New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-05
THE SESSIONS RECORD.

Compared with the eXtra ordinary recOru uiaue
by the 69th Congress at its first session. the
second sessions work, just ended, may not
loom large enough to impress the imagination
Of the man In the street who Judges results
without Inouiring into conditions. The short
session Of Congress is too short. Deductng the
holiday recess and the weeks spent in mark
ing time or debating political and other alb
stractions there are usually left about forty TO
fOrty-flve working days in which to prepare
and pass the appropriation bills and take up
odds and ends of general legislation coming
over as legacies from the long session This
year the Senate gave almost as much time TO
an academic discussion Of the distinction be-
tween dishonorable discharge and a discharge
without honor from the army as it gave to
legislation The appropriations are becoming
larger as the scope of the governments opera
tions widens and many questions of public
policy are now involved in routine apprOpria
ton legislation which never troubled earlier
Congresses. 1t is unreasonable 10 double and
triple the task imposed on the legislative de
partment and still enforce q time limit set
when the Republic was young.
Considering the time limit handicap under
which Congress has labored, the record for
the second session is surprisingly varied and
meritOrlOus. The reform legislation OF last
winter has been supplemented in important re-
spects. A law has been passed reducing the
hours of labor of railway employees, telegra-
pliers and signal station men, thereby throw
ing additional safeguards about railway
travel The g.: arnment has obtained limited
right Of appeal in criminal suits brought 10
enforce federal laws. thus doing away with
the Illogical practice of allowing technical APP
peals to the defendant and denying them to
the prosecutor and permitting the opinion Of n
single federal district Judge to stand as final
on questions Of constitudonRlty. The Denat-
ured Alcohol law Of last winter has been
amended so to give the small producer n
larger share OF its benefits. Amendments have
been made 10 the currency laws which will
give the Treasury a freer hand in times of
stringency and Will meet demands for wider
circulation. An eXpatriation law supplements
the long needed naturalization law of the first
session. bringing order ont of chaos In our
system Of making citizens and protecting them.
An act has been passed which will strengthen
the restrictions against undesirable immigra-
ton and will open the way to q thorough in
veshgation Of the immigration problem. A
commission has been created TO devise means
for breaking up alien city colonies and dist1'ib-
uttng foreign labor 10 points where it is really
needed Another commission has been created
to investigate the postal system and discover
If possible. just why that system Is operated at
q loss instead Of a profit. Finally, a bill has
become law which fOrbids any corporation char
tered by the government to make money con-
tributiOns IN connection with elections and fur
Their fOrbids corporations chartered by the states
to make such contributions in connection with
any election at which Presidential electors.
Representatives In Congress or legislatures
which elect United States Senators are to be
chosen. This is a step in advance as notable
the emancipation twenty years ago Of fed
eral employees from the terrorism Of campaign
fund collectors.
The 18th Congress failed In It's duty In Civ
ing substantial relief to the Philippines
The President earnestly urged legislation ad-
hitting Philippine products TO our market on
the same terms as the products Of Porto Rico
The House Of Representatives by q non-Uarti-
san vote passed a relief bill. But the Senate
StoOd out obdurRtely against any tariff con.
cessions TO the BflipinOs. AS a sop, an Agri-
cultural Bank was created, empowered to loan
money to Filipino planters at an interest rate
nor 70 exceed 10 per cent Except In this do
tail the 55th Congress has carried out pretty
faithfully the legislative programme urged by
President Roosevelt. The Railroad Rate Reg
uiGuon act the Meat Inspection act the Pure
Food act the Joint Statehood act for Oklahoma
and Arizona, the Corrupt Practices act and the
Criminal Appeal act were all advocated by the
President, and his influence was potent In Sc
curing their passage He has also seen the
Santo Domingo treaty ratified BY the Senate
after long delay and many predictions Of fail
IRE No other Congress IN recent years has
given the country so much progressive and ex-
celIent legislation as the Congress- ,ust ended
1t is entitled 20 great credit for long record
OF good works. But greater credit IS due 10
the incessant activities and broad minded
leadership Of President Roosevelt and To the
aroused public sentiment which he SO autbori-
tatively represents