The Washington herald., 1910-06-10
AIMED At CONGRESS.
New York Paper Charges
Woeful Generalization.
LITTLE ACTUAL WORK DONE
Obstructive Tactics OF Old Leaders.
New Group Unable TO Offer substi-
tute-IneOnsistent Legislation Sc
queI to Rank DISCRIMINATION.
Leadership Is Lacking.

utter Decentralization and disogganizaoa which exists
ct the Capitol.
The condition. instead Of growing better as the end
ot the session approaches has steadily becsne meEe
pronounced until at the present msment state Of
hopeless laca Of leadership and almest entire eb-
senee Of power Of control exists
The stuatiOa is Of remarkable slgniacanes from a
number Of different Etsndposnts, but Is especially
important from the point q view Of immediate leg
islaaon and its pTosiAoaA-Nsw YOIk Journal Of
CoEmeTcs.
Under the captain Federal legislation
In hopeless tumble" the New York Jour
nal Of Commerce treats the situation IN
Congress Just now as one Of the most
deplorable in the history OF that body
for many Year,.
''The demore lization at the Capitol,
continues the Journal of Commerce, is
at present very far-Teaching. SO ex-
tensive is il, in fact. that number or
committees have definitely suspended
operations for the remainder Of the ses-
sion, their chairmen asserting that It is
Of no use to report further bills, as, In
any event they could not be passed be-
cause OF the congeSted condition Of the
calendar
would have gone on being reported up 10
the end of the session, or nearly as long
as that, and the bringing forward Of such
| measures would then have been left 10
the Rules Committee under the dietation
OF the Speaker
Some bills not reported until the very
last minute might have had their chance
because Of party necessities or because
OF the desire TO pay party debts. but now
win not be dealt with at all Other bills
| have had TO be laid aside because Of the
/ apparent indisposition OF the old con-
| trolling group 10 lend their assistance TO
putting them forward.
DispIeasure Over New Methods.
| Control exercised by the old group in
the House has not been succeeded by any
thing comparable 10 1t because the mem
bers OF the former ruling clique have been
under suspicion and would not have been
able 10 exert any distinct influence had
they attempted to do go while they have
been so displeased at the new methods
/ introduced in the House that they have
made no effort TO adjust matters or 10
| perform much OF the work OF reorgani-
zatIon or OF putting forward measures
or Of framing new ones. Il Is regretta-
BILE that those who overthrow the old
| rules have not been able 10 substitute
anything definite in place OF them.
This new rules committee. consisting
| as IL does OF men who were nearly all
| identified more or less closely with the
Cannon group has not felt strong enough
10 take any steps, so that as a matter OF
fact the House is closing the session with
practically no organization and no lead
ership.
1T has been evident for long time
that the coalition against the Cannon sec
ton OF the House was strong enough TO
prevent any definite action from being
taken by the new rules committee with
or without the aid of the former rulers
of the chamber. but was not strong or
harmonious enough 10 erect any new
structure Of control or government. Al
though conditions are technically differ
ent in the Senate, much the same sort OF
influence has been at work there as in the
House
Poor Show for Legislation.
There is as yet no certainty that the
important measures put forward under
the head Of the Taft programme" or
any Of them will be adopted. but even
II they should be, this viii still leave a
! great accumulation of work-much OF II
very necessary-still undOne
"At least a dozen important subjects,
on which action has been called for viii
be left without attention at the close.
This is proving a serious disappointment
10 the more thoughtful legislators, and
has led to earnest pleas in many quar-
tiers in behalf Of a longer session.
The singulsrity of the situation is seen
IN the appointment Of the conferees on
the railroad bill. all of whom are men,
bers of the old CannOn-Aldrlch group
and none Of whom are really friendly
TO the measure they have in hand
which IS in actual fact the product OF
the radicals and the Democrats. There
is no willingness to accept responsibility
for the bills that are now in hand. and
practically all groups would prefer TO see
an adjournment without legislation were
| that practicable"