New-York tribune., 1912-08-25
A MISERABLE RECORD.

A MISERABLE hGCC
The record OF the session Of CONGRESS
which ended Yesterday was largeiy
one OF wasted and nischievouS actiVl'
ties. The two houses worked long AN"
hard. but their labors were mostly
r,issnent because they were Et ouu7
not only with each other hut with the
President and gave their attention
chiefly 70 manufacturing petty poht-
cal capital instead OF legislating TOT
the good OF the country, 50 far as legls-
lation was possible under conditions
OF divided courrol and dodgable re-
sponsibilit7. The public advantage
was the last thing Congress thought
Of and its utter lack Of sincerity ana
patriotic spirit made the long-drawn
tasco OF the session inevitable.
The Democratic majority IN the
aouse Of Representatives seemed to
eSl on the right track at the begin
ming OF the extra session. called in
April 1911 II CO-operated with the
Senate and the President IN passing
the Canadian reciprocity bill. for
which there had been a widespread
poplar demand The Democratic
leaders did the honest and rational
thing IN supporting that measure. But
when jt came 10 further tariff legls-
lauOn, which could have been secured
OF the same basis Of cooperation ana
conces sion. their good resolutions
oozed out. They might have helped
10 pass half a dozen moderate down
ward revision measures thoroughly
accepta bic 10 rhe country. BUr -h7~
put cheap partisan vanity and rrickery
above the opportunity for substantial
public service. and in order 10 keen
alive the tariff issue for political
purposes they deliberately set about
20 prevent IN agreement on reductions
I'm qnv of rho schedules Their tariff
roIiov waS inconsistent and ner40io1s.
PraSi7pn- ToF- was willing 70 approve
-re-erial -e4uctions In the schedules
D~' thp hills which the HousA and
er7rre sent 70 him were arrfuIlv IRE
r~~od so rs 70 compel him 70 veto
them and --us r'0~'- the ~o7-~-ions
which Congress had cvnic8llv pre-
tended 70 no making IN good faith.
The same course was followed m
dealing with rhe approximation meas
ures. The House Of Representatives
revived the vicious Holman rule IA
order n Load down +ha sunnlv hills
with mischievous genera legislation.
n tried 10 club the Senate and the
President into accepting offensive
riders rather than see appropriations
for the support Of the government
withheld. The House tried 70 rip up
the army. cripple the navy. abolish tNe
Commerce Court. srarve out the Thrift
Board and demoralize the federal ser
vice az many othp~ n0i0rs II lost
many Of It's contentious. but bv mere
brute persistence II finally had IFS way
in part and two Of the most useful
agencies created in recent years 10
smooth the course of legislation and
administration were finally sacrificed
% the prejudice an6 malice or rha
House leaders The Commerce Court
Is continued only until March 4 next.
and the Tariff Board appropriation IS
stopped.
To cap the climax Congress passed
a Panama Canal bill inviting charges
Of international bad faith and
weighted down with objectionable
provisions having no proper place in
an act dealing with the canal and its
traffic. The same recklessness and in
sincerity marked the canal policy thar
had characterized the tariff iuggiery
and the raids upon the army. the navy.
the Commerce Court and the Tariff
Board.
Some useful measures may have
slipped through al the session Just
ended. But they are Obscured bv the
pOrtentous record Of evil deeds and
evil projects for which the Democratic
majority in the House and the Demo
cratic-Insurgent coalition in the Senate
stood sponsor No other Congress in
the memory Of this generation has so
glaringiy demonstrated its capacity for
perverse thinking and torruOus action.
y retrospect of the session Just ended
can hardly fail 70 move the intelligent
voter 10 righteous wrath.