The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-20
NEARING THE END.


Republican leaders are predicting
that Congress will adjourn by the en-.
of the week Unforeseen compiled
tions may arise, and the Democrats
may tie up the last of the appropria
ton bills, but otherwise Speaker can
non will let the gavel fall by Saturday
night and will declare the session ad
iourned until next December. Repup-
leans Progressives and Democrats
will then hasten to their respective
districts and will begin to explain how
1t all happened, and why the laws
passed are no better than they are.
This Congress has not been a bril-
liant one. 1t was elected when the
Republican wave was at its crest. and
it contained all the old Republican
leaders who were elected solely be-.
cause they had been elected in 1906
and earlier. The .stand-patters" OF
the Presidential campaign were in con-
troll, and they dominated the elections
During the extra session. which infict.
ed the tariff on the country, these men
were in the hey-day of their power.
and showed a degree of insolence, the
like of which America has never seen.
Still, this Congress has been historic
and will probably be remembered when
forgotten. Unless the signs of the
times are all wrong, the SiNtyhrst
Congress will be remembered first OF
all, as the Congress which wrought
the Republican downfall When the
Congress met In special session, to
carry out that memorable downward
revision" the Republican leaders were
supreme. Their will was law, and
their will was memorable Yet when
the long session of this Congress ad-
journed the Republican party was dis
rupted. broken and on the eve OF col
lapse.
Again. the sixty first Congress Will
be remembered as the Congress In
which the Insurgent movement first
took definite shape. Indeed, the dom
ination of the stand-patters and tn,
bare-faced pertdy of the Aldrich
Cannon ring made the Insurgents
The latter have not been sin
cere, and they have not always de
served their name. but since the low
elections, the Insurgents have take
heart, and can now claim respect a
the approved representatives OF thu
indignant West.
This Congress will likewise be re
membered as a Congress in which TIL
influence of the Executive has beer
most strongly felt. Mr.. Taft was de
ceived by the Aldrich tariff and allow
ed himself TO he overriden by the lead
ers In Congress, but with this excep
exercised Very strong influence ovel
Congress. He has not been spectacula,
in his methods, and he has not beer
perpetually in the limelight with a Sc
of policies, but he asked Congress
for certain. lays, aid he has got them
As told this morning in The Times
Dispatch, he requested five great law
of Congress- reimbursement of the
powers of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, new conservation meas
ures. statehood for Arizona and Ney
Mexico, postal savings banks and def
mite limitation on the use of injunc
tons. Before Congress adjourns thi
week, he win have signed all of thes
measures with the exception of tn
Injunction act This we take it. is
new record of its kind, and will com
pare for the Republicans at leas,
most favorably with the record of tn
previous Administration.
The fulhment of the Republica
campaign pledges, however. in tn
passage of four of the FIVE laws re
quested by the President as the part
programme, VIII not Justify the RI
publicans in their appeal to the cour
try this fall Even II the four part
laws were good laws-which they al
not-they would not compensate tc
the tariff; and even If every lot an
title of the Republican promises ha
been fulhlled-which they have not
the country would still feel as it doe
feel and would reject the Republican
on account Of the Aldrich tariff. TIL
evil viii live. and in the campaig
soon 10 open, the pet measures of Ii
Administration VIII not aid the Reput
licans, The tarin is their damnatiop
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