Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-23

dCludl results. More lTnpoI tdIl QueS
were presented and discussed on which
the public generally or sections or classe:
demanded action than ever before in
history. \ majority of these were of Pres
ident Roosevelt's making and listed
among the policies Comparatively.
the enactments were few. On the other
hand. the aggregate of the appropriations
was great. and when the final figures are
obtainable it is not doubted that they
will exceed those of any previous session
in times of peace.
Standing conspicuously above all other
questions with which Congress dealt was
the effort to pass an emergency currency
bill. Thrust upon the attention of legis
lators at the opening of the session by a
financial depression that had not fully
subsidized. 1t was the first big question to
be considered. Likewise it was the hard
est to meet. and it did more to delay adj
lournment than any other measure. The
Senate and House failed to agree. with
the result that a commission of senators
aid representatives in Congress. whose
duty it is to study the subject and report
at the next session, was the alternative
adopted.
Bills Affecting Labor.
Numerous bills affecting labor were
In the form in which the bills were pre-
sented organized labor was not heartily
behind them. and questions concerning
the constitutionality of many of the
measures. in the light of recent decisions
by the Supreme Court Of the United
States. raised ether barriers. 1t is con-
ceded that more legislation would have
resulted had it not been for the pending
national elections. The elections placed
~ scrt%1 I1l;
fact not overlooked by the democrats In
the House. who further complicated the
republicans position by a filibuster tc
compel the passage of measures demand
ed by President Roosevelt and opposed
by majority of the republicans in both
branches of Congress
Out of this condition of affairs was
steered a new employers liability law tc
take the place of that declared uncon-
stitutional by the Supreme Court. and
there is pending bill providing for the
compensation of government employees ir
hazardous occupations who are injured in
line of duty. Other matters of equal OF
greater importance to organized labor
failed. These include an an;i-injunctior
law: provision for the exemption of or
ganiZed labor from the treble penalty
clause of the Sherman antitrust law. and
other amendments to relieve labor unions
from the operations Of this Jaw.
Some Compromises.
Some of the striking things urged upon
Congress by President Roosevelt. other
than those already mentioned. and which
were not enacted. resulted in compro-
misses. For instance, he wanted a ma
tional child labor law. He also asked 70,
the enactment of a law regulating child
labor in the District of Columbia and
the territories. and the latter bill was
passed. The bill as passed viii not
serve as a model act for the enco rage
ment of state legislatures for tn = asor
that it was amended to fit peculiar con.
ditions in the District. The construction
of four battleships was urged in a sp~
cidi message TO Congress, and a fight fol
this program was led by administration
members of both the Senate and House
which contest resulted in failure. Ar
appropriation was made for the con.
Struction OF two battleships and the pol
icy of authorizing two each year was an
nounced by republican leaders. which was
generally regarded as a concession % the
Presidents big naval program.
Revision of Tariff.
Authority to name a tariff commission
and to appoint experts to gather data
with a view to the revision of the tariff
at the next session was Strongly advo
Gated. AS a result resolutions were adopt
tea on finance and in the Hous. author
izing the committee on ways and means
to conduct individual investigations
These committees are empowered to en-.
ploy such experts as Trey ned.
Several measures were recommended
which were designed to place greater
power in the hands of the interstate COM
merce commission in the matter of regl-
lating railroad rates. Among these was
proposition that the commission pro-
n . sai hn cio,t -
railroads; that the commission be given
the power to suspend increases in rail-
road rates pending an investigation of the
justice OF such advances; allowing rail-
roads to make pooling agreements. and a
number of other questions involving the
regulation of Interstate commerce. None
Of these bills was passed. but a substan-
tial victory for the commission was won
in the appropriation of S3o,.G0O for the
establishment of d statistical and account
ing department of the commission, which
appropriation was opposed by Chairma n
Tawney of the House committee on ap-
preparations.
Relief for Railways.
An effort was made and is still in prog
ress in the Senate to suspend the opera
ton Of the commodities clause of the
Hepburn railroad rate act until January 1
1910; but there has been no general senti-
ment In either BODY demanding this legls-
lation in the interest of railroads which
own mines and manufacturing establish
ments. A further argument against the
proposition has appeared in the fact thai
| there had been little legislation in aid OF
other commercial classes or for the bene.
fit of labor organizations. The commod
tiles clause became effective May /. ano
| under ii railroads which transport in in
terstate commerce productions OF mines
or manufacturing plants which they own
wholly, or in part are subject to heav,
penalties for each violation. The law an
plies particularly to railroads which owr
| coal mines. There was a considerable fac.
| ton in Congress which believed no neces
| sity existed for the relief of railroads
| from the operation of this law. as the,
| were Of the opinion the law. when tested
will be declared unconstitutional
Antitrust Law Revision.