The Washington times., 1912-08-28
THE DEPRESSING SESSION OF CONGRESS

Members of Congress, at the end of long ses-
sion that was not nearly so Intellectual of results as
it now appears, are going to their homes more than
ever impressed with the bigness of their duty and
responsibility The growth of government functions
makes it certain that hereafter Congress will be in
session something like fifteen or sixteen months Of
each two years; likely more rather than less.
The pressure of necessity will force the legisla-
tors to adapt their procedure more and more to the
purpose of dispatching business Nothing will do so
much to encourage the Senate, for instance to adopt
a more busness-like method, as the frequent repe-
tition of long summer sessions. The policy of time
killing has helped smother measures while avoiding
direct votes on them. The time is at hand when
will be impossible to do this. Bills will be dragged
out into daylight and members will have to vote them
up or down. 1t will be embarrassing, but good for
the public service.
So thoroughly has the system of asphyxating
legislation been developed that it may fairly be said
the most important laws secured at this recent ses-
sion came as riders to appropriation bills. The ap-
preparations must pass because they must pass they
afford series of vehicles which it is possible to
attach legislation and get il carried through 1t is not
an ideal way to egislate, but in many it is a
deal better than none 1t lends itself to obbery to
secrecy to dangerous haste and undue consideration
and in time it must force Congress to deal more
frankly and openly with legislation.
The session just ended passed a Panama canal
bill which, including the riders that add greatly to
the efficiency of the Interstate Commerce laws, will
prove most useful measure. 1t will be further de-
veloped and perfected but it contains some very USE
full provisions that in the law unlikely ever
to be taken out.
Labor legislation made great progress, largely
because Presidential campaign was pending. The
ei oh -hnur m ent
tracts, ETC., passed. The Industrial Commission bill
looking to investigation that should be fruitful of
much good, did likewise, as did the Childrens Bu-
reau bill.
The anti-injuncton measure passed the House,
but was not acted upon in the Senate. With the
Presidential campaign out of the way, the most in
sisent pressure for its passage will be removed when
Congress comes back to town, and it may be expect
ed that every effort will be made to smother it in
definitely. On the other hand there is reason to be-
eve that the measure for creation of the Depart
ment of Labor will become law before this Congress
goes out of existence. 1t has passed the House and
is pending in the Senate.
Politics interfered with much of accomplishment
vast amount of real work done without tangible
results. Thus the tariff measures which at the last
brought agreement between a Democratic House and
a Republican Senate were vetoed by the President
The tariff board is to 60 out of existence
A parcels post has been created whose efficacy
and prachcability must be determined by experience
With however, the authorization for making read
ustments of rates to fit them to the possibilities of
the traffic, it seems probable that the measure ad-
ministered sympathetcally will bring excellent re-
suits and mark real start toward the creation of
most desirable public facility.
The investigations conducted by committees of
the House have not been shining successes in point
either of digging out scandals that the opposition
party hoped to find or in affording suggestions Of
value to the trainers of constructive legislation
There too much of the inevitable political cast 20
all of them.
Vast discourse was devoted, first and last, to the
Democratic purpose of reducing Government ex-
penses but the totals show that it is bon-doar
session with plenty to spare, and that appropriations
total only seven million dollars less than those of
the previous session. The apparent economy, more
over, is secured by dint of putting off things that
will have to be paid for later
The Senate succeeded in riddng itself of Lorimer,
which took good deal of time and effort Also, it
started on an inquiry into Penrose ct al. These are
good and useful things to do but they are not egis
lation They are only delayed Inauguration of very
necessary sanitary that ought to have been
established long ago.