The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-30
The Results of the Session.

The ffty-ninth congress has made his
tory. It has had an eventful exist
ence. The group Of laws made by the
first session of this congress marks an
era in American legislation. The rate
bill, the pure food bill, the meat in
spection bill, the free alcohol bill, the
canal bill, and the immigration bill are
all noteworthy. The rate bill asserts
the right and duty Of congress to con-
troll corporations engaged In interstate
transportation The meat and pure
food bills assert the same right and
duty over the manufacture Of articles
intended for interstate distribution.
-, These bills met some opposition from
the states rights people, but that oppo-
~sition gave way before the argument
of common sense that congress having
the power to, act and the duty to act
being pressing it should not shirk the
burden, but assume It and carry Il.
The states are not debarred thereby
from exercising their own police powers
coneurrently within their own jurisdic-
ton. ,1~'sz' y "a > :'-'' $3.50
- The free alcohol bill was piece Of
remedial legislation calculated to bring
down a corrupt monopoly Of the means
of power and light It was simple in
principle involving nothing but re-
mission by the federal government Of
a tax which it had perfect right to
levy and collect. r.
The canal bill settled a question
which had vexed and annoyed the coun-
try and amused foreigners. It makes
up che mind Of the American people.
The Immigration. bill is not specially
noteworthy except as showing that con
gress is beginning to- think seriously
about the source Of ourzprincipal sup
| ply Of new citizens - @Nts. $S> =
The passage of such a remarkable
number of bills Of. q general characte,
is, sufficient to stamp the fifty ninth
congress as having had leadership
But when we come to look for the lead
er, it is rather remarkable that we dc
not find him in either house Of congress
It is merely stating the truth to say
that the hand is the hand of Roosevelt
The rate bill and the meat bill were
passed by him. The canal, bill. is in the
same category, and the alcohol bill ant
immigration bills were urged upon I'll,
attention Of congress by him in spe
cial and general messages. The pur
food bill passed in the senate as the re
suit of long wrestle of that body wit
the question. When it reached tn
house it was fortuitously mixed u
with the meat inspection discussion
which the president had provoked. L
the eyes Of the people the two wer
one. They demanded both andSwe ar
inclined to believe that the house un
der the thumb Of Speaker Canno
grudgingly gave either. ~
Congress at the session just close
has given the country results Of NOR
l. than ordinary value. Itwould be pleas
ant to be able, to accept them as fro1
the hands Of an altogether cheerful, civ
er.Sa It would be an error, however, t
F ignore the fact that the national legis
lature has been under heavier pressur
during the past session from publ
sentiment and from the executive d
partment than it has been accustome
:, to- It would be quite too generous t
grant that such highly benefcent IT
suits would have been attained in sue
large measure without the spur of
thoroly aroused public and the nearb
. presence of an executive whose mos
! distinguished characteristic is his hab
of going directly after results.