New-York tribune., 1911-01-01
THE YEAR AT HOME.


Politically the most important event of
the year of 1910 was the interruption Of
the complete control in national affairs
which the Republican party has exer-
cised since March 4. 1897. After an in
teryal of sixteen years the voters of the
country turned out Of Office q Repub-
llcan House Of Representatives and sub
stituted Democratic one. The change
was undoubtedly due to popular dissat-
isfaction with the attitude assumed by
majority of the Republican leaders in
both branches toward tariff legislation.
The Republican national platform of
1908 promised what the country under
stood to he a substantial downward re-
vision Of the Dingley law schedules. but
powerful party influences in the House
and Senate anita SOni5ed President Tafts
efforts 10 interpret the pledges OF the
platform in n liberal sense. Although
the tariff was revised more than a year
before the elections for the 62d Congress
were held, and although Congress in the
interval had shown more progressive
disposition and had passed much COM
meDdable legislation. the voters could
not forget or forgive their disappoint-
ment.
A Republican majority Of forty-five In
the lower branch of Congress was con
verted into a Democratic majority Of
sixty-fve The Democratic victory was
won, however, through Republican alb
stentionS rather than through positive
accessions 10 the opposition. Compared
with the vote cast in 1903 for candi-
dates for Congress the Republican
strength fell off 1,650171. The Demo
cratic total decreased S34,937. The
Democratic plurality in 1910 was only
12s,T6G, and 1t is noteworthy that in
many states Republican state officers re-
ceiyed substantial pluralities while the
Republican Congress ticket ran behind
the Democratic Democratic control of
the lower house is a temporary expert
ment rather than settled fact. To re-
tain power there the Democracy must
still convince the voters that in its
present condition IL is capable Of admin
istering the affairs of the nation.
Though condemned for its failure to
meet public expectations in the passage
of the Payne tariff law, the 61st Con
Cress did much solid and admirable
work. II amended the Hepburn inter
state commerce act, created court OF
commerce TO deal with questions arising
under that act, strengthened the powers
of the Interstate Commerce Commission
and brought nearer TO practical realiza-
ton the intention Of the original inter
state commerce law to regulate railroad
rates in a Spitlt Of justice both to the
mblic and the railroads. a commission
was created to look into the question of
the issue Of stocks and bonds
by railroads. a system of postal savings
banks was established, the federal circle
was enlarged by the admission of two
new states--AriZona and New Mexico;
political committees operating In two
or more states to influence an election at
which Representatives In Congress are
chosen were required to file statements
OF their receipts and expenditures, freer
Withdrawals OF public lands for con-
servation purposes were authorized,
federal Bureau OF Mines was created,
the Alaska seal fisheries were further
projected and many minor laws of sub
stantial value were put OH the statute
book. The second session of the 61st
Congress will deservedly rank as one Of
the most active and fruitful in the mem
ory Of this generation.
Two incidents of the session not
strictly legislative attracted universal in
terest. They were the successful fight
In the House Of Representatives TO lib
eraliZe the rules and break down the alb
solutism exercised by the Speaker and
the impOtent attempt TO discredit Sec
retary Balinger and drive him out of
President Taft's Cabinet. The PinchOt-
Ballinger investigation uncovered much
personal venom, out it failed to estab-
llsh the charges made against the Sec
retary. The change Of rules I'm the
House quickly justified itself and Is
likely TO produce permanent results in
national politics.
In many Of the states 1910 was year
of successful agitation for cleaner gov
ernment and more direct control Of party
machinery by the voters. In this state
corruption in the Legislature at Albany
was again investigated by n legislative
committee, and the influences in both
parties which have profted by the prac-
tice Of legislating at the behest and for
the benefit Of special interests were com
PEELED to yield 10 the popular demand
for freer party government In the
West the so-called "insurgent" move
ment in the Republican party developed
surprising strength-an evidence Of the
widespread desire for n change in po-
litical methods and management.
Seven states-Georgia, Illinois, Ken
lucky. Maryland. Mississippi. Oklahoma
and South Caroline the income
tax amendment TO the federal Constitu-
ton and five states-Louisiana, Massa-