The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-22
RECORD OF CONGRESS
SHORT IN RESULTS
Much Talk, But Only Cuban
Bill Passed.
MANY BILLS INTRODUCED
Eleven Thousand of Them in the Two
Houses in Twenty
six Days.

The deliberations of Congress in the
extraordinary session and the regular
session, up to the adjournment Satur-
day for the Christmas holidays, makes
formidable record in extent of print
ing, but little In the way of accomplish
ment.
In the six weeks Congress has been
assembled since the extraordinary SEES
sion began, there were thirty-six work.
ing days, but the Senate was in session
only twenty-six and the House twenty
five days Of that time. The speeches
made cover 4l4 pages of the congress
sional Record" In the House $3.50
bills have been introduced, while
2,S59 have been presented in the Senate
Thousands of petitions have been re-
ceived I'm both houses on all kinds OF
subjects, including prayers for the ejec-
ton of Senator Smoot from the Senate,
the adoption of service pension laws.
Endorsements of the Panama policy OF
the Administration, a I'd so on, down to
requests for mere local improvements.
One Important Action.
During all this time. but one impor-
tant piece Of legislation affecting the en-
tire country has been adopted by Con-
gress and sent to the President for his
signature. That is the Cuban reciprocity
bin. The Senate has ratified the impor-
tant Chinese commercial treaty. but
that did not REQUIRE action by the
House
In the House the pension appropria-
ton bill has been passed. but five days
were spent upon its consideration this |
year, when ten minutes sufficed TO dis
pose Of the same bin last year. The
Senate has passed the Columbus. Ohio. |
barracks bill and a number OF private |
pension bills.
A Favorable Record
While the record OF accomplishments
is thus small, IL yet compares favor
ably with the usual before Christmas
sessions Of a new Congress. The ex-
ira session enabled the organization Of
House machinery-a process that usually
occupies the time until Christmas-to be
perfected by the beginning OF the regu-
lar session.
The committees Of both houses have
been hard at work. General Woods rec
ord has been pretty thoroughly investi- |
gated by the Senate Military Commit /
tee; preparations have been made to in
vestigate Senator Smoot and the Nor
mon church. and a large number of
more or less important bills have been
reported from committees and placed |
upon the calendars OF both houses. |
ready for consideration when Congress /
reassembIcs in January.
On Party Lines.
The House has divided on party lines
on the discussion OF the PostofRce scan
dals, with an additional division among
Republicans occasioned by the desire Of
OF the papers bearing on tho recent
investigation. AS a result. the Post /
Office Committee has published the J
Bristow. Bonaparte. and Conrad re-
ports, and the Committee on Postoflce |
Expenditures Is to receive what is left. /
unless the Postmaster General should |
decline TO transmit II on the ground !
that the ends OF Justice might be /
thwarted by the step. Nearly all the !
election contests have been ser for heard
ing. and one-the Dantzler-Lever case
has already been argued
The Judiciary Committee is working |
on the Impeachment charges directed |
against Judge Charles Swsyne. of 1
northern Florida. and is prepared. also. |
to look into the status OF the Isle Of /
Pines, as provided by the Crumpacker /
resolution, opening up another contro-
Nersy between House and Senate as 10 \
the rights OF the latter 10 act without I
the concurrence of the former IN ced- /
Ing the domain 10 Cuba
Issues for Campaign
Incidentally. marty lines have been
drawn in both houses and preparations /
made for the outlining Of the issues of !
the Presidential campaign next year /
The Administrations Panama policy has /
been attacked and defended In both
houses, and il is pretty certain that it |
will be heard of in the campaign. |
Tariff talk has not been brought promi- !
nently forward yet. but il is expected
that more viii be heard on that sub |
ject later in the session.