Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-26
Cannon IS PLEASED
Speaker Says Congress Has
Done Good Work.
REVIEW OF THE SESSION
Declares Change in Rules Has
Accomplished Little.
HIGH GRADE OF LEGISLATION
Postal Savings Bank Bill Blazes
Trail in Lawmaking-Large
Appropriations Made.
REVIEW OF THE SESSION
HIGH GRADE OF LEGISLATION

Speaker Cannon last night summarized
the work of Congress in a statement
he gave to the press. The Speaker
paid most attention to the legislative
work accomplished. referring only in
cidentally to the fight which had been
made on the rules of the House. The
reform Of the rules, he said, had re-
suited in little advantage. The Speak
er declared that the Congress just end
ed had done more and better work than
any Congress OF which he had been a
member during his thirty-five years of
service in the House. After recOunting
the legislation enacted, the Speaker
said:
This work of legislation has gone
on quietly but effectively, while those
who view Congress from a distance
have been assuming that the House was
doing nothing but changing its rules.
The change of rules has contributed
to the pleasure and perhaps the power
Off some individuals in the House; but
the current of legislation itselfhas moved
on as usual, with little disturbance on
account of a few new methods. and with
little advantage therefrom.
Il do not think the work of Congress
should be measured by the volume Of
business. but by the character of the
legislation and the care taken in its con-
sheraton Measured by that standard
the Sixty-first Congress will take a high
place in the record Of legislation. There
have been, however, more than 5000 of
the q 600 bills considered and reported
from committees. and about 800 public
laws enacted i'm this session. as against
400 public laws for the entire Sixtieth
Congress. I can commend the entire
membership of the House for industry
and intelligence in their legislative work
of this session.
Most Active Congress in 35 Years.
Continuing, the Speaker said:
'In my Judgment the two sessions of
the Sixty-first Congress have accomplish
ed more and done better work than any
other Congress of which / have been a
member. 1t has rarely occurred that a
Congress enacting a new tariff law has
accomplished much else save handling
the appropriations for the government
This Congress has not only revised the
tariff, without disturbing business, but it
has enacted important legislation, amend
ing the interstate commerce law. making
that law more effective: giving the inter
state commerce commission greater power
and creating a court of commerce, and
this without seriously affecting the bust
ness Of the railroads or checking their
increase of wages to their employees
This seems to me to meet the definition
of craftsmanship i'm legislation.
This Congress also has enacted a pos
tai savings. bank law, which is entirely
new legislation, blazing new trail in
lawmaking in this country That law
is not op the statute books by means of
hurried enactment.
after the House had prepared tenta-
tive bill republican caucus was called
to consider it. and after three long ses-
sions a bill was agreed upon which re-
ceived the majority vote in the House.
and the Senate also accepted that bin
without amendment.