The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1911-03-09

In the United States Senate "Baby
Bailey" of Texas. dramatically re-
signed, step, by the way. which he
had long contemplated, and took that
particular time because il was dramatic
and added sauce piquante to the fight
for Democratic leadership in the Sem
ate. He took IL back later
Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts. who
got back to the Senate few weeks ago
by a nasty little margin. disregarded
the unanimous wish of the MaSsachu-
sets Legislature by filibustering against
the Sulloway pension bill. which had
been supported by the practically unan-
imous vote of the Legislatures of 81
other States. Senator Stone, of Mis-
souri,, flung his def in the face OF the
Vice President, only to be ordered 10
take his seat, and. taking it altogether.
the closing hours of the 61St Congress
were its sorriest. Those closing scenes
are not matter of pride for anyone to
look back upon. Mighty little of gem
eral interest, of the tremendous mass
of matter that ought to be acted upon.
was acted upon before the gavels fell
in the two Houses. Among the things
that squeezed thru were:
Provision of 100000 for the forth
fication of the Panama Canal
Provision for two new Dsttleships.
Rehabilitation of the judicial code.
Creation of forest preserves in the
southern Appalachian and White
Mountains.
Providing for the construction of
Embassy and Legation buildings
abroad.
Requiring the inspection of locomo-
tive boilers.
There were millions of dollars voted
for Notifications that we shall not need
for many years: millions of dollars Vot-
ed for memorials to various great men
who have been dead Il long long time
and whose name and fame are not suf-
fering for recognition: millions of dol
lars for hattlcships: millions upon mil
lions for the Army and Navy; thousands
of dollars for pleasure jaunts TO Alaska.
the Panama Canal, the Philippines, the
Hawaiian Islands: millions of dollars to
help pay postage oil advertising in mag
aZines; thousands of dollars 10 investi-
gate poor Government clerks and in
crease the salaries of rich ones; mill
lions after millions of dollars for the
Panama Canal; millions Of dollars for
a million of insignificant things that
could wait for few years. but not one
single silver dollar for veterans, $4,000
of whom will be dead before it is pos
sible to secure relief for them, should
the extraordinary session of Congress
work with lightning rapidly.
Representative Sulloway, the big
bodied, big-hearted, Senerous-souled
and sympathetic Chairman of the
House Committee on Pensions. retires
from the head of the committee, but
ne declares that his bill will be the
first in the hopper at the extra session.
Senator Scott. of West Virginia, is
out. but he fought to the bitter end for
the Sulloway bill. He was splendidly
supported By that untiring young Son
of n Veteran. Charles Curtis, of Kansas,
and Curtis will carry on the fight.
The bill would undoubtedly have
passed bat for the objection and fill
clustering tactics of the senior Senator
from Massachusetts. Mr.. Lodge. and he
stood behind Baby Bailey, of Texas,
who would have talked the bill to death
had it ever been placed before the SEN
ate for action.