Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-07-19

"RoosEvELT's CONGRESS" DID
NOT DO MUCH FOR PEOPLE.

IflumphS OF Legislation, On
Investigation, Prove to Be Chiefly
in the interests of Trusts and
Monopolies.
The Fifty-ninth congress will be
known in history as Roosevelt's con-
gress. At the session just ended it
has done little but sneeze when the
president took snuff. We hear a great
deal Of the presidents legislative tri-
umphs. Let us see what they have
been. Congress has passed the rail.
road rate bill, a bill which outrageous
ly discriminates in favor of the Stand
ard Oil company, and allows the rail-
roads to issue free passes to almost
everybody, and which was made prac-
tically worthless by the rejection Of
the Bailey and La Toilette amend
ments. On the whole it was a tri-
umph for the railroad and Standard
Oil monopolies and the smaller graft.
ers over the people. 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 $4,000, 900 a year on the
tax payers of the country. instead of
the criminal beef trust, and yet allow
ing the packers to palm off it's 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
ers and the public. This is Roose-
velt's third triumph, and will, no
doubt, result in augmented contribu.
tons by the trust to the campaign
fund of the G. o. P.
Congress, under the lash of Roose-
welt, passed a bill increasing the pres.
dents compensation during the term
for which he vas elected $4,000 a
year, upon the pretext of paying his
travelling expenses, though the con
stitution expressly forbids such an in.
crease. The Democrats in congress
opposed it. This was a triumph for
Roosevelt, and, like all his real tri-
umphs, a blow to American institu,
tons.
Against the advice of the best en-
gineers in the country the president
forced through congress his scheme
for a lock canal at Panama, instead Of
G. sea level canal. This was a triumph
of the transcontinental railroads al
we'll as a triumph of Roosevelt. A
lock canal at Panama will not inter
fere very much with Hartman, Hill
or Morgan. These men, at least, owe
a great debt of gratitude to Roosevelt
for his legislative work.
The proposition to substitute ships
built in this country by the protected
interests was n 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 session. Roosevelt will triumph
in this case, if the people will reelec'
his henchmen to congress next fall.
Congress passed the Aldrich reso
luton, authorizing and directing thu
president to purchase materials ant
| equipment for the construction of tn,
Panama canal from the tariff-protect
ed trusts of this country, notwith
standing lower bids for such articles
from European bidders. This was
triumph for Roosevelt and the stand
patters.
For years the labor unions have ad
vocated a law making common car
riers liable for injuries to their EN-
ployes acting under orders. This bill
vas passed, and. Roosevelt gets tn
credit due to the labor organizations
He did nothing to push this bill.
The senate confirmed the appoint
ment of Barnes, Roosevelt's assistan
private secretary, whose brutal treat
ment of Mrs. Minor Morris an age,
and respectable woman, disguised tn
people of Washington and the entir
country. This and the travelling es
pense steal were his greatest tr1
umphs.
Congress passed the bill to declar
the true intent and meaning of tn
act entitled can act in relation t
testimony before the interstate con
merce commission" etc, so as ito e1
tend immunity only to a natural pei
son who, as a witness on the part c
the government in any %proceedin
authorized by any statue, testifes o
oath, or in obedience to a subpoen
produces relevant evidence" Thi
keeps the natural persons" in the hi
tsieving trusts out of jail. 1t is
great positive triumph for Roosevelt
Now, for his negative triumphs.
He and his party defeated the bi
to promote the safety Of employees an
travellers on railroads by limiting tn
hours of service of employees Thereon
He and his party defeated the Til
man bill. designed to prohibit CO..
tributions by corporations to can
paign corruption funds. This was
mighty triumph v e honesty an
good government.
He and his party defeated the eigh
hour bill; the child labor bill; ii
prison labor bill; the bill to modii
the Philippine tariff; the bill to redut
all tariff rates which exceed 100 p,
cent, and all other tariff reform mea
ures; the La Toilette joint resolutit