New-York tribune., 1906-04-02
WORK OF CONGRESS.
CERTIFYING PROGRESS.
U-hat Has Been Done Thus Far
Situation Well an Hand.
IRON The Tribune Rureau.l

washington. April 1.-The 59th Congress IN
nc first four months OF its existence has
-esuv accomplished far greater amount or
work thar is apparent 20 the casual observer
substantial progress having been made on all
,be important measures before the Cons-ess
and a large amount OF the routine work having
heen disposed Of. In fact, the legislative pro-
rranme may now he said 10 he complete The
leaders know precisely what they have before
then1. and substantially the manner in which ~
viii he done. and with that order which has al
ways enabled the Republican party 10 maintain
its reputation as great constructive political
organization each days task will be met ana
disposed OF and final adjournment will, in all
probability. he taken somewhere between the
middle and the end Of May.
RAILWAY RATES.
First among the accomplishments OF the frs,
session Of this Congress will be the railway rate
legislation, authorizing the Interstate Commerce
Commission 10 declare what shall constitute a
lust rate between given points, such rate when
decreed by the commission 10 he binding on the
common carrier involved until and unless the
decree OF the commission is set aside by the
courts.
The passage by the House Of the Hepburn bill
which contains no provision for review OF the
decisions OF the commission by the courts the
inability Of the Senate committee. 10 which the
measure referred, 10 reach an agreement
snd the final reporting Of the measure with the
understanding that il should he amended on the
floor Of The Senate, are all recent history. II
may now be safely predicted that the Hepburn
bin which ore OF the wags OF the Senate de-
cla-es passed the House but never stopped
there long enough for consideration will be
amended by the addition Of the Knox court re-
view amendment. with possibly some minor
changes, and the Spooner cash deposit amend
rnent. requiring any carrier who obtains an in
junction suspending the application OF the rate
decreed by the commission pending final decision
~ the courts 10 deposit the excess rates col
lected with the clerk Of the court such excess
n be returned 90 The shippers in the event that
the decision Of the commission is sustained by
The courts. 70 be returned TO the carrier in the
opposite event An effort viii he made 10 fix a
day on which the final vote on the Rate bill will
he taken, in course Of the coming week and X
IS hoped that The measure can be disposed Of in
the month Of April.
PHILIPPINE TARIFF
Second in importance 10 the rate bill from the
point Of view Of the administration, is the Phil
fpptne Tariff hill which accords free trade TO
The Philippines on all products OF the archi-
pelago, save tobacco, sugar and rice. reduces the
duties on the products named 10 % per cent OF
the DLngley rates, and provides for free trade
IN them after 1909. This measure. having passed
the House under the spur Of the party lash nov,
languishes in the Senate Committee on the Phil
ippines The leaders say that II the adrinistra-
tion, notably Secretary Taft, who has warmly
championed the bill will ACCEPT E reduction OF
the tariff on Philippine sugar. tobacco ard rice
70 20 per cent of the Dingley rates with free
trade in al other products. and no provision for
any future reduction on the products named
IL can probably be accommodated It is be-
heved that 50 amended the bill can be reported
N The Senate and passed, and there is little rea-
son 70 believe that the House would fail 70 ac-
oApt what The Senate was willing 10 conccda in
this respect Il the Secretary Of War determines
mat IL would be wiser to wait with the hope of
securing 2 whole loaf ultimately the bill will
doubtless be defeated even If II can be brought
before 7h@ Senate ar all. which most Senators
doubt
SINGLE STATEHOOD
Statehood legislation will be enacted At this
session. a measure permitting Oklahoma and
indian Territory 10 combine and enter the union
as single state viii be placed on the statute
h'oks- The measure Is now in conference, where
some method Is being sought Of applying balm
=" the wounded feelings Of the House which
passed measure providing for statehood for
me territories named, and for Arizona and New
Mexico as another combination state only TO
..''F t-- Sf,oil provision rurhieSsly rejected by
ile Senate. of course. the Senate view Will IL
fi7sfey prevail. bur the gentlest possible method
- convincing The House that il is not really
anxious for the two-sJate proposition is now
being sought.
An agreement. has been reached on the Lodge
Consular Reform bill and while the measure
Goes not 90 so far as the friends Of consular re-
form had hoped II would. it is 2 considerable
step IN the right direction, and must he reckoned
among the irnporJa1t legislative achievements
- the present session.
SUBSIDY SLEEPING.
The revised Ship Subsidy bill reported and
strongly advocated by the Merchant Marine
Commission, has been passed by the Senate and
Is sleeping peacefully in the House committee
presided o7er by Charles II. Grosvenor. II
sleeps the sleep that knows no waking" accord
ing 70 those who are usually acquainted with
me designs n The Speaker. II is maintained
that when the Shipping bill reached the lower
chamber il was promptly greeted with the in
Ferted thumb of Uncle Joe" and that II will
not Tlse - rerpleX the souls Of the statesmen in
this Congress
An Immense amour of work in the way of
taking testimony mas been performed by the
Senate Committee on Interoceanic Canals which
rs charged with the important task of deternin-
ing for the Senate on the form Of canal 10 be
o1nstructed The indications are that the COM