the power, has lacked the courage to carry out its declared policies. [Applause on the Republican side.] The rule which has been proposed here, Mr. Speaker, is nothing extraordinary; it is a method laid down by the House procedure by which the majority can enact such legislation as it deems wise. It is practically and substantially the same procedure that was carried out in the Fifty-second and Fifty-third Congresses, when our Democratic friends were in a majority and when they were responsible for legislation. They invoked the action of the Committee on Rules, properly so, and that is what the Republican party in this House do to-day, Mr. Speaker; they resort, not to unusual methods, but to methods laid down by the rules, laid down by the law, to enact legislation, and not waste the time in useless and senseless Toll calls, The Democratic party, Mr. Speaker, under its present leadership in the House, I assume, believes that they are making great political capital by the filibuster of the past two weeks; but, Mr. Speaker, in my judgment they are not déceiving the country. The country knows that the way to progress is not to put on the brakes. The country knows, even if the Democratic party does not know, Mr. Speaker, that the way to move forward is to move forward and not attempt to block the wheels of progress. But it is a Democratic policy; it has been heretofore, and I assume it will be long afterwards for many years yet to come, to attempt to move forward as the crab does--by moving backward. [Applause and laughter on the Republican side.] That is not Republican policy. The country is not deceived. The country is looking to the Republican party to enact certain legislation. It is looking to the Republican party to enact the great appropriation bills for carrying on this Government, and it is looking to this House to enact those laws at the speediest possible time, and to adjourn this House, and that is what the Republican party proposes to do. Our Democratic friends will discover, I expect, one of these days that they have not made the political capital out of the maneuvers of last week that they supposed they would. Democratic hindsight is always superior to Democratic foresight, Mr. Speaker. In that respect I think their situation can be described in the little verselet about the bug, with which we are all familiar, and which runs: The lightning bug is brilliant; but it has not any mind; It stumbles through existence, with its headlight on behind. [Laughter and applause on the Republican side.] Its That is just what the Democratic party is doing now! headlight is on behind. It seems to see nothing in the future; it seems to be attempting to deceive the country with the idea that it is accomplishing undesirable legislation, forcing the Republican party to do that which that party does not deem to be wise, forcing it in its forward progress by hanging on to the wheels of progress, attempting to prevent that vehicle from moving forward. But, Mr. Speaker, the Republican party, mindful of its obligations to the country, will, as the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. DE ARMOND] admits, adopt this rule and proceed, accepting full responsibility for its every act, and enact such legislation as it deems wise, pass the great appropriation bills, and then go to the country upon the record that it has made here, confident that the country understands the whole situation and will approve what has been done. [Applause on the Republican side.] 1 Mr. SPEAKER: The rural free-delivery service has fully kept pace with the growth and development of our whole country. The farmer is now reaping some of the rewards he has so justy earned in the past by the burdens that he has borne. He is the producer of wealth. He is coming to be one of the most independent of all our citizens. No branch of the public service has been so well developed and improved in the past few years as the rural free delivery. There were only 8,000 rural routes There are now almost 40,000, and in operation six years ago. these are scattered through every State and Territory of the country, so that there is not a rural section in the whole land that is not practically covered. This entire service has been extended from a small beginning eleven years ago, during the three Republican Administrations with which the country has been blessed since 1897. I believe that the appropriation of $35.000.000 made this year for the support of rural free-delivery service brings more direct benefit to the people of this country whom it affects than almost any other appropriation made by the General Government. In 1900 President McKinley, in his message to Congress, in speaking of the postal service, used language as follows: * * "Its most striking new development is the extension of rural free delivery. This service ameliorates the isolation of farm life, conduces to good roads, and quickens and extends the dissemination of general information. Experience thus far has tended to allay the apprehension that it would be so expensive as to forbid its general adoption or make it a serious burden. Its actual application has shown that it increases postal receipts and can be accompanied by reduction in other branches of the service, so that the augmented revenues and accomplished sav ings together materially reduce the net cost." In his first message to Congress President Roosevelt said: Among the recent postal advances the success of rural free delivery wherever established has been so marked and actual experience has made its benefits so plain that the demand for its |