Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-03-14
A DO NOTHING CONGRESS
Building a Fire Under the Mem
bersp Threatened.
PRACTICALLY NOTHING DONE
no General Legislation In Sight
Financial Legislation lie No
Certainty.

Certainty.
Washing ton. aIarch Ii Convinced
finally that It IS the Intention of the
leaders of both the senate and the
house Of representatives that the
present shall be a "do-nothingo SEES
sion Of congress, President Roosevelt
Is considering The practicability Of
building a fire under the members"
as a means Of stimulating action.
From time to time, since congress
convened last December, the president
has urged the leaders Of both the sen.
ate and the house to advocate the en-.
| actment Of legislation which he re.
! CARDS as practical, If not necessary
/ He has urged his views upon the mem
bers Of congress personally and has
pointed out to them that the enact
ment Of some general legislation
which he indicated would be to the
great benefit of the people.
1t is no secret that his idea have
not met with general approval The
members T congress hesitate to en-
ter upon q campaign of general 1egis-
lation on the eve OF a presidential
contest, because. they insist. such a
course would involve too much ex-
PLANTATION in the heat of a political
conflict when utterances from the
stump are likely TO be misconstrued
IN addition, the congress leaders
assert, a good deal of important legis-
lation was enacted during the fifty
ninth congress. These laws are be-
ing tested practically and, before en-
acting amendments to them or adding
new ones, it would be the part of wis
dom to await definite results from the
acts already on the statute books.
Notwithstanding these arguments in
favor of "do-nothing policy" there
is a manifest restlessness among
many members of congress who are
inclined to the belief that the presI-
dent is right. They have heard from
their constituents and are hearing
from thems The communication in
dictate that the people are taking the !
presidents view of the situation. That, |
too is the presidents information. He,
therefore, is inclined to make d.
rect appeal to the people, believing
that the most effective wav to reach
members OF congress is THROUGH their
constituents. If he should determine
on this line of policy ne probably
viii send to the congress another
message which win be celebrated to
make some people's ears ring.
Although good deal of important
legislation in addition to the general
appropriation bills, was enacted dur
ing the short session last year, moth
ing practically yet has been done at !
this session. Only two appropriation
measures thus far have been sent to |
the President for his approval and not
another line of general legslat' on No
Legislation except possibly currency
measure, is in sight, either, and it is
by no means certain that even a finan.
cial bill will be passed at the present
session. Notwithstanding the demand
for It.
Only one thing will shake the lead
ers in their determination not to per-
nit any general legislation to go
through at this session and that is a
/ conviction that their policy will en-
danger republican control of the next
house of r representatives..
Under the present policy of the
( leaders of congress, many members
/ are becoming restless. They are anx-
/ ious to get back to their homes where
they can accomplish a deal more than
they are accomplishing here. They
are willing to stay in Washington ir
necessary, but they do not want 10
waste time here. Arrangements now
are making for adjournment early in
May and nothing probably can pre-.
vent such action but a demand of the
President and the people for action
on important matters which now ar.
likely to be postponed until the next
session of congress.