The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-07-06
CONGRESS IN THE LAST
DAYS OF ITS SESSION

sociations. And yet no one, familiar
with the situation, would accuse him
of dishonesty. He is too wealthy to az
ford to be dishonest In legislation. But
Mr.. Wadsworth, without ever having
distinguished himself for ability as
legislator during his many years of
service, has a penchant for getting on
the losing side of a cause.
Speaker Cannon, as the situation is
viewed here, had at least one very good
argument for his position. That is that
the assessment of the cost of inspection
upon the packers would open the way
for abuses and would also take the con-
troll of the purse strings in that par
ticular instance, away from Congress.
1t may not be a popular thing to say
in many parts OF the country where
the Department of Agriculture has
showered favors and appropriations,
but 1t is none the less the truth that
there are and have been great abuses
OF power in that department. 1t spends
appropriations in defiance of Congress
Secretary Wilson is the chief offender
But the department is in high favor
with the farmers, who are suspicious
OF any effort to restrict its operations
funds appropriated by Congress in past
years for the inspection of meat have
not been accounted for as closely as
they should have been and have some
times been used for other, and perhaps
less mer!torious work.
! Accordingly the House Republican
leaders permitted some of their just
grievances against the Department of
Agriculture and certain objections,
probably reasonable, to the Beveridge
rider to he utilized by the pugnacious
packers. The latter thought they could
control in the House against the Presi-
dent and the House leaders were gradu-
ally pushed into a position where they
appeared to the general public as the
champions of the packers and the op-
ponents of the President.
THE PEOPLES BACKING.
The House leaders reckoned hastily
as regards their power in comparison
with the Presidents power. He knew
that the people were thinking far less
about executive Interference with Cen
gress than about having clean meat
and he never drove cause home with
greater force and determination. Even
while the Republican leaders were lay
ing their plans to undo him, many Re-
publican members were breaking away
from them, knowing that they could
not face their constituents and sue
cessfully explain why they had not fol-
lowed the President. The Democrats
in the House took the Presidents side,
the only exceptions of note being the
Texas Democrats, who have a large
constituency OF cattle raisers, alarmed
lest the packers make reprisals on
them to recoup the losses incident to
inspection.
| 1t is already practically assured that
the Beveridge amendment, which the
President champions, will become law,
with but slight notifications. There
are several nice questions about the
propriety of a President writing such
letters as he did and talking as he did
to branch OF Congress-. No President
ever came out so boldly and so BADLY
before. But official Washington reeog-
nizes that the people want the reforms
and that they are not disposed to bag
gle as to the propriety of methods. The
Republican leaders raised their objec-
lions on these grounds in bad cause,
as the President was well aware from
the start.
THE PRESIDENT IN POLITICS.
President Roosevelt's domination of
the Republican organizations in several
states has not been furthered by the
executive interference with legislation
SO prominent during the present session
of Congress and especially In the legis-
lation for inspection of meat The
leaders Of these state organizations are
for the most part Senators or members
Of the House.
The most striking example on this
point Is the recent alienation of Repre-
sentative James w. Wadsworth of New
York. The President has had no more
valiant defender in the House than Mr.
Wadsworth Other New York members
expressed their dislike of the President
on occasions and played politics as far
as they dared to the Presidents dis
comfiture. Long before his son was
designated. largely by the Presidents
influence for speaker of the New York
Legislature, Mr.. Wadsworth was al
ways taking the Presidents part He
would not listen to tales Republican
members are fond of telling about the
Presidents Inconsistencies.
II the break between them becomes
permanent, Mr.. Wadsworth will likely
be able to embarrass the Presidents
plans for controlling New York politics
during the next two years of his term
In the White House. He Is a recog-
nized leader in his section OF New York
State and his disaffection would be
influential at "A time when many New
Workers are already protesting against
any presidential Interference.
Republicans OF the delegation of an
other large state-Pennsylvan
not altogether pleased with the part IN.
President IL supposed TO be playing in
their state politics. He Is accused OF
having made an alliance with senator
Penrose 10 recognize the ticket the reg
ular organization nominated a few days
ago AT Harrisburg The revolt against
the organization n pronounced, but as
long as the President II In accord with
II they dare do nothing but meeklv
approve. II the Democrats endorse the
I.inooln ticket as n now seems prob
able they Will do, the chances NJ de-
feating eight or ten Republican pon-
RraHsmen and tho election ~ Demo
Gratis ln their stead are declared 30 BIO