New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-30
WHAT CONGRESS HAS ACCOMPLISHED.
REVIEW OF THE WORK OF THE FIRST HALF or THE
LVHTH SESSION.

tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

washington June 29.-The first session of the
with Congress, now ending, will rank as one
f the most absorbing and active of recent years.
tie record in legislation accomplished has been
an ample and creditable yet the final judg-
rnent passed upon its work will undoubtedly
rest not so much upon its many positive achieve
roents as upon its one conspicuous and glaring
4oture This failure was its unwillingness in
capacity To realize its moral obligation to sup
nlenent the conditions it imposed year ago
on Cuban sovereignty by such commercial con-
cessions as would insure the impoverished and
struggling West Indian republic chance of
economic life and growth.
In spite Of the urgent recommendations of the
President twice communicated TO the two
houses Congress delayed to sanction any
scbarne Of reciprocal tariff reductions. and
tbough the House of Representatives passed
bill authorizing 20 per cent reduction of duties
on Cuban products, the Senate. through the OBJ
structive efforts OF a small cabal of Republican
Senator'S. Will be forced to leave the House
measure still hanging in the air on the day OF
final adjournment.
Apart from this discreditable negligence or ma
,ional duty and honor the work Of the session
was OF the whole both thorough and commend
able The TWO houses passed at last, after a
legislative struggle running back for fifteen
years an Isthmian Canal bill which insures the
speedy selection of a route for the proposed
interoceanic waterway. and the renewal Of work
on either the Panama the Nicaragua line, as
an exclusively national enterprise. Under the
act passed the Panama route enjoys every pref
erence but the President may turn to the Mica
ragua line if undue obstacles arise to block
progress across the Isthmus of Panama.
THE PHILIPPINE BILLS.
Early III the session Congress passed tariff
law for the Philippines, which, among other
provisions. granted a p per cent reduction on
ali Philippine products entering the United
States Both houses have now passed Philip
pine Civil Government bill, laying the founda-
ton for a Iiberalized civil order in the archi-
pelago. and for the gradual participation of the
Filioinos in insular legislation and adminstra-
ton A conference committee is at present
struggling to compromise some important differ
ences between the two branches on this meas
ure Practically all the remaining emergency
war taxes laid by the act of 1898 We're swept
away by the repeal bill of April II, the Treas
ury's annual income being again reduced by
from $60000000 to $70,000000.
Among the other measures of the first impor-
tance which became laws were the Chinese Ex-
clusion act, renewing and slightly modifying the
prohibitions against the entry into the United
States of Chinese laborers; the Irrigation act,
initiating a project OF enormous scope and con-
sequence for the reclamation of the arid and
semi-arid West. and the Oleomargarine act, i'm
posing and enlarged penalties on the man
ufacture and sale of butter substitutes. Both
houses have passed a bill, which has not yet
been acted in conference. protecting the
President from assaults, and legis!ating against
the teaching and practice Of anarchistic doc
trines. The Senate passed, but the House has
not yet taken up. a Ship Subsidy bill, and the
House has sent to the Senate an immigration
bill A bill authorizing the coinage of silver
bullion bought under the provisions of the Sher-
man law into subsidiary coins, and an omnibus
Territorial bill. admitting to Statehood the Ter
ritories Of Arizona. New Mexico and Okla homa.
At the Presidents suggestion Congress also
passed in May last a bill appropriating $500 900
for the relief of sufferers from volcanic erup-
tons in the French West Indies. 3
CONCERNING CUBAN RECIPROCITY
authorize the President TO enter into reciprocal
trade arrangement with Cuba forms one of the
most interesting chapters Of the session of Con-
gress just closed. The movement started to
fulfil pledge made by President Mckinley to a
delegation from the Cuban Constitutional Con-
vention more than year ago, and the promise
then made by Mr.. Mckinley the determn-
ing factor in securing the incorporation in the
Cuban constitution Of the Plat amendment. an
United States a modified suzerainty over Cuba
for all time. In mis- first message to Congress
President Roosevelt urged reciprocity legisa-
ton in the strongest terms. In January the Re
publican standing committee Of the Senate,
which under the customs of that body regulates
the order in which subjects of legislation shall
be considered. gave reciprocity a place the
calendar next to the isthmian canal PROPOSE
ton. This action was properly considered a
favorable sign
The Republican members Of the Ways and
Means Committee of the House began consdera-
lion of the subject the last of February. and
after week of quarrelling over details decided
upon a bin granting a tariff reduction on all
Cuban imports of 20 per cent, upon condition
that the Cuban Government adopt the immigra-
ton and contract labor laws of the United
States. From the beginning of the discussion
three of the eleven Republican members of the
Ways and Means Committee were opposed to
granting any concessions TO Cuba. These We're
Mr.. Tawney, of Minnesota; Mr.. Babcock, of
Wisconsin and Mr.. Metcalf. of California Mr..
Russell, of Connecticut, also was inclined stub
bornly to contest the reciprocity proposition,
but ne finally yielded to the judgment of the
majority-Messrs Payne of New-York DalZell,
Of Pennsylvania Hopkins. of Illinois: eros
Eenor. Of Ohio Steele, OF Indiana: Mccall. of
Massachusetts. and Long of Kansas. Mr.. Bah
agreed upon as a party measure. but Messrs.
Tawney and Metcalf persisted to the end in
their attitude Of hostility TO any action. The six
Democratic members of the committee were
evenly divided on the proposition when the Re-
pubcans presented their bill 10 the full com
fnlttee. Mr.. Robertson, Of louisiana Mr. New
lands, Of Nevada, and Mr.. Cooper of Texas.
voted with Messrs. Tawney and Metcalf against
any action and Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee;
Mr. Swanson. Of Virginia, and Mr. Mcclellan, OF
New-York. favored the most liberal basis OF
reciprocity obtainable.
10,