The National tribune., 1906-07-05


within hearing distance and nearly
drove Speaker Cannon crazy trying to
find out who was disturbing the peace
and dignity of the National Legislature.
Mr.. Fulkerson isn't particularly bashful
and. after half a dozen strong-armed
Republicans had dragged him to the
front. he whistled Home. Sweet Home
and several other old-time favorites
with trills and variations that made a
hit on the floor and in the galleries.
Choir Leader Watson improved the
first opportunity to start up GLORY.
Glory Halleiujah." and everyone Joined
in. Uncle Pete Hepburn, OF Iowa, did
his part iii voice like a rusty gate
hinge. and Gen. Grosvenor, of Ohio, who
will say good-by at the end of the pres
ent Congress to the seat he has occu-
pied for SO many years. helped along
the refrain and sang through his whis-
kers in approved style.
Everybody was dripping wet as
though just from under the spigot. The
House was hot as blazes by this time,
and even kindly-intentioned human na-
ture could not endure much more, so
the House recessed also, and at night
finished up the business,
The President was in his room on the
Senate side ready to sign bills and en-
tertained many callers. He was in his
happiest vein. and joked and laughed
with everybody. He went off and took
long rides between waits. but was al
ways back ready to write his name when
needed. He left on his special car ut
midnight for Oyster Bay. and by Sun
day night not a handful of Statesmen
were left in town.
The work done by the First Session
of the 59th Congress has been notable
in many ,ways-for its tremendous ap-
preparations, for its talking. and for
the amount of real work accomplished.
There was an abundance of "chewed
wind" as Speaker Cannon has eX-
pressed it, but at the same time thou
sands of laws affecting the general pub
lie welfare and of local interest in the
States were spread upon the statutes.
The session was notable because of the
wide extension of Federal authority and
the tendency of the Congress to regu-
late corporations. The appropriations
will aggregate 5000. 100000. as COM
pared with SS20,000.000 for the pres
ent fiscal year and 1891 100000 for the
fiscal year 1905. Billion dollar Con-
crosses have ceased to surprise the
country. With the expenditures that
will be authorized at the short session
next Winter more than $500. 900. 900
will be chalked up against the 59th
Congress. The major accomplishments
gress may be briefly summarized as fol-
lows: ~,
1t enacted a law regulating railroad
rates: an act was passed providing for
rigid inspection of meat and meat
products; new laws were passed relat>
ing to naturalization; the consular ser
vice was reorganized; a pure food law
was passed. bill authorizing the es-
Establishment Of National quarantine was
mn hn rtn tut T,I
and Oklahoma were admitted into the
Union, and Arizona and New Mexico
are to have an opportunity at the polls
to elect whether they shall join the sis
terhood of States; the internal revenue
tax on denatured alcohol was removed;
the President was authorized to con-
struct lock canal across the Isthmus
of Panama.
Congress at this session dealt almost
exclusively with questions of domestic
concern. The extension of Federal au-
thority has been debated principally
upon the specific questions of regulat-
ing railroad rates and the inspection of
meats, although other important de-
partures have been made by the enact
ment Of laws enlarging the powers of
the National quarantine service. amend
ing the naturalization laws and impos-
ing liabilities upon railroads for injuries
to employees.
Nearly $1,000 bills were introduced
in the House. while $500 were offered
in the Senate. The Congress enacted
1000 laws. OF this number 900 were
of public nature. The remainder
were private" mostly pension grants.
The 59th Congress was satisfied with
the enactment of 3,400 laws, a record
which is surpassed by the private" acts
of the single session of the 59th Con-
gress.
In the field of oratory both Houses
themselves. The debate
in the Senate on the railroad rate bill
was noteworthy. and was pitched on a
high plane. The House began talking
In December and kept it up throughout
the session. The Congressional Record
for the session just closed. when COM
pleted, Will embrace several bulky vol
umes. 1t will pass the 10000 page
mark. Only once before has it ever
reached that figure, and that was in the
51st Congress. which sat until Oct. 2.
This Congress has done as much talk
ing i'm seven months as the 51st did in
10 months.
This Congress was extremely critical
in its attitude toward corporations. 1t
passed a resolution directing the Inter-
state Commerce Commission to inquire
into the relations of the common car
rlerS WIN the coal ana OIL industries
and the elevator and grain buying and
business.
The functions of the National Gov
ernment were enlarged by the enact
ment of the pure food and meat inSpec-
ton bills
OF the legislation enacted the railroad
rate law is, of course foremost in i'm
portance. This act increases the MEM
bership of the Interstate Commerce
Commission to seven, and increases the
salary of each Commissioner to $4,000
a year. The orders of the Federal body
fixing railroad rates are made subject
to the broadest review by the courts,
which may suspend, alter or annul
them. The new law broadens the term
common carrier" to include express
and sleeping car companies, as we'll as
railroads and boat lines under COM
mon management which may be en-
gagged inI Interstate or foreign COM
merce, either passenger or freight 1t
brOadens the term Transportation" to
include pDiyatel car lines, elevators and
all other instrumentalities for the ship
ment of property. 1t provides that all
rates shall be reasonable.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
Is given full power, upon complaint and
after a hearing, to fix reasonable and
just maximum rate, which shall take
effect 80 days after the issuance of the
order of the Commission, such order to
in effect two years unless
by the Commission or after
review by the courts shall have been set
Ii.