The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-26
TIE RECORD OF CONGRESS-
NOTABLE EFFECT an PRESI-
DENT TAFTS P0PCLARITY.
y, Ils Tact and EIrmRess Ne iIAa Get
Nearly Al ths IrEIsla ton ile Recon.
L mrasssl- NJ Recent ttrst sessioa Hf
y congress Ilaa Accomplished "a Nueh.

ulealll0fl-N NJ tagHeNN ANNA NEAeaAa ~
CsnErrss laa Accomplished "a Nuch.
WAsnINJToS. June IS The session II
ConErrss which came a. end tonight
lnavea a remarkable reCurd Tor legislation,
W.. Roosevelt when he was IN the White
HOUSE referred IN the FIRST session ~ the
Fifty ninth Congress az having done more
substantial work Cor good than any other
Con yresa since he had become familiar
with public anairs. Yet the record ot the
frat session of tho Fifty-ninth Congress
does o., oomparo either IN lsngth OF i'm
pOrtAhcs with the list Ut measures that
have been placed on the statute books IN
ihe last savan months Indeed It has
taen said bY Old time mcmhers % Con
ureas that the record ot the session that
lns iltst closed has exceeded that of any
Nngle session since the civil war days.
Next IN interest 10 the legislation itself
y the notable effect that the work ~ the
rongrsss has had nn President Ta0s
popularity throughout the country and
fhe stimulus that has been gwen % hopes Of
Nlepublican success IN the TALL elections.
Two mOnths ago Il seemed a. II the White
House had been almost buried under the
eseady flow Of criticism. and President
Tatts closest friends admitted that the
oatlook for his political future was dark.
ne President himself was dsheartened
and acknowledged that chances for
Republican success in the fall were slight
10 talking with his friends be went 80 far
q 10 indicate that he had no disposition
% make any active effort 10 be renOmi-
rated. Al the same time. however, the
President declared that he would take no
mort cut TO popularity. that he would
continue 10 administer his Office as he
thought hest and stand or fall on his record
The country within the last few weeks
his given decided evidence II 10 APP
prevail II Mr. Tars course. Prom the.
middle West. which month ~ 80 ago was
extremely hostile 20 nearly ~ II Presi-
Dent Iafts suggestions are coming
httefing reports II tho Presidents popu-
lArity. and even Mr. Taft's political enc
mics acknowledge that the tutur. has
taken on a more promising aspect for him.
For the Republican party ALSO the record
81 the Congress that has Just closed has
dcne wonders The Congress leaders.
Who were only a few weeks ago throwing
lp their hands In despair az the prospect
for next Navember's elections, are de-
claring now that the Republican party
viii be able to go before the country with
q record that will land them again safely
in control of the House ~ Represents tiyes
Everybody in Washington realizes that
the critical situation which tho Republic
cAn party was facing has had a good
deal % do with its remarkable record
Of legislation In this session All appre-
dated the fact that without some eNCep-
tiOnal ground 10 stand on the party cam
paign in the Fall would h. practically
hopeless. Yet with this strong incentive
90 eRislate Il Is certain that many Ut the
tartys Efforts would have iailod had 10
not been Tor President TIft's tact and
determination.
N the President had followed the adj
vice Of some senate leadsrs early Ia the
session 70 il doubtful u h. would have
gOt any of the bIg measures Tor which
10 Was cOntending. The Presidents
frehds urged him 20 fetaiaie on the
ttnate insurgents. % 20 out into their
districts openly and assail and crush
Them. This President Taft persistently
refused % do and with great tOrheaTance
efrained from attacking the progres-
siVes even when they were bitter In their
criticisms Of his administration The
President replied that he Vas only after
votes for his measures, that he was not
out 20 make or unmlke any man politi-
6ally and that he believed that he could
Do more for his measures by r'fraining
from engaging IN open conflict with the
insurgent leaders.
The result 81 his tact was that on all
Of his imuortant measures hs finally
gct the solid party vote IN both the House
and the senate something that President
Roosevelt had not succeeded IN doing
snce the Hon. Robert ". la Follette en-
tNred the senate
I The dch. over the rules IN the House
also presented a situation which might
easily have wrecked the Taft legislative
rrogramme Il Mr. taft had shown less
AiaCcrnment IN this matter he also
rafused Absolutely ~ take sides and
steered a middle course 80 successfully
hat lls was able Inter % use either fac
NOn IN the Hou=e whenever he deemed
u necessary.
Mr. TAFT friends believe that hrs elf
restraint aud taCtful1ess 10 dealing with
The factions 10 the Republican party
ard his frmness IN insisting ou his egis-
htive programme eutitle him to the chief
credit for the record Witch the session
has just completed
Here are the fmu0ftant measures prom
sspd IN she Rspubhr1u national platform
which President Taft urged upon and
obtained from Congress.
The railroad BIN. extending the rsVula-
i've power of o., Government over common
-arriers b. rail