Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-11
CONGRESS is COLD.
President Cannot Induce Members to
Take Up Business.

President Cannot Induce Members to
Take Up Business.
Washington, Feb 11.-Notwithstand-
ing the fiery message of the presi-
dent, in which he dealt particularly
with the proposed new employers
liability legislation and generally with
several other important legislative
subjects, it is wholly improbable that
congress will do much more at the
present session than was outlined
early in December.
Members Of the house and senate
the leaders Of those bodies-haye de-
cided that they will undertake little
in the way of general legislation this
winter, and it is unlikely they can be
prodded, even by the president, into
doing that which they do not want to
do.
President Roosevelt has occupied a
peculiar position with reference to con-
gress ever since he entered the white
house. His position Is unique, per-
haps, in the history Of American poll
tics. With both branches of congress
controlled by a large republican ma
jority, the president has had to fight
for everything in the form Of lcgisla-
ton he desired. The reason for this
anamolous situation is patent to all
who are cognizant of the facts.
The leaders of congress never AT
any time have been thoroughly friend
" to Mr. Roosevelt. He has had at all
times some enthusiastic supporters in
both the house and the senate, but
the republican majority of both
bodies, as a whole, has been looking
for years for an opportunity to block
the carrying into effect of his ideas
1t has not been wholly matter OF
resentment. but, for the most part,>a
genuine difference Of opinion. 1t has
become trite to say that the president
has obtained much of the legislation
he wanted enacted by cracking his
whip over the heads of congress-
This does not express fairly the sit
uation. The president has imbued the
people with the idea that he stands fol
their interests against aggression from
any quarter. The people believe hin
to be honest and sincere-and rfgIt
fully, too. He, therefore, has had th'
body Of the people at his back In tn,
contests he has had with congress ant
the members have been forced by pub
| lie opinion to acquiese In his views ana
do what be wanted done.
Now, the situation Is somewhat diff
ferent Many OF the most astut
politicians in congress regard chang
of administration as likely ard the,
are looking to the future. They ar
Just as much opposed to the pfesiden
and many Of his policies as ever an,
they use an opportunity now to max
their opposition effective.
Il As one result OF this feeling. con
gress will enact no general legislation
ut this session. except, probably, a I'm
anciaI measure. and a new employers
liability bill. The financial mcasur
very likely will be built along the line
Of the AIdrich measure. although tina
is not entirely satisfactory to a con
siderable majority of the members
There is no prospect. however. for th
presentation Of any other measur
that win command general support
The house Is wrestling with a bin bu
no general agreement is in sigh
Members Of the house are anxious {
go hack to their constituencies an
say that a financial relief measure ha
been passed. Some Of them viii b
defeated II they are unable to 81
that. Consequently. the AIdrieh meal
ure appears to stand a better ehanc
Of favorable consideration than an
other bin likely 70 be offered
1t il agreed on both sides Of bot
chambers that an employers Iiabilit
BIZ shah be enacted into law and
probably viii Be substantially II
measure offered by Senator Kno,
Thus far and no further declare
the congress leaders. and that . aboS