The National tribune., 1906-07-05
CONGRESS QUITS.
TalFes Over and Members utsd Of ueh Excellent Legs.
lation Tremendous Appropriations Raft Of Bills, Some
Good Many Very Bad-Presdeat Pleased Speaker appy-A
Few Bills Vetoed
--1 ~

quistic stunts that amused everybody
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 bashfui
and. after half dozen strong-armed
Republicans had dragged him to the
front, he whistled Home. Sweet Home
and several other old-time tfavorites
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 Hallelujah." and everyone Joined
In. Uncle Pete Hepburn. OF Iowa, did
his part in voice like q rusty gate
hinge. and Gen. Grosvenor, of Ohio. who
will say goodLby 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.
though just from under the spigot. The
House was hot as blazes by this time.
and even kindly-intentioned human ma
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 at
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
pared with s820,OOO.O00 for the pres
ent fiscal year and $791.0OO.0GO for the
fiscal year 1906. 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 $1,5OO,0OO 900
will be chalked up against the 59th
Congress. The major accomplishments
OF the first session Of the present Con-
gress may be briefly summarized as fol-
lows: dom.
1t enacted law regulating railroad
rates: AM act was passed providing for
a rigid inspection Of meat and meat
products; new laws were passed relat>
ing to natupasization; the consular SER
vice was reorganized; a pure food law
was passed:"a bill authorizing the es-
tablishmspt Of National quarantine was
put upon the statutes: Indian Territory
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
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 charging the powers of
the National quarantine service, amend
ing the naturalization laws and impos-
to employees.
Nearly $1,000 bills were introduced
in the House. while $500 were offered
in the Senate. The Congress enacted
1000 laws. or this number 900 were
OF public nature. The remainder
were private" mostly pension grants.
The 59th Congress was satisfied with
the enactment Of 3,4OO laws. a record
which is surpassed by the private" acts
Of hn
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 1t 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. 3.
This Congress has done as much talk
Ing In 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
riers with the coal and oil industries
and the elevator and grain buying and
forwarding business.
The functions of the National Gov
eminent were enlarged by the enact
ment Of the pure food and meat inspec-
ton bills.
or the legislation enacted the railroad
rate law Is, OF course. foremost in i'm
portance. This act increases the men,
berShip of the Interstate Commerce
Commission to seven. and increases the
salary of each Commissioner to $4,000
year. The orders Of the Federal body
fixing railroad rates are made subject
to the broadcast 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 a COM
mon management which may be en-
gagged inj Interstate or foreign COM
merce, either passenger or freight. 1t
broadens the term Transportation" to
include ppiyatei car lines, elevators and
all other inStrumen tn litias for tho chin