Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-03-07
THE Fifty, sEvENrn CONGRESS.

THE FIFTV,sEvEKTH CONGRESS.
The fifty-seventh congress ended its
mastery inactivity last Wednesday
noon. It will be memorable for what
II failed to accomplish.
1t failed to ratify any of the reci-
procity treaties with European nations
because every one of those treaties re-
duced the tariff on some "infant in
dustry' that is uncapab'e of meeting
European competition here though
fully competent to meet that compe-
tition in forei IN markets.
The Cuban reciprocity treaty failed
because the sugar trusts could not
agree on what they wanted, and the
senate was unwilling to hurt the feel
ings of either trust.
The Philippine tariff bill failed also
because the protected industries felt
themselves too weak to compete with
the savages of those islands in the
manufacturing lines.
The Panama canal treaty failed be-
cause of Senator Morgan's indefatig-
able jaw, backed by the influence of
the trans-continenta] railroads.
The bill to create three new states
failed because there was a probability
that New Mexico and Arizona would
elect democratic senator's.
The Hoar antitrust bill failed be-
cause if that bill had become a law it
would have been absolutely necessary
for the trusts to control the executive
department.. Under present circum-
stances they can worry along with
control of only one department. of the
government,
The Littlefeld anti trust bill failed
because it's passage might have both
cred the trusts some.
The Jenkins resolution to iuvesti-
gate the question of government own.
ership OF coal mines and coal roads
failed because the plutocrats hate to
have such measures discussed.
The Fowler currency bill failed be-
cause the small fry bankers were
afraid of being swallowed by the
larger banks if that bill became law.
The Aldrich emergency currency bill
failed because Morgan could not be
stopped from talking for q sufficient
time to allow the passage of the bill.
The democratic flibuster in the house
would perhaps have killed the bill if
it had got through the senate
But when it came to passing appro-
priation bills the late congress came
right up to the scratch without the
least bashfulness or hesitation. The
total sum of the appropriations
amount to 81, $50, l0S,518 That is the
highest mark registered by any con
gress so far, but it has laid the found
alton for bigger appropriations in the
future if the senate at the extra ses-
sion can pass the Panama canal
treaty. These appropriations amount
to about one. eleventh of the total re-
-eeipts of the government from, the
time it began business in 1850 up till
1902. While the country is increas-
ing In population and wealth the ap-
preparations more than keep step with
this increase. The total. expenditures
of the government per capita in 1870
were about eight dollars. Then for a
series of years the expenditures de-
creased while population increased,
thus reducing the per capita to about
six dollars. Since the last return of
the republicans. to power the per cap
its expenditures have increased with
phenomenal rapidly, until now it
amounts to ten dollars for every per-!
son in the country. e.. s..s.:s j.
The antitrust legislation passed
has had . healthful influence on the
trusts. Az shown elsewhere In this is
sue trust stock has been going up In:
value, and the trust magnates WILL un-
:doubtedly vote the late congress 9
complete success a. far IS trust leeis-5
1lation isooncerned. s.ss:zs s:s ..
ByA blunder Of the printer, last
Saturdays var story was headed
.'second Fight Of tie Monitor Hero
instsad IS the proper title 3. Farragut,sI
Dash 6 Port Hudso Tho account
#of Capt. Wordsn, o second fight p
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