The Washington times., 1909-03-08
OF CONGRESS
ENDS MANY FIGHTS
| asst DAYS Not So Full of Clashes With Roosevelt as
Anticipated-No More Brownsville, Sea-Level Canal,
or Iron Merger Talk.
By JOHN SNURE.

But this was another advance notice
OF trouble between the President and
Congress that was not borne out by
the performance. The President said
some sharp things in connection with
the signature of the sundry civil bill,
but he did not take occasion to vent
his opinion OF Congress in a general
message or address. Presumably Mr..
Roosevelt will wait until he gets fairly
into the editorial business to do this.
For brief While there was talk the
President might veto the sundry civil
bill = u while there were features in
the bill to which he objected such as
the limitation on the Secret Service and
the restriction on the commissions
thor1ty OF Congress, il contained some
provisions he did not want 10 veto,
ana hence he signed it. Had the Presi-
dent vetoed this bill there would un-
dOubtedly have been a fine outburst of
feeling from Congress.
Census Bill Killed.
The census bill, which the President
killed with veto, did not get to the
point OF resurrection. It was found 10
be impossible TO get enough votes TO
pass it over the veto and the House
leaders dropped it. An effort viii be
made a the special session to pass the
bill.
The House leaders are not disposed to
retreat from their position as regards
the spoils system features of the bill
and If they have their way the same
question will be put up TO Mr.. Taft
which was put UP 70 Mr.. Roosevelt. II
Is quite generally believed the results
will be the same and that Mr.. Taft will
veto the bill unless it provides for COM
petitive civil service examinations for
persons who seek appointment as adj
ditional census employees.
The closing weeks Of the. session saw
Congress, as Senator Deliver nut it, in
an attitu1e OF ''petUlant criticism OF
the President. The Presidents corn
missions. the Forest Service and his
Secret Service recommendations called
forth In the House and Senate, especially
in the House, plenty Of criticism.
Propriety Questioned.
Two speeches were made in the House
the propriety of which was questioned
But. on the whole. the feeling of an
tagonism against the President as
March approached. became less acute
than IL had been earlier in the session.
Some Of the men who had been fight
ing the President did not hesitate TO
say good things Of his Administration
as whole, as they saw him about to
leave of office.
A lot of the controversies between
Roosevelt and Congress will not be
heard from again in this Administration,
in all probability. For instance, the
Tennessee Coal and Iron Company mat
ter Is probably permanently defunct-
No indication is given now that II will
be revived in the Senate.
The Brownsville controversy is set
tied. It is expected that Mr.. Taft will
proceed more conservatfveIy IN respect
Of commissions than did Mr.. Roosevelt.
No Secret Service SquabbIe.
Probably the last has been heard Of
the Secret Service controversy.
For a time there was promise
Of a bitter outbreak in the Senate just
at the close OF Congress over the type
Of canal. The sea-level advocates
threatened to become highly active
This not only came 20 nothing. but II
Is likely the end of serious sea-level
canal agitation has been reached for
time, with the passing from the Sen
ate of such advocates OK 1t as Senators
kittredge, Teller. and Foraker. and with
Taft Ia the White House, backed up
in his consistent advocacy of the lock
canal by q recent report Of engineers
Of great eminence.