Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-06-24
IN NATIONS CAPITAL
Congress on the Home Stretch
Toward Adjournment

lSpeCldl correspondence OF Inc InHnlN.l |
Washington, d. c., June o.
To President Tafts personality may be
attributed in a great measure the infiu-
ence back of legislation which has full
filled, during the session just closing so
many of the pledges of the Republican
national platform. Notwithstanding the
many distractions which, from time to
time. have threatened all of the so-caled
administration measures, these have been
swept aside by the demands Of the Presi-
dent with the result that more than a
score of these measures and other impor-
tant laws have been written into the
statute books. This has been accom-
plished with less than the usual show Of
craftsmanship, while the Democrats have
profited through the general nature of
several OF these laws. The President has
not succeeded~ln all of his recommends
tons yet he has succeeded in disarming
some of the most threatening objections
to progressive legislation.
In the last national platform of the
Republicans pledge was given that the
following important legislative enact
ments should be secured: a revision OF
the tariff, including the maximum and
minimum principle; a more elastic cur
rency system; the establishment of a
postal savings bank; the extension of the
of the power OF federal courts i'm grant
ing writs of injunction; conservation of
natural resources and the inauguration
of system Of internal waterway i'm
proVements; an Increase in the navy;
separate statehood for the territories of
New Mexico and Arizona: the establish
ment of a bureau of mines and mining
and legislation to revive the American
merchant marine. a special session a
| year ago was given to the revision OF the
| tariff, though there IS no doubt that pub
! lie sentiment differs as to whether It was
/ revised in conformity with the party's
! pledge. This has been a constant bone of
| contention even throughout this second
| session. The monetary commission is
| stil at work trying to reconstruct the
national monetary system and the judi
| ciary committee OF Congress have not
| succeeded in framing an multiplication
| bill satisfactory to the various interests
| concerned and this legislation has been
| postponed Other measures have enCoun-
| tered so much opposition as to make Il
| impossible. up To this time. to fulnll the
| pledges of the party platform. More than
! once it has been heralded that the Taft
| legislative program was sure to fail. even
| the railroad bill was 50 dishgured by
| amendments as to make the outlook any
| thing but encouraging
| While no one cares to assert that the
| legislative record Of this session is be-
|
| II has been much more creditable than
| the records Of many previous Congresses
| The following legislation has been fer
| vently urged and sustained by the Presi-
| dent and finally passed by Congress:
Railroad bill, extending power of the
| government over common carriers
| Establishment of postal savings banks
| Creation of commission to ascertain the
| extent OF watered stocks and bonds
Creation of bureau Of mines and min
| ing.
Admission of Arizona and New Mexico
| into separate statehood
Authority to the President to withdraw
| various classes Of public lands from entry
| In consonance with conservation policy
| Appropriation to enable the tariff board
to ascertain difference of cost Of produc-
| ton at home and abroad
| Reorganization of lighthouse service
Increase in the navy by two first class
battleships and many smaller craft
a commission of experts to report upon
economies In expenditures in federal de-
| partments
Extension Of provisions relating to use
OF appliances on railroads.
| Provision for suppression of the white
slave" traffic
Issue of bonds to complete irrigation
projects in the West
Among the measures recommended by
the President. that providing for a new
postal rates on magazines and periodicals
and number of other measures will
hardly be reached this session
| The President has not frowned because
of the fact that the Democrats have OBJ
tanned considerable credit from measures
pressed by them. The record includes:
Further regulation of railroads
Curtailment of the power of Speaker
Cannon.
Regulation of telephones and telegraphs
by the federal government.
Legislation TO conserve natural resour-
ces
Statehood for Arizona and New Mexico.
Legislation to effect economies in public
expenditures.
All of the above were pledged by the
Democrats in their last national platform
and apply to one party as well as the
other.
President Taft began swinging the big
stick Tuesday when he invited the lead
ers of the Senate and House to the
White House and demanded the passage
OF certain measures before adjourn,
ment. To emphasize his earnestness ii
the premises he gave up his contemplated
= trip to New Haven an declared his pur
t | pose to watch his pet measure.
e | to the end that they should receive JUS
e ! and favorable support by his party. Tn,
. effect Of this was apparent at the capito
e | when things began to move with unusua
1 "
( | adjourn is not so much a question {
the President as just what the CLOSING
e | hours will accomplish. 1t now seem.
C | probable that adjournment will be reach
( | ed this week, possibly Thursday. though
a | it is more likely to come Saturday
e The President and Col. Roosevelt hav,
a | exchanged many messages of a cordia
( | character since the latters return home
5 | They are of a personal nature, though
everyone seems to think they indicat,
e | friendly attitude on the part of the for
mer President toward the present admin
4 | istration. President Taft certainly di,
I all in his power to convince Roosevelt
: of his friendly greeting and If the ex
o | president appreciates this. as 1t is be
: lieved he does, then all occasions for spec
n ulation concerning the attitude of Roose
4 | welt is removed.
Congress has voted Associate Justic
Moody who has been III since last fall
, | a yearly pension equal to his salary Tn
: justice will now retire and a new maj
! will be put in his place sometime mex
. winter
= Senator Dillingham; is improving from
q a severe attack of acute indigestion, a
his rooms i'm the Cochran hotel Tn
senator was attacked about ten days ag
g and for time was a very sick man, bu
% his condition is so much improved as I
a leave little doubt of his ability to retur
: to Vermont soon after the session closes
The terrific heat here in the last fey
days is a factor in moving Congress
early adjournment. For the past thre
days the thermometer has registere
above 100 degrees and there seems littl