Evening journal., 1905-04-13
THE WORK 0FCONGRESS
Results of Last Session Re
viewed by Leaders.
OPPOSITE OPINIONS coETRAsTED.

what Representative John sharp
Williams, Democratic Floor Leader,
Thinks Congress should Have Done.
Impressions OF Serene G. Payne,
Chairman OF ways and Means Com
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 |
It did not do no men are more compe-
tent to speak than the floor leaders, /
Republican and Democratic, Of the |
house Of representatives,, Serene e. |
Payne of New York and John Sharp |
Williams Of Mississippi. They prepared |
the following statements just before
the adjournment Of congress.
Representative Serene Il. Payne,
chairman OF the ways and means COM
mittee, Republican floor leader, said:
TN reviewing the work Of the Fifty
eighth congress it 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
dlclous amendments to that legislation
and to the perfection of It. For exam
pie it perfected the civil government
scheme for the Philippines, revised the
tariff and the revenue laws Of the is
land. perfected civil government for
Porto Rico and made effective reci-
procity with Cuba.
1T has strengthened the laws deal
ing with great corporations. It is to
be regretted that the statehood bill
and the railroad rate bill cannot be
completed at the present session; also
the BIZ 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
viii 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. / 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 SlOO, 200. 600 annually. They have
also been reduced this calendar year
on account Of the reciprocity with Gu
ba. But this is a growing country. EX-
penses naturally increase, as do reve-
nues. It 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. 1t 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 th,
trusts more thoroughly, for 1t has beer
shown that even when we win a law
suit against them and even bring t.
bear the machinery of the injunction
as was the case in the beef trust, th'
trust continues to do that which it hai
marked out and pays no attention
whatever to the government.
1T should have admitted the new
states and should have kept faith a
any rate with Arizona by not attempt
ing to put her in with New Mexico owe
the protest of the people of both ter
rltorles Even if congress could no
agree on that it ought to have admit
ted Oklahoma and Indian Territor.
either as one state or as two.
Congress has made no progress 4
line with the bOasted presidential pol
icy Of making easier opportunities 70
arbitration in case of quarrels wit
foreign nations. But it increased tn
war expenditures under the pretext o
being prepared for some war whic
nobody expects. although holding i
allegiance needed appropriations for II
ternational improvements.
''The truth is the Republican part
has ceased to be party of progres
and affirmation and is doing its bes
20 remain, Notwithstanding ehe restiv'
ness Of the president. dancing on th
sane spot without going forward
sideways except in one respect
has progressed away from the Monrc
doctrine toward the new and startlln
Roosevelt doctrine peculiarly illustra
ed Ia the recent executive dealing
with Santo Domingo.
Whether the senate viii follow Il
president and make public declarauo
to the world that our army and nav
are international constables for II
collection Of debts due American an
European spectators in the tsopi'
remains to be seem
Rats and BaEpipeH.
1t is a strange fact, as has been fr
- f.r4 fc