The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-27
SENATE LOAFING
AWAY ITS TINE
Practically Nothing Done in Up
per House, with Plenty
to Do.
Meanwhile the Lower House Has
Accomplished Much and Has
Good Record.
Special to Tha Journal.

special TO The journal.
Chicago, jan: 27.-A Washington
AS usual, the house Of representa-
tives is doing business and the senate
of the United States is loafng shame
fully. There could not be a greater con-
trast than that which exists today in
the legislative progress OF the two
houses of congress.
The record shows that while the
working steadily. day by day, and has
disposed Of much important legisla-
ton. the senate has done worse than
nothing. It has neglected every oppor-
tunity for work. =
A glance over the pages of the Con-
gressional Record proves conclusivelv
that the people would have been just
as well off, and would have been saved
an immense amount of money If the
distinguished senators had stayed at
home since the first Monday of Decem-
ber There have been dozens of things
they might have done, and vet the SEN
ate has accomplished practically moth
ing in the way of public interest. 1t
has passed number of unimportant
bills, but from the, first 'a2y of the SEES
sion until today, there has been practi-
cally nothing in the upper house of con.
grress but unadulterated "wind-iam
ming.'
No Progress Made.
Every important measure which was
before the senate on the first day OF
the present session is there still. Nc
progress whatever has been made on
anything which really concerns the vi,
tai interests of the nation, yet at the
same time the house Of representatives
with four times larger membership
has succeeded in passing one important
90 dt1ro Of fp, @4l
ures are out of the committee stage
and all the business of the house is in
shape where it will bear the scrutiny
Of the people. It is a splendid record
for the lower house Of congress and 6
corresponding disgraceful one for TIT
upper house.
The senate always loafs at the begin
ming Of session. It pursues it's Ieis
urely way until time presses and ther
generally with but slight regard to the
real interests of the country.
Pressing Subjects.
There have been a dozen pressing
subjects properly presented for the con
sideration OF the senate. There is not
one today which has any prospect OF
Immediate settlement. There >have
been executive sessions and open SEES
sions, and the debate has run the gamu
+ of every important subject nominal,
before. the senate. Certain things re
manned unfinished business, and as sool
as they have acquired that status, ar
Hlaid aside temporarily in favor o
other subjects and these, IN turn, ar
laid aside without any practicular rea
son. 49,.
And SO the senate goes along, drifting
from day to day like a ship without
chart, derelict on the legislative sea
where its only function, at the presen
time, seems to be to act as a menace t
such ships as are safely launched in tn
Tdockyard Of the house of representa-
tives.
Do-Nothing Policy.
=, This do-ncthing policy Of the senat
nounced than ever before, and states
men on the house side Of the capitt
naturally are chatting over this senate
rial Indifference to all legislative actor
There have been many hard-tought ba
ties in the house, parties have split VI
the influence Of leaders has been exer
ed ceaselessly on either side, absentee
/ have been drummed, back from sic
! beds, and one great bill after anotht
has been railroaded thru the house
response to the wishes Of the presidel
and the pressure of public opinion.
All this time the senate has dol
nothing. It has not seriously consi
cred any one Of the great public mea
ures, but has considered them all indi
ferently and spasmodically without Il
ly before the senate.