The Washington times., 1907-03-02

The last session of the Fifty-ninth
Congress is coming to a close with an
almost UnbrOken record Of complete vic
tories for the Interests"
The same Congress, at its first session,
was under the spell Of radicalism. and
passed much legislation of the most
significant and progressive kind This
winter Il has completely reversed itself.
The railroads. the packers. the high
tariff interests, the express companies
have won decided victories. The big
distilIing and brewing interests VIII
probably make a great killing IN the
closing hours OF the session. All along
the line. legislative effort in the direC-
ton Of more control Of corporate activl-
ties has been baked.
At the same time. the appropriations
have been the largest ever made at a
I single session Of Congress. Despite sol
cmn warnings sounded from time to
time in both houses, the appropriation
measures have fattened 20 a point be-
yond all precedent, and the Federal
Government has reached the expense
limit OF q billion a year.
Revision Postponed.
In the matter OF the tariff, for exam
! pie. the possibility Of revising has been
pretty definitely postponed till after the
next Presidential election There has
! been an effort to force a Republican
caucus in the House on the subject and
/ it has failed. There was a EImOr early
4 in the session that the President might
/ can an extra session 20 consider the
/ tariff, but there will be no extra session.
/ The DIngley schedules seem more secure
/ than at any time in two years past.
! The railroads had some determined
/ fights. out Of which they seem likely 70
/ emerge with most of the glory They
/ succeeded in defeating in the House the
efforts 10 reduce their compensation for
hauling the mails. la Toilette was able
to attach to the postal appropriation
| bill in the Senate an amendment that
would have cut about 100000 on their
| annual compensation for this service,
/ but it was killed by the conference
| committee. Likewise. the railroads were
| able to prevent any action on the La
/ Toilette measure to direct the Interstate
/ Commission 10 make valuation Of the
railroad properties. for use as basis
/ IN rate-making and taxation.
Express Companies Win.
| The express companies in the closing
weeks have won a contest that meant
many millions 10 them, and that Will
| be renewed at the next session. The
I rate bill Of last year forbade railroads
| dealing in the articles they transport,
/ but did not make this prohibition apply
! tC express companies. As a result OF
/ this grant Of immunity, the express
companies have fairly plunged into mer-
\ chandising. All over the country they
have gone into the business Of buying,
| shipping. and selling fruits. vegetables.
meats. produce. etc. and their activities;
! have been threatening 90 drive the COM
| mission men out of business A ire
! mendOus protest was made by the latter,
: and an effort made to secure passage
| Of a resolution ordering an investigation
| Of these activities Of the express com
| panies, as a preliminary 10 legislation,
| next session, to prohibit them from
doing a business of buying and selling
| were able 70 prevent this resolution even
/ being reported from committee.
The liquor interest-the big disullers
( and brewerS-Were determined not "a
| permit passage Of tie Litteheld bill
/ giving States complete jurisdiction over
LIQUORS as soon as. in the processes OF
interstate commerce, they had crossed
the line into a State. This was intended
| to strengthen the hand of prohibition OF
! license States. which now include muCl
| OF the South and several Northern
States. 1t meant may millions OF trade
to the liquor interests. The bill seemed
pretty sure Of passage. and Mr.. Little
field was confident. Then the House
took up the ship subsidy bill, the man
ayers agreed TO devote several days &
its discussion right at the end of The
session, and now 1t develops that the
subsidy measure was being used really
as a buffer. to prevent consideration o.
the Littlefield bill. which in all prob
ability viii die with the session.
Pure Food Law.
The pure food law has had sad ex
perieuce. When it passed last year thu
very essential provision permitting thu
establishment Of food standards by tn,
Government was stricken out. This yea
the effort was made 10 instert this. il
connection with the Agricultural appro
priation bill Without such provision
enforcement Of the law is greatly hamp