The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-26

II tiiS A1iAb1 III y Una 49,
Said he:
In my Judgment, the two sessions
of the Sixty-first Congress have &C
complished more and done better
work than any other Congress OF
which | have been member II has
rarely occurred that a Congress en-
acting a new tariff law has accom-
pIished much else save handling the
appropriations for the government.
This Congress has not only revised
the tariff without disturbing business,
but ii has enacted important legisla-
ton amending the interstate COM
merce law, giving greater power. and
creating a court of commerce. and
this without seriously affecting the
business of the railroads or checking
their increase of wages TO their en-
plOyes
Definition of Statesmanship.
This seems to me to meet the def
milton of craftsmanship in legisla-
ton, and ] can say this without
selfish pride. because the legislation
was enacted under the leadership Of
the Committee on Interstate and For
eign Commerce, with the Hon. James
r. Mann as chairman.
This Congress has also enacted a
postal savings bank law, which Is
entirely new legislation, blazing a
new trail in law-making in this
country.
in my judgment, this is the best
illustration of party legislation we
have had in many years. and 1t fully
justifies the necessity for party ae-
ton in a great legislative body. II
there had not been party solidarity
on this bill. there would have been
no legislation creating postal savings
banks"
Mr.. Cannon reviewed the other meas
ures that have been passed in this SEES
sion. and added;
Review of Measures.
'The appropriations have been large,
but not nearly as large as demanded
by the people who were agitating
over the development Of the various
departments Of the government. There
has not been a single appropriation
bin that has not been increased by a
non-partisan vote in the House over
the report from the committee. This
would seem TO indicate that the de-
nand for economy is like the demands
for reduction of the tariff, and al
WAYS applies to the appropriations
other than those in which the agita-
tors are interested.
The people who want a larger navy
are willing to economic on every
thing else; and the same is true OF
those who want large appropriations
for the Department of Agriculture.
for the army, for the improvement OF
rivers and harbors. for public build
ings. and for all the other activities or
the Federal government
THE Democrats have talked about
economy, but they have helped en-
large every appropriation. and there
are bills introduced by Democrats ana
not acted upon which would call for
S5O00OO.O00 additional expenditure. So.
take it. their talk Of economy IS
Pickwickian-
las I said in the beginning, the
work OF this Congress has been great
er than any other with which / have
been Identified as a member, and It
has been constructive legislation IN
the face of destructive tactics and
efforts to create fractional strife.
MisunderstOOd by Press.
These efforts, I regret to say. have
received more attention in the public
press than the real work Of legisla-
ton, and having given so much space
to these revolutionary efforts. at the
expense of the record Of work, IL is
not surprising that some of the edi-
tors should suddenly discover in these
last days that the Republican Con-
gress has enacted laws TO carry out
the pledges Of the Republican plat
form, and then jump at the conclusion
that this work has been done in haste
before adjournment. instead Of being
the painstaking effort of seven months
by the committees and the members
OF Congress
This work of legislation has gone
on quietly but effectively, while those
who view Congress from a distance
have been assuming that the House
was doing nothing but changing its
rules. The changes of rules have con-
tributed 20 the pleasure and perhaps
the power of some individuals in the
House: but the current Of legislation