New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-29
TIE WORK or THE SESSION.

By ending its '1ong" session on April IS the
LVIIIth Congress has made a record for ex-
petition without parallel since 1878. The XVIII
Congress In that year finished its labors and left
Washington on April 20. In our own day the
two houses, shouldering vastly increased bur
den Of legislation, have rarely completed the
tasks Of the long session before the middle or
end Of June Some Congresses have sat on into
August and September. and the Lth Congress
broke all records by prolonging fits first session
until October 20. 1SSS. 1t is only fair TO &C
knowledge. however that the LVIIlth Con-
Cress, having been called in extraordinary ses-
sion in November had full month TO prepare
for the work of the regular session No legisla-
ton was actually accomplished Mt that ses-
sion, but the Cuban Reciprocity bill was Writ
ualIy disposed Of, and Speaker Cannon was
able TO name the House committees on Deem
Der g. instead Of delaying their announcement
until January. in accordance with settled prece-
dent.
From the beginning the Republican leaders IN
Congress openly laid their course 10 facilitate
an early adjournment 1t was their fixed pro-
gramme to undertake only such legislation as
was urgently needed and TO avoid entangling
political controversies. This policy has been
risidly adhered TO, and no session for years has.
therefore had so purely businesslike charac-
ter. or, except for certain passing ebullidons OF
temper in its closing days, been SO free from
empty and noisy partisan disputes. The oppo-
sition leadership in both branches had fortu-
nately fallen into firmer and more competent
hands. and the level Of legislative efficiency in
both bodies had. as a consequence. sensibly
risen.
The session iust ended aimed at no startling
legislative achievements. The legislative ma
chine was not run nj full speed. Yet it would
be wrong 10 diSpraise the work Of the session
as humdrUm and coorlcss. 1t has to its credit
two acts Of signal Importance and consequence.
The first is the passage after long delays. of
legislation fulfilling our obligations to Cuba
and validating the reciprocal trade concessions
embodied in the Bliss-Zaldo commercial treaty.
The Cuban Reciprocity BILL making these con-
cessions effective. was passed by the House Of
Representa- ives at the extraordinary session.
But it was not voted on in the Senate until
after the regular session had opened. The sec
ond notable act of the session was the ratifica-
ton by the Senate Of the Hay-Varilla canal
treaty, under the terms Of which the United
States has at last acquired full and satisfac-
tory title TO the ocean-to-ocean strip through
which it IS to construct an isthmian waterway.
The ratification Of the Panama Treaty, securing
the construction under its provisions OF an In
teroceanic canal, is sure TO be recognized as one
Of the salient events in American history. II
19O3-'O5 that. in the face Of a specious and
passionate appeal 10 partisan spirit. IL rose
above mere partisanship and approved the Pan
ANA Convention by a vote which has taken the
canal issue forever out Of politics.
OF other far-reaching general legislation there
has been little in the ses Just ended. Many
changes in the laws have n effected through
clauses carried in apprO ---tion bills. but most
Of the general measures pending go over, IN
acted on in one house or the other. to the De
cember session. In the management OF the ap-
preparation bills Congress has made an ad-
mirable record Of economy. The estimates sub
mitted by the Treasury for 1904-05 called for
an expenditure Of S746,OOO, oO0-S42 900 900 more
than the estimated revenue. By rigid scrutiny
and free use Of the surgeons knife the total Of
appropriations carried has been lowered TO
S69S 600 OO0-leaying the Treasury with an es
timated surplus Of S6,OOO,OO0, instead Of an es-
timated deficit Of S42,OOO,OO0. This perform
ance alone should entltle the session Of 10000
TO honora bic remembrance. Other sessions have
been more crowded, more contentious, more en-
crossed with great politica! questions. But in
few has more attention been given TO the sober
work Of legislation and in practical results few
have been more cTeditably fruitful.