of history char
acterzed by no special features save
the presence in the private gallery OF
the house of the presidents wife and
daughter.
In the senate, General Alger was
sworn in as the new member from
Michigan, vice Mcmillan, deceased, and
the "embalmed beef" that our soldiers
had to eat in Cuba and the other ISL
ands received a second official indOrse-
ment.
The first days session was short in
both branches, adjournments being
shortly taken out of respect to de-
ceased members, seven members of the
house (all democrats) and one senator
(McMillan, republican, having died
since the beginning of this congress.
The second day was consumed in the
reading of the presidents annual
message, document Judging from ex-
pressions heard, very pleasing to re-
publcans, and at least not distasteful
to the opposition. A state paper Of
more than two direct recommenda-
tioES iOle for the creation of depart
me!.t If commerce, and another to
place Lard coal en- the free lisD could
not be expected to draw very heavy
fire from the enemy's guns.
Khe torically, the message is cred
itA1ie-uniQue in that strenuous way
of continually harping upon a few
stoci< phrases of duty" and "oppor-
tunity and work" and sturdy self
reliance" and 'destiny"-and distinct
ly Rooseveltish in charging everybody
with weakness and cowardice who
happens not to agree with the admin
istration's program.
useC to think Mckinley had the
faculty of saying more and meaning
less in . few words than any public
man Of recent years, but as an adept
at 6otging every public proposition
that might prove ar obstacle in sec
ond-term path, toe present executive
makes them all look like 80 cents.
i'e opposed tariff revision until it
car he proven that schedule favors
monopoly and then he wants the mo-
nopoly receiving the benefits to be
tie ji!tge as to wnen that time comes.
On tie trust question he is so fear
ful some 5oOI trust will be injured
that ne cOnsiu is il dangerous to at
tempt any rest amt of the bad ones.
Therefore, 'let yell enough alone
which, translated, means do nothing,
may be looked Tor as the official pro-
gram.
His fluctuations to the country upon
cClonalism in the Orient are not rea-
sOnabje had We due care for public
expense. Even the glory" of COM
rel.ins the obedience Of unwilling SUBJ
jeCts Will not cOmIensate the deple-
ton of our own and the island treas
urics to maintain this farce of world
pCWerful1ess.
Every new message to congress
s"ems to remind us that the writer
y:ei'ls % the commercialistic spirit of
the tir;rs ard gives little concern to
that hiehcr sl31Garn of national exist
enc which n ali ages has been the
inspiration OF the roets, the philos-
ophcrS, rhe sri' ntistc the students and
the histOrymakers of mankind.
The Littlefeld publicity bill, as
amended and reported favorably yes
tcrday by the sub 'ommittee that had
fa1 it under consideration. provides
that every corporation, joint stock
corn any, or simlla, organization en-
gaeeC ir interstate or foreign COM
1lerce, and every such corporation
which shall be hereafter organized
shall file with the interstate commerce
commission on or before September |
each year a return, stating, among 9TH
er things, it's name, date of organiza-
ton, where and when organized, the
statutes under which organized and
if consolidated the names of the con-
stituent companies, and the same in
formation concerning them. IF the
concerns have been reorganized the
original corporation 2r corporations is
to be stated with Information concern
ing them.
It is also provided that the amount
of authorized capital stock, shares in
. to which divided. per value. whether
common or preferred |, and distinction
between each, amount issued and out