The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-03-06
THE WORK CONGRESS
Results of Last Session Re-
viewed by Leaders.
OPPOSITE OPINIONS ooNTRAsTED
What Representative John sharp
Williams, Democratic Floor Leader,
Thinks Congress should Have Done.
Impressions of Serene G. Payne,
mittee.

The last session of the Fifty eighth
congress, which began Dec. 3, has not
been productive of much general legis-
lation, says a Washington special dis
patch to the New York World.
About the things which congress did
at Its last session and the things which
1t did not do no men are more compe-
tent to speak than the floor leaders,
Republican and Democratic, of the
house of representatives, Serene H..
Payne of New York and John Sharp
Williams of Mississippi. They prepared
the following statements just before
the adjournment of congress.
Representative Serene L. Payne,
chairman of the ways and means COM
mittee, Republican floor leader, said:
"In reviewing the work of the Fifty
eighth congress 1t Will be necessary to
bear In mind that this congress came
in when the Republican party had been
In power In both branches for six
years. 1t had already legislated upon
every great subject then agitated, such
as the tariff, the isthmian canal and
our island possessions.
This congress, therefore, practically
confined itself to the enactment of ju-
dicious amendments to that legislation
and to the perfection of 1t. For exam
pie, 1t perfected the civil government
scheme for the Philippines, revised the
tariff and the revenue laws OF the is
tpv fnI iyri1
Porto Rico and made effective reci-
procity with Cuba.
"It has strengthened the laws deal
ing with great corporations. 1t is to
be regretted that the statehood bill
and the railroad rate bill cannot be
the bill from the ways and means COM
mittee cutting down the tariff on sugar
and tobacco from the Philippines.
''The subject matter of these bills
has been pretty well digested, and
congress will be prepared to take them
up at the beginning of the next ses-
sion, with the prospect that legislation
will result This session of congress
has been occupied largely with appro-
priation bills, with a view to economy,
so that the appropriations will not ex-
ceed the revenue. l believe that re-
suit has been accomplished. The rev.
enues have been decreased because OF
the repeal OF the war tax acts, amount
ing to 800, 900, 900 annually They have
also been reduced this calendar year
ON account of the reciprocity with Gu
ba. But this Is growing country. Ex-
penses naturally increase, as do reve
nues. 1t would seem that wise econo-
my will avoid deficiencies and the oc-
casion for any increase In taxation"
Representative John Sharp Williams
of Mississippi, Democratic floor leader,
said:
Congress at this session has done
nothing but pass the appropriation
bills. Ii is true the house passed a
railroad rate bill, with twice as many
Republican recalcitrants as Democrat
ic ones. That is virtually all. Even
the rate making bill. in section IA, Of
fers two or three opportunities for end
less litigation, which makes it far less
useful than it might be.
Congress should have revised the
tariff. especially the steel schedule,
such as structural steel and agricul-
tural implements. 1t ought to have
passed some legislation to curb the
trusts more thoroughly. for 1t has been
shown that even when we win a law
suit against them and even bring to
bear the machinery of the injunction.
as was the case In the beef trust. the
trust continues to do that which 1t has
marked out and pays no attention
whatever to the government.
at should have admitted the new
states and should have kept faith at
any rate with Arizona by not attempt
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