The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-05-22

of the bill by amendment was also
allowed
Heretofore these privileges have to
all practical ends been enjoyed almost
exclusively by the representatives. of
the tariff trusts, the railroads, Wall
street and other forms of special
privilege which dominate the Repub-
lican party through either the control
of local politics or colossal campaign
contributions.
Had the Cannon machine been
working smoothly, the railroad DILL
would have been prepared by commit
tee in the exact form it would have
become a law That is, a few men
would have done the legislating in
stead of the entire membership of the
house. Had Cannonism prevailed, the
railroad bill would have been reported
from committee under a rule prohibit
ing the membership Of the house
from voting for or against amend
ment. Bad features of the bill could
not have been eliminated. The en-
tire measure, jokers and all, would
have been forced down the throat Of
the house just as submitted by
Uncle Joe's" committee on interstate
and foreign commerce, which is gen
erously packed with men friendly to
the railroads.
The improvement of the railroad
bill in the house through coalition
of the Democrats and Progressives is
a cause for rejoicing. But it does not
mean that the people have really
wrested control of the national law.
making machinery from the special
privilege ring. For this reason:
The house is only the lower branch
of congress. The railroad bill will
not become law as passed ty the
house. The senate is the dominating
branch of congress, and it is still con-
trolled absolutely by the greedy ccr-
porate interests. The senate will
pass a bill containing some CT the
very features stricken from the meas
ure in the house as being against the
welfare of the people. Both the sem
ate and house bills will then be sent
to conference committee composed
of, either three or five members Of
each branch of congress. AS the ma
jority Of the conferees will be "rogu
lar" Republicans, specially selected
by Aldrich and Cannon, it goes with
out saying that much of the good
work accomplished by the house Dem
ocrats and Progressives will be re-
versed.
The finale of the railroad bill prom
ises to be the tariff fiasco all over
again.
Representative government will
have given special privilege a tight
race, but in the finish Aldrichism and
Cannonism will win by nose! But
why should such a result be consid.
Il
the railroads make S260,00O contribu-
tons to the Republican campaign
fund if it is not to control the Re-
publican party's legislation?
Publicity Afterwards.
The Mccall campaign publicity bill
has been so amended as to provide
for the publication of campaign con-
tributions after election, instead of
before and after election. Publicity
of contributions after elections is re-
garded by Democrats as something
like locking the door of the stable
after the horse has been stolen. Sen
ator Burrows of Michigan, chairman
of the senate committee On privileges
and elections, very kindly explained
why the provision for publicity of con-
tributions before election had been
stricken from the Mccall bill. IF"
said Senator Burrows, I'VE were to
give out the list of contributors prior
to an election it would mean that un-
scrupulous newspapers and persons
would take advantage of the informa-
ton thus disclosed and proceed to de.
nounce the candidate on the strength
of the character of the contributions
made to his campaign" In ether
words, if the voters were permitted
to know who was putting up the
money for the candidates campaign
they might defeat him. Could a
stronger argument be presented for
publicity before election as we'll as af.
ter election? Think it over.
Instead of saving any portion of the
$500, 900 900 which Senator Aldrich as
serts is being wasted by the govern.
ment annually through Obsolete bust.
ness methods" the Taft administra
ton threatens to break all records in
the history of the government in the
enormous expenditure Of money. 1t
looks now as if the appropriations for
this session of congress would exceed
the appropriations of the last regular
session to the extent Of about $4,000.
900. This will be billion dollar ses.
sion and then some.
Congressman Charles F. Barclay OF
Pennsylvania, a Cannon Republican
has allowed it TO become known that
the state of his health will not permit
him to continue as a candidate for re
election. This is the ninth "standpat
ter" whose i'll health, due largely tc
voting for the Payne-Aldrich tariff re
vision upward, has neCessitated with
drawaI from the approaching congress
sional elections.
During the first ten days of May
the government spent $1,619 ,0S1 A
more than it took in. Newspapers