The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1911-09-09

trywide issue II raised over the ques-
ton Of whether the activities Of DR..
Harvey w. Wiley, the governments
pure food expert, have been made In.
effective.
Committees Of the house on expendi-
lures In the government departments
were directed in special resolutions to |
inquire thoroughly into the affairs OF
the government. The Democrats an
nounced that there would be gen.
eral housekeeping. that extravaganza
was rampant and that economies
would be proposed. Predictions or
many sensations were made. For
many weeks the investigations pro-
crossed, and none Of the committees
has completed it's task.
Much other work started by commit
tees must await the action OF the next
session.
The question Of coal lands in Alaska,
the Controller bay controversy, in
. which President Taft's name figured,
and all the kindred questions or gov
[, eminent ownership and control allied
Herewith will be inherited by the ses-
sion which begins next December.
! The Alaskan syndicate charges made
by Delegate Wickersham Of Alaska
against Attorney General Wickersham
came to naught in this session, but
doubtless will come up In some form
next session. Bills were introduced
providing for q coal land leasing sys.
tenn.
One Of the investigations which at
tracted national attention because Of
its rather startling and sensational
| disclosures was the Day portrait
voucher investigation by the house
committee on expenditures In the state
department. As a result Of its find
| ings the committee recommended the
dismissal from the service Of william
II. Michael, former chief clerk OF the
state department, now American con-
! sui general at Calcutta, and Of Thomas
Morrison, disbursing clerk of the de-
partment, but finally the whole matter
| was referred to President Taft for
such action as he thought proper.
Bryan's Attack on Underwood.
Proceedings In the house under eau
Gus rule, led by Mr.. Underwood, pre-
cipitated a sharp controversy between
Mr.. Underwood and william Jennings
Bryan. Mr.. Bryan was aroused be-
cause of the failure Of the house eau
Gus to include in its tariff program at
first the revision of the iron and steel
schedule. He attacked Mr.. Under
wood on this ground, but the latter
received an overwhelming vote OF con
fdence when the matter was made ar
issue in the house. During the contro
yersy the ways and means committee
was at work on an iron and steel re
vision plan, but It remained for tht
senate to act on this schedule. VIII
the acquiescence of house leaders TIT
senate attached an iron ana stee
schedule to the cotton bill.
The house cOncurred In this amend
ment.
When the special session convene<
on April 4 the house was organized o!
the Democratic ways and means com
mittee, and this body made the com
mittee assignments. The new system
eliminated what was known for man!
years as the czardom Of the speaker
The committee also directed the de
alterations of the Democratic caucu
and framed the legislative program o
the session. =.
In the senate, with many Of the oil
leaders missing, a remarkable allianc
) was formed between the Democrat
and insurgent Republicans. led by Il
Toilette, Cummins and Bristow. Ate
the first few weeks Of the session
worked harmoniously until the closin
week, when occurred one OF the mos
spectacular legislative upsets In man
wears. The severance Of the coalitio
came on consideration Of the cotto
bill When Senator Cummins Will
drew an amendment to attach iro
and steel revision to the cotton pi
the Democrats seized on 1t as the
own and were able to pass 1t VINE
regular Republicans refrained fror
? voting or absented themselves frol
the chamber.
One Of the gratifying features
t the session Is that partisanship Of
J. been little in evidence. On Canadla
reciprocity the Democrats supporte
0 almost to a man, and on the tar
v revision bills the progressive Repu
leans and Democrats worked toget
e er. While the list Of laws passed WI
: not long, the extra session laid Il
groundwork for important work In Il
? regular session.
: Yet. while there was little partisa
politics Of the old variety In the re
r sion. there was presidential politics
e almost every move made. Engage
. in this game were three groups, q
Democrats, the progressive Repu
licans and the administration. 1t
too early yet to foretell which one
: these elements had the best Of
. That will not be entirely clear un
the regular session has completed
work. The one point made clear
the extra session is that party lin
as they have existed In the past ha