Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-07-19
THE WORKOFC CONGRESS
Few Measures Of Real Impor-
tance Enacted.
THE CORPORATIONS WERE SPARED

Sonii,issIon The Negative Fri
umDhs of the President ana His
PNrty-SOme Democratic Victories
The rifty-ninth congress will be
known in history as ~iooscvelt's CON
grcss. At the session just ended it
mas done little but sneezc when the
president took snuff. We hear a great
Goal of the presidents legislative tri-
ulnphs. Let us see what they have
been. Congress has passed the rail
road rate bill, a bill which outrageously
dlscriminates in favor Of the Standard
Oil company and allows the railroads
to issue free passes to almost every
body and which was made practically
worthless by the rejection of the
Bailey and La Toilette amendments.
On he whole, it was Il triumph for the
railroad and Standard Oil monoDolies
and the smaller grafters over the peo-
pie. 1T was, in fact, to that extent
also a triumph for Roosevelt.
1T has passed a meat inspection bill
putting the cost of the inspection to
the extent of 100000 a year on the
taxpayers Of the country instead Of
the criminal beef trust, and vet allow
ing the packers to palm off their en-
balmed beef on the public without put
ting the date of the packing on the
can. The beef trust has been greatly
strengthened and rewarded by this
measure at the expense of small pack
org opI tho ,,111,1io TIic, Sc pc,.p-nl+,,
third triumph and will no doubt re-
suit in augmented contributions by the
trust to the campaign fund of the
G. O. p.
Congress, under the lash of Roose-
welt, passed a bill increasing the presi-
dents compensation during the term
for which he was elected $4,000 a
year, upon the pretext Of paying his
travelling expenses, though the consti-
tuition expressly forbids such an in
crease. The Democrats in congress op-
posed it. This was a triumph for
Roosevelt and, like all his real til
umphs, a blow to American institu-
tons.
Against the advice Of the best enSi-
neers in the country the president fore
ed through congress his scheme for 4
lock canal at Panama instead of 4 sea
level canal. This was a triumph of the
transcontinental railroads as we'll as a
triumph of Roosevelt. \. lock canal at
Panama will not Interfere very much
with Hartman. Hill and Morgan. These
men at least owe Il great debt of graft
tude to Roosevelt for his legislative
work.
The proposition to subsidiZe ships
built in this country by the protected
interests was of the presidents pet
measures. 1t passed the senate under
his lash, but it lodged in the house,
where it will rest until the next ses-
sion. Roosevelt will triumph in this
case if the people reflect his henchmen
to congress next fall.
Congress passed the Aldrich resolu-
ton authorizing and directing the pres
ident to purchase materials and equip
ment for the construction of the Pana-
ma canal from the tariff protected
trusts of this country. notwithstanding
lower bids for such articles from Eu-
ropean bidders. This was a triumph
for Roosevelt and the stand Datters.
For years the labor unions have adj
vocated a law making common car
riers liable for injuries to their en-
ployees acting under orders. This bill
vas passed. and Roosevelt gets the
credit due to the labor organizations.
He did nothing to push this bill.
The senate confirmed the appoint
ment of Barnes, Roosevelt's assistant
private secretary. whose brutal treat
ment Of Mrs. Minor Morris, an aged
and respectable woman. Disguised the
people of Washington and the entire
country. This and the travelling az
pense steal were his greatest triumphs.
Congress passed the bill to declare
the true intent and meaning of the act
entitled IAN act in relation to testimo.
nv before the interstate commerce
commission ETC., so as "to extend i'm
munity only to a natural person who
as a witness on the part Of the govern
ment in any proceeding authorized by
any statute testities on oath or in ODE
dience to a subpoena produces relevant
evidence This keeps the natural
persons in the big thieving trusts out
Of Jail. 1t is a great positive triumph
for Roosevelt.
Now for his negative triumphs.
He and his party defeated the bill to
promote he safety of employees and
travellers on railroads by limiting the
hours OF service Of employees thereon.
He and his party defeated the Till
mai bill designed to prohibit contribu-
tons by corporations to campaign cor
ruption funds. This was a mighty tri-
umph over honesty and good govern
ment.
He and his party defeated the eight
hour bill, he child labor bill, the prison
labor bill, the bill to modify the Philip
pine tariff. the bill to reduce all tariff
rates which exceed 100 per cent and
all other tariff reform measures. the
La Toilette joint resolution to reserve
all coal, oil and Ignite deposits in the
public domain for the use of the United
States; the rillman resolution for the
investigation of national banks in re-