New-York tribune., 1906-07-01
TIE WORK OF THE SESSION.

1t is easy 20 misjudge the work of 4 Con-
gress in the rush and hurry which precede ad-
journment. Compromises must be made and de-
serving projects must be sacrificed or postponed
if the programme for the closing week is to be
carried through according to schedule. Com
plants that some things should have been bet
ter done and other things should not have been
left undone natural in the first moments
of Irritation and disappointment. Such minor
| failures in the session just ended have not es.
| capped criticism. Yet it viii be conceded on
sober second thought that these failures are in
significant when set alongside the solid achieve
ments of this Congress-achievements which will
entitle it to a place in history among our half
dozen greatest Congresses. Certainly in its con-
sistent and radical amplifcatlon of the federal
power the legislation of the 59th Congress is
destined 10 leave vital impress on our political
and constitutional development.
In summing up the work of the last seven
months three measures stand out conspicuously.
In the Railroad Rate bill, the Pure Food bill
and the meat inspection clauses of the Agri-
cultural Appropriation bill Congress has ac-
cepted and applied the theory that the federal
power can be appealed to and should be ap-
pealed TO to check the aggressions of great cor
porate interests bent on overriding individual
rights and narrowing individual opportunity.
The railroads of the country have long counte-
nanced unfair determinations in favor of power
full corporate patrons, and the manufacturers of
foods and medicines have long practised frauds
dangerous TO the health and costly to the pocket
Of the individual consumer These interests
have been too vast or too powerful to be regu-
lated by state action and have hitherto success
fully contested legislation subjecting them to
effective federal control. The government has
now taken long step toward asserting not only
its power, but it's purpose to stand between the
great corporate bodies which operate on its suf-
ferance and the individual citizen who has
hitherto been victimfZed by their unlawful prac-
tices. Complaint may be made that the laws
passed do not go far enough or are unsatisfac-
tory in this or that detail. But the all impor-
tant fact is that they do go a long way, and
that they blaze path for future Congresses to
follow, if need be. They show that the gov
ernment has a means of compelling fair deal
ing on the part of great industrial and trans
portation interests and is ready to exert it's
strength TO divest them OF dangerous powers and
/ usurped privileges. In no other Congress of our
day could such legislation have been secured,
and it is only fair 10 say that It would not have
been secured in this Congress but for the per-
sistent determination and splendid leadership
of President Roosevelt.
! Apart from these three measures the record
of the session has also been of more than aver
age fruitfulness. An enabling act has been
passed for the admission OF two new states. The
| type of the Isthmian Canal has been determined
A much needed naturalization law has been en-
acted The consular service has been reorgan
lied and put on a modern basis. Denatured al
cohol has been freed from tax and a great i'm
| petus has been thereby given TO it's consumption
| in industry and as a cheapened agent for heat
light and power purposes. The national quar-
antine laws have been strengthened. Never has
greater care been given TO the preparation of
the annual appropriation bills and many perma
nent economies have been effected. In printing
expenses alone about $1O00O00 year has been
saved to the government.
1t is to be regretted that Congress failed to
pass a bill reducing the tariff on Philippine
products. The Senate neglected to act on the
House measure granting this tardy mOdicum of
relief to the Filipino producer. The House
should also have approved the Senate bill pro-
hibiting coTp0h sons from making money con-
| tribudons il connection with elections at which
federal officers are voted for directly or indi-
rectly. These me; sures go over until next win
| Ter, as does the immigration bill, left hanging
IN conference. These postponements are blem-
ishes-but in comparison with the good work
done only slight blemishes-on a record of ex-
| ceptional industry and exceptional usefulness.
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