The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-06-27
A eREAT 5REcoRp,,.

opthheF SaptiQ mi on SATURDAY night
summarized the work Of congress ina
statement which be gave to the press.
The speaker paid most attention to
the Legislative work accomplished, re.
ferrIng only incidentally to the fight
which hadIbeen made on the rules Of
the house. The reform 81 the rule, he
said, had resulted III little advantage.
The speaker declared that the con.
sreas ended At midnight had done
more and better work than any CON
Fress Of which he had been mem.
Der duringehis SIS years Of service IN
ihe house. The reform ofthe rules, he
lation enacted the speaker said:
This work Of Legislation has gone
on quietly but effectively while those
who view congress from distance
have been assuming that the house
was doing nothing but changing It's
rules rhe changes Of rules have CON
tribuied 70 the pleasure and perhaps
the power d some individuals in the
house, but the current Of legislation
ITSELF hes moved on as usual, with lit
tie disturbance on account Of a few
new methods and with little advan:
iage thereirom.
q do not think the work Of a con-
sresa should be measured by the
volume Of business, but by the
character Of the Legislation and the
care taken in its consideration.
Measured bytthat standard, the sixty
first congress viii take high place
IN the record Of Legislation. There
have been however, more than 5000
OF the 21OoO bills considered and re-
ported from conimitte tees, and about 300
public bins we're ENACTED IN this SEES
sion as AGAINST 400 public laws for
tile entire aixtieth congress. I can
commehd lie entire membership of
the house ior industry and intelli-
gence IN their legislative work of this
session.,
HCongress has not only revised the
tariff without disturbing business,
but il has enacted important legis-
ation. amending the interstate COM
MERGE law making that law more
enecsive, giving the interstate com;
merge commission greater power and
creating i court Of commerce, and
this without seriously affecting the
business Of the railroads or checking
their increase Of wages to their EN-,
ployes. This seems to me to be the
ieanilicn u statesmanshlp in legts'
jation.
sYhil ngfess has also enacted q
postal irgs bank law, which is en-
firely new Regulation, blazing a new
IRAN ia iaa making in this country.
THAT law isnot on the statute books
b. means cEhurrled enactment
TN ny Judgment this is the best IL
iustratioa q party Legislation we have
ever had ii many years, and It fully
justllles the necessity for party action
n 4 great legislative body.
The appropriations hayebeen large,
bit not nearly as large as demanded
81 tic poodle, who were agitadng
e u.
over lie demands Of the various de-
pnrlmonir Il the government, The
people Who want a large navy are
Wiling % econolnize on everything
else. ana die same il true Of those
WHO waat lasge appropriations for the
aepaflmeTit 81 agriculture, for the
army for the Improvement Of rivers
md harbors, ior public buildings and
Tor an tie other activities Of the Fed
eral governmaft.
eThe DEMOCRATS have talked about
eeonohi ibht they have helped en-
large e2efy preparation and there
are bilis initod1ced BY Democrats and
not acted UPON which would call Tor
5oo.o6OOOD additional expenditure. SO
take thelF talk Of economy 10
plckwiciiab ia said IN the begin
blbe tie wofk 81 this congress has
been grsAtet than any other win
which hnye been identii.l!ed as 9
membef snalit has eenssFastlye legis-
nsioh tn the tate Of the destructive
strife eitofts regret to sa!y,
bnSe seceised more attention IN \ the he
bublic nress thah HE real work Of
LEGISLATION and haye been given 50
much space b t1eir revolution Fy e q.
forts al the expepa q t st' ge core IS
work, Il e not surprislng that some
Of the editors Should suddenly y;
cover m iheiFlast dfys tlist5 PIE KY
publican consrsas has enactelt law q