New-York tribune., 1912-08-25
Democratic lneompetsrey.

In large measure, tho second session -
the 62d Congress. Ike the first displayed
The lack Of constructive. and the facility
Of destructive. ability NJ The Democratic
party. Exercising full sway In the House.
the Democrat, set forth tueir programme
iu several measures obviously designed
for political effect and 10 'pu, the Presi-
dent IN a hole" sud effectively blocked
progressive measures initiated ty tho Re
publicans IN the Senate. Practically all
the bills that became law were nom
partisan or Administrative measures
These received comparatively little at
tcntion from legislators. BY far the
greater part OF the session was devoted
b. the Democrats TO the framing of legis-
lation for campaign purposes. and Tor
campaign purposes only.
THE record Of tho Democratic party can
he summed mp under the head OF a few
important subjects:
Tariff revision for political effect
Numerous Investigations conducted al
public expense with the hope OF bringing
discredit on the Republican administra-
tiOn.
Alleged economies achieved by the reck-
less cutting down the force Of govern
ment employees
Curtailment OF the naval building pro-
gramne.
Reduction Of the army by Ave regi-
rnents OF cavalry.
Parsimony in making appropriations for
the government service.
Pension increases 20 the extent Of
3,5,000O00 annually which would have ne
ccssiidted bond issue 10 raise the funds
pork barrel building bill suppressed
by Democratic leaders only when they
perceived the danger OF political disaster.
Civil service reform backwards. by the
clause
Abolition OF the Commerce Court and
Tariff Board and other drastic attempts
20 make over the government depart
me7ts under the cover OF appropriation
bills
Fortunately the House did not sue
ceed In carrying out its purposes because
Of the opposition OF the Senate and the
determined stand taken by President
Taft.
The tariff agitation Of the session may
be summed up In the following results:
Two bills. the wool bin and the steel
bill, were vetoed by President Taft.
The chemical bill was defeated in the
Senate.
The cotton bill died in conference.
The sugar oil, Republican measure.
passed In good faith by the Senate. which
would have been approved BY the Presi-
dent. was blocked in conference by the
House because II was feared President
Taft would gain the credit.
An excise tax BILL the Democrats refus-
ing 10 accept the Senate amendment re-
pealing the Canadian reciprocity act.
Irsincerity Of Democrats.
The insincerity Of the Democrats was
reflected in their attitude on these bills
Although the President declared he would
approve any tariff revision measures
based on the reports Of the Tariff Board.
the House Democrats, refusing TO avail
themselves Of the information so gath
cred. passed the same wool and cotton
bills that had been passed at the pre-
vious session, and began a counter attack
by assailing the accuracy Of the infor-
nation collected and certified to unani-
mously By the bipartisan Tariff Board
When. near the close Of the session, II
appeared for time that there might be
a possibility of passing the wool and steel
bills over the Executive veto, the Demo-
cratic leaders OF the Senate became
alarmed at the prospect, fearing the re-
action would be fatal to Democratic hopes
II the measures became law, and the
ardor for tariff revision suddenly cooled.
In fact II froze.
The revolutionary free sugar bill Of the