The Washington times., 1904-05-01
Panama Canal Treaty
Ratified Cuban Rec
iprocity Enacted.
Supply Bills Passed, But
Legislative Measures
Neglected.
Members Who Have
Come Into Prominence.
Political Issues.
w yHAT has Congress done?
NM To this question the an
swer from Democratic sources

NM TO this question the an
V swer from Democratic sources
IS. Nothing. except spend money"
That is a partisan and somewhat I'M
fair and brutal way of epitomizing the
result of the labors of the Fifty-eighth
Congress. Nevertheless, every Repuo-
hcan Wall admit that it is substantially
true. but he viii express it in milder.
more explanatory and qualifying Ian
Cuage 50 as not to convey the idea to
the voters and taxpayers that Congress
has been extrava CANT and reckless in
the expenditure Of public moneys. As
q matter of fact. Congress has done lit
tie else with two OF three important OK
Ceptions. than pass the general supply
bills for the maintenance of the Gov
eminent but it has done this and adj
sourned the long session earlier than
any other Congress has adjourned in
eighty-six years. Not since the Fiji
teenth Congress has the national legis-
lative body wound up its business in
the long session so early in the year az
April %. The Fifteenth Congress ad-
journed its long session on April 20. and
the average length of the long sessions
has been UP TO July s.
The Purpose of Republicans.
In fact. it was the purpose O. the Re-
publican majority when Congress as
sembled in November to dispose of the
routine. business, pass the appropriation
bins. and go home as soon as possible
without finally acting upon general
legislative matters. This It has sue
ceeded IN doingA No doubt the object
in determining TO avoid legislative
ever that may be, the session of the
t1fty-eighth Congress which has just
closed VIII stand out prominently az a
business session. Whether 1t is adj
juGged to have been reckless and ex-
tr1vagant or careful and economical de-
psnds largely upon the partisan stand
point from which its appropriations are
viewed The figures speak for them
selves, AMI show that the sum OF $751;
575.0e0 in round numbers has been au-
thorized to be expended under the va
rious departments Of the Government
during the fiscal year beginning July l,
1901, and ending June 50. 1905
Democrats point 10 the fact that this
is a much larger sum than was appro-
priated for a corresponding period by
the last Democratic Congress, and In
answer the Republicans point 10 the
further fact that since the last Demo
cratic Congress the country has grown,
in many respects grown enormously, and
that Notwithstanding this large sum in
the aggregate IL is nevertheless upon a
per capita basis a smaller expenditure
than is authorized by most of the civil
lied nations of the earth.
Issues Between Two Parties.
Much of this money is to be paid out
for the maintenance and upbuiIding of
the naval establishment and for the
army, while very little is for domestic
internal Improvements such as the con-
struction OF public buildings and the i'm
provements of rivers and harbors, and
therein lies the issue between the two
political parties upon the questions Of
extravaganza and economy. Notwith-
standing the large appropriations, the
sum Is within the estimated receipts
from revenues during the same period Of
time. But in this there is another issue
raised; it is that greater economy would
enable the curtailment Of revenue-that
is. the reduction Of taxation which
means the reduction of the tariff, and
at this point IS reached what may very
likely be the paramount issue Of the
campaign which is just now coming on,
and because Of which the legislators
were anxious to get back to tbeir homes,
their districts. and their constituents.
Congress has passed the usual supply
bills, but aside from these what Il has
had an opportunity 10 do. or what it
was asked TO do and has neglected or
failed 10 do. stands out more conspic-
uously than what IL has actually done.
There have been introduced In the
House approximately 1850 bills and
resolutions, and about one-third as
many in the Senate. Eighty-five per
cent OF these probably are bills Of a pri-
vate character, pension measures, claim
bills and the like.
Public and Private Measures.
OF these approximately 1900 private
measures, about $50 public bills. and
about thirty public resolutions have be-
come laws. and OF these public measures
considerable majority are only OF a
quasi public character. The most Of
them have been bills to enable railroad
companies to construct bridges across
navigable rivers. measures affecting the
Territories and the District Of Columbia
Yet Congress has enacted some impor-
tant and far-reaching legislation. 1t
was called together in extra session on
November 9, and with the exception Of
the holiday recess was In session until
last Thursday, or altogether about FIVE
and one-half months. Congress was
summoned to meet in extraordinary ses-
sion by the President in order to enact
reciprocity with the new republic Of
Cuba. Because Congress did meet near
IL four weeks before the time according
10 law il would have been required 70
meet, il was enabled 10 conclude its
work and adjourn earlier than usual.
The extraordinary session afforded the
House. where the appropriation bills
originate, an opportunity to organize and
get in shape 10 work by the time the
regular session opened.
The first thing which Congress did was
10 enact the Cuban reciprocity law, and
that act stands out as one OF the most
important performances OF the session.
What Congress Has Done.
But OF still further reaching effect
was the ratification by the Senate OF the
treaty with the new republic Of Panama
by which the United States was enabled