The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-29
WHAT THEY
DID NOT DO
Republican Majority III House
Only Passed Bills Necessary
to Keep Wheels Going.
R0PRlATI0N BILLS PASSED.
Congress Adjourned Without
Acting OH Revision OF
Tariff.
(rrom Our Regular Correspondent

(rrrom Our Regular Correspondento
WAStI1 Notion, d. c., April 2S.--It can-
no. be charged by the Democrats that
grcss, which came to an end to-day, did
irany things which it should not have
done, hut 1t may be charged with perfect
proprety that it left undone many
things which 1t should have done. Re-
publicans can commend 1t and will, but
praise must be given it for having failed
to do many things the country feared 1t
would do. Tho Republican majority all
lowed themselves to do only what was
absolutely necessary to keep the wheels
of government turning. 1t is almost inn
possible to point to anything accom-
splshod, save the enactment intoS law of
tic Usual appropriation bills, without
which the machinery OF government
would have had to stop.
DID NOT TOUCH TARIFF.
This Congress was pledged to revise
tile tariff
There was not introduced a single bill
by q Republican of the Senate or House
OF Representatives aimed to accomplish
anything or the kind. Several Democrats
introduced bills drawn to effect red,ic-
tions III tariff duties on articles made
b.. trusts, and which are sold abroad at
cheaper prices than at home. But the
Republicans would not allow these bills
to be reported, and would not thenl-8
selves take UP any measure me-, q q simi-s
lar nature. 1t was demonstrated as
clearly as anything could bo that the Re-
publican party is as strongly welded to
the doctrine OF n protective tariff as ever
it was and that there is ever 70 be
any thrift revision it8must come from the
Democratic party. i4
NO CURRENCY REFORM.
This Congress was pledged to reform
the currency system.
Several Republicans broke from the
control of the party bosses long enough
to draw and Introduce bills which pro-
ppsed to effect some measure of relief
from existing conditions In the finan-
cial world. They We're never reported
from committees. and it Is more than
suspected that many of them We're never
intended to be heard OF after having
been sent to committee. Senator Aldrich.
chairman of the Committee on Finance,
said at the last session of Congress that
the reforms in our currency system had
been so long postponed that the safety
point was passed, and grave danger
threatened the financial interests of the
country. He made vain efforts to have
u reform law enacted last session, and
was apparently SO much in earnest In
the matter that he had the Democratic
as we'll as the Republican, members of
the committee In session for some weeks;
considering bill to be presented at this
session, and 1t was understood that q
bill agreed on in the committee, would
be introduced and passed us soon as Con-
gress met.
There was not line Of legislation on
the subject, and there was not a sylla-
bic uttered on the floor of the Senate or
House. so fan as can be remembered,
Indicating that there was any necessity
for currency reform,
NOTHING DONE FOR tIIARBORS.
Demands came from all sections of the
country for Improvement OF rivers and
5harbors, which have, in many Instances.
been neglected, until navigation Is much
i,upeded But Chairman Burton or the
House Committee on Rivers and lIarbors.
and m uncrowned King, 50 far as his
absolute sway over the members of the
con,,nt,ee is concerned, would not al
low tlo committee to report q bill for
~, iuprpvcmcnt of WATERWAYS, and
when the Senate IN passing the House
III making n small appropriation for
thc protection of work already begun.
amended 1t so as to provide for surveys
in order that when the committee TOOK
m tho matter OF .lver and harbor I'M
rrpyemcnt at thcfr<.;t session, IL could
have in its possession reliable DATA as 70
cost Of various work contemplated f'ut
the House bosses fought these leaturos
so ha,d that practically all of them We're
kil,ea. and the whole matter of harbor
4