New-York tribune., 1906-06-27
NOT so MUCH HASTE.

The 59th Congress has made so far an excel
| lent legislative record. 1t has shown greater
degree of industry, intelligence and public spirit
than most of its forerunners, and the impOr-
tance Of the work it has done at this session
| cannot be overlooked or disputed. There seems
| TO be some danger, however, that the record
! already made will be marred by too great haste
| in forcing an adjournment. The two houses
are. no doubt, anxious 10 get away before the
Fourth of July. Washington is no summer re-
sort, and federal lawmaking becomes some
thing of a burden as the dog day season ap-
proaches. But other Congresses have sat hero
icalIy through July, August and even Sep
tember, and the personal discomforts of an
other fortnight at the capital are hardly TO be
balanced against the public advantages Of q
cleaned up calendar
Congress cannot indeed, escape well founded
criticism If for the sake OF avoiding the sum-
mer heat 1t disbands and leaves bills of the
utmost importance unpassed or hung up in con-
ference. To leave a measure like the Pure Food
bill suspended in midair after passing both
houses is to invite the charge that the legis-
lative campaign for pure food has lacked sin
cerity. The public is intensely interested in the
effort TO compel the manufacturers of food
products TO practise common honesty. 1t has
been baked of its right to protection through
the persistent obstruction of legislation by the
fraudulent food and drug interests. If Con
gress is in earnest in undOing a gross wrong
on the consumer it will pass a bill for his relief
and pass it now. The average voter cannot be
expected to content himself with the assur-
ance that next winter or some other winter It
will be time enough for him to know, when he
buys an article Of food or drink, whether he
is getting what he wants and what he is charged
for.
For the same reason Congress should pass
at once the bill forbidding corporations to con-
tribute money in connection with any election
at which Presidential electors or Representa-
tives are voted for or in connection with any
election or attempted election of Senators.
This is a reform which public opinion demands,
and there is no good reason why it should not
have its first trial in the approaching Congress
sional campaign. Delay in legslating against
corrupt practices will only suggest evasion, and
such charge will prove embarrassing TO meet
in the present temper of the voters.
1t must be admitted that the House of Rep
resentatives has shown in the last week or two
decided cloudiness of vision in dealing with
legislative problems. It's action on the Immi-
grafton bill was i'll considered and unfortunate
IN that ii prevented any real record of opinion
on vital provisions of the measure. The Senate
immigration bill represented a serious effort TO
deal with a serious situation and was entitled
10 fair parliamentary treatment The special
rule which prevented any aye and no vote
on the head tax and illteracy disqualification
provisions was inadequate and evasive. The
House. in our opinion will better commend
itself to the country by facing questions openly
and courageously than by taking to cover
through unrecorded votes. Haste in legislation
doesn't always make speed and what the coun-
Try wants at this time is not high speed records,
but practical and durable results