The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-06-27
CONGRESS ADJOURNED
SATURDAY MIDNIGHT
SESSION OPENED WITH lNVEsTi-
CATION OF SCANDAL AND
CLOSED WITH INVESTIGATION.


and closed with an investigation OF
scandal. came to an end at ii
o'clock Saturday night.
Democrats and republicans differ
as to just how large an eXpendi-
ture of money this second session
of the Sixty-first congress authorized
but both parties agree that it was
in excess Of one billion dollars.
The democrats say that the au-
thorize1 expenditures will total ST.
O95 5.2S5.155, or an excess OF $39,
625,SS7 over the expenditures of the
last regular session. The republi
cans claim to have held the eX
pendtures down to 81 ,026, ,531 500, o.
decrease of $29,125,7G7. The dem
ocrats estimate was prepared by
Senator Shiyely of Indiana and the
republican estimate by Senator
Hale Of Maine.
The expenditures represent be-
sides the usually large appropria
tons for the army, the navy ard
the Panama Canal, S2O,000,0OO for
public buildings and s5O,000,OOO for
rivers and harbors, $2j0OO.OOO 10
complete reclamation projects, the
latter item being in dispute between
democrats and republicans as to
whether it is merely a loan to
water users or an investment to
improve and make salable arid
land
The session has been distinguish
ed for the number of scandals and
ner-scandal which congress felt call
ed upon to investigate The gum
shce assignments began with the APP
pointment of the Ballirger inyesti.
eating committee and its costly
hearings. Then there was an in
vestlgation Of the charges Of cor
rrption in connection with the ship
subsidy bill There was likewise
an investigation of the alleged il
legal and extravagant expenditure of
$l,000,00O appropriated to prosecute
land thieves. These three inyesti-
cations have been practically con
cluded.
There are still in the field com
tee to investigate the alleged cor
rupt election of Senator I4Orimer OF
Illinois; of the third degree" meth
DDS alleged to have been used to
procure the Haskell indictments in
Oklahoma; the sale of the FriaI
lands to the sugar trust in the
Philippines, and, lastly tonight the
appointment of two committees f0r
two independent Investigations OF
the McMurray contracts with the
Indians and of the Gore charges
OF attempted bribery and other al
legged corruption.
This list does not take into ac
count three distinct Investigations
of the caucus of high cost of liv
ing.
but these were really spectacular
incidents to great work which
this session of congress has per
formed As a piece of constructive
legislation the creation OF the pos
tai savings banks stands at the
head, while hardly less in impor-
tance is the enactment OF the rail
road bill by which the rights Of the
shipper are better safesuardcd and
by which the federal government
has taken a decided forward step in
federal supervision over railroad
rates. Other pieces of legislation
are the admission of Arizona AMI
New Mexico to statehood and the
creation of a bureau of mines for
the greater protection of those who
toll in one of the greatest indus
tries OF the country.
The partisans of President Taft are
making eNtrayagant claims as to the
islation enacted at this session. His
is the undisputed credit for the
passage of the postal savings bank
bill and the creation of the court of
commerce As to the rest Of the
railroad bill the best in it was OBJ
tanned by the insurgents and the
democrats over the opposition of
the partisaus of Mr. Taft in con-
gress. He can justly share the
credit equally with the democrats,
led by Senator Bailey, for the pas
sage of the statehood bin. Several
Of the other acts of this congress
are ascribahle solely 20 the aggres-