The commonwealth., 1909-06-17
Republican Extravaganza.

second congress
More than few experts on nation
al politics are answering this ques-
ton in the negative. Some that
held different views few months
ago now concede there is good
ground for the growing belief among
the Democrats that they will domi-
nate the Congress to follow the one
which came into existence March
18th. The House Of Representatives
now contains PIG Republicans and
l72 Democrats, which gives the Re-
publicans a majority of At. This,
however, is Democratic gain of ten.
Because of the unduplicated waste
fulness and extravaganza of the
oixtieth Congress, coupled with its
utter disregard Of party promises
and its abject Indifference even to
the consideration Of legislation that
was recommended either by Presi-
dent Roosevelt or the people, many
believe the Republican majority in
the House Of Representatives will
soon be thing Of the past.
This belief is strengthened by the
probability that the Sixty-frst Con-
gress will make no better record
than its immediate predecessor.
The same leaders Speaker Cannon,
Dalzell, Aldrich and Hale remain
in charge of the national law-mak-
ing machine.
The first session of the Sixtieth
Congress spent $1,006, ,004, ,095.57,
and the second session over-spent
that figure by about $50, 100000, in
spite of deficit for the present fs-
cal year Of more than S12O, 100000.
The men in charge of the national
finances say the deficit for the COM
ing fiscal year is certain to be in ex-
cess of $3.50. 100000.
The money-spending campaign for
the Sixty-frst Congress has been
worked out already in more or less
detail. Here are a few items that
will give a general idea Of how it
will be physical possibility for the
incoming Congress to spend $780,
300, 1000 more than the last one:
There was no general rivers and
narbors bill in the SiXtieth Congress,
there was a special bill
carrying less than $40, 100000. Next
Congress- rivers and harbors bill
will carry not less than $3O,0OO,OOO
Or $40, 100000
The navy bill at the last session
carried about S137, 100000. Senator
Hale says next year it will run up to
about S16O,OOO,OOO. After that, it
Will go still higher. Senator Bacon
predicts it will go to 100000, 900 at
he lowest estimate. 1t might easily
carry from 100000 to $40, 100000
more.
Then money must be appropriated
.or the taking Of the census. The
Panama canal will have to be given
1 further huge financial lift. The
army will need an increase in pro-
portion of that of the navy.
It was pointed out by Rep. Henry
D. Rainey, of Illinois, that the $780,
100000 anual deficits of the Roose-
7elt administration are in marked
contrast to the huge annual surplus
IS of the Grover Cleveland admins
ration.
1.-THE reckless extravaganza of the
administration that has
passed out ,and the plans for increas-
ID extravaganza by the administra-
ion coming in," said Rainey, "cer-
.ainly spells disaster for the Repub-
lean party. All the Democrats have
% do is to SIT steady in the boat.
The leaders in charge of the major
ty side of the house are simply
trunk with power. They need only
1 little more rope, and the job will
oe complete
Aside from appropriating money
'or the running of the government,
2ainey pointed out that the Sixtieth
Congress was 'do nothing" session
Big subjects were avoid
I'd altogether or considered only in
,ne branch of Congress. A case in
point is afforded by the bill to admit
Arizona and New Mexico into the
Union as States, which passed the
House by unanimous vote, but was
strangled in the Senate.
Countless hours were devoted in the
Senate to postal banks, but no action
vas taken, while in the House not
even a committee meeting was held
to consider a bill on that subject.
Congress was too busy to take a half
hour off for vote on the children's
bureau, although several hours were
devoted to the listening of oratory
on the subject.
The House passed a bill providing
for uniform safatv aDplianceS on