The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-26
PRESIDENT SCORES
A SIGNAL VICTORY
Session Leaves Remarkable
Record Of Legislation.
TAFTS TACT TURNS TRICKS
All His Propositions Get Solid Party
Vote In Both Houses, Something
Roosevelt Had Not Done Since
La Toilette Entered Senate-FiEht
Over Rules Gained by Executive.

The session of Congress which came
to an end last night leaves remarkable
record of legislation.
Mr. Roosevelt. when he was in the
White House. referred TO the first ses-
sion of the Fifty-ninth Congress as hav-
ing done more substantial work for good
than any other Congress since he had
become familiar with public affairs. Yet
the record of the first session of the
Fifty-ninth Congress does not compare,
either In length or Importance, with the
list of measures that have been placed
upon the statute books in the last seven
months.
Indeed, it has been said by old-time
members OF Congress here that the
record of the session that has just closed
has exceeded that Of any single session
since the civil war days
Buried Under Criticism,
Two months ago 1t seemed as IL the
White House was almost buried under
the steady flow Of criticism. The Presi-
dent himself seemed discouraged.
The result OF Taft's tact, it is claimed.
is that on all of his important measures
he got the solid party vote in both the
House and the Senate-something that
President Roosevelt had not succeeded in
doing since Robert II. La Toilette entered
the Senate.
The fight over the rules in the House
also presented a situation which might
easily have wrecked the Taft legislative
programme If Mr.. Taft had not been
tactful. Here are the more important
measures that President Taft urged upon
and obtained from Congress;
Important Measures Passed.
The railroad bin. extending the regu-
lative power of the government over COM
mon carriers by rail.
The establishment Of postal savings
banks
The creation OF a commission TO in
quire into stock and bond issues Of rail-
reads with a view to ascertaining II they
have been watered or not. and recon-
mending legislation TO Congress-
Publicity OF campaign contributions In
Congressional and national elections.
The creation Of a Bureau of Mines and
Mining. with an appropriation of 500, 900
for its administration.
Admission OF Arizona and New Mexico
into separate Statehood
Authority granted 10 the President TO
withdraw certain classes OF public lands
from entry in pursuance Of the national
conservation policy.
An issue Of 100000 Of certificates OF
Indebtedness authorized for the compile
ton Of irrigation projects already begun,
but held up on account OF a lack OF
funds.
Increase in the navy by construction of
two hrst-class battle ships. four torpedo
boats and other craft
Net in Party Platform.
The following legislation was enacted
upon the Presidents recommendation,
although not included in the party plat
form:
The creation Of a commission with a
view 10 obtaining facts on which the
Federal departments may be eorgakized
| in the interest Of economy.
Laws aimed at the suppression Of the
white slave" traffic.
The reorganization Of the Lighthouse
| Service
Comparatively few propositions. as the
history Of Congress runs, We're recon-
| mended by the President and failed
| These are some Of the items which the
! President recommended. but which were
not enacted into law:
Legislation defining the power OF Fed
| eral courts to issue injunctions.
The creation of a new Bureau Of Pub
| lie Health
The creation OF a commission 10 sim
| plify and expedite procedure of Federal
courts.
A new form of government for Alaska
| Increase in postage rates on magazines
and periodicals.
Amendment TO the Sherman. antitrust
law permitting the Federal Incorporation
Of corporations engaged in interstate
commerce.
Possible Danger Feared.
The President by no means has dropped
these propositions. The anti-injunctior
| legislation was not called ~ because
the leaders Of Congress thought it might
ieopardize at this time the rest OF the
! Taft programme, and the proposition e
establish national health bureau stirred
up widespread opposition among homeo
paths.
Considerable legislation was enacted
that was not either recommended by the
President or included in the national
platform.
All told, more than 1900 bills, public
! and private, We're introduced in the
House alone, together with some 80
resolutions of a public nature. The Sen