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Show Ifi SESSION OF CONGRESS ENDS PROBABLY MOST MOMENTOUS SESSION IN HISTORY, AND ONE OF GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT. Army Draft Law, Two War Credit Measures, Authorizing Loans to Allies- and Sale of Bonds Among Important Measures Passed. Washington Tin-- extraordinary session ses-sion of congress, which began April 2, and generally regarded as the most momentous in American history, was adjourned sine die at 3 p. m. on October Oc-tober (5. Vehement criticism of Senator La Toilette, of Wisconsin, and his own defense, de-fense, occupying virtually tlie entire day, marked the close of the war session, ses-sion, with other customary adjournment adjourn-ment and legislative procedure, including includ-ing rresident Wilson's attendance at j the capitol. The usual eleventh hour grist' of legislation was put through, following six months of important war action, and by night most of the members mem-bers who had remained for the final days were en'route home to await the call of the next session. December 3. During inlerruptions of the day's debate de-bate congress found time to dispose of a few Inst moment matters with President Presi-dent Wilson in attendance during the last hour in his room near the senate chamber signing bills. Secretaries Lan-sing Lan-sing and Redfield and Postmaster General Gen-eral Burleson accompanied the president. presi-dent. Among the last acts of congress were confirmation in open session of many nominations, hastily sent in by the president, including those of Major' - Generals Pershing and Bliss to be generals. gen-erals. Right of free speech and of discussion discus-sion of public questions was emphasized empha-sized by Senator La Foilette in bis three-hours' speech, while senators criticizing him declared that be transcended trans-cended the constitutional guarantees in that respect.. Senator Kellogg of Minnesota bitterly denounced as a "slander on the intelligence, honor and patriotism of the ocuntry" the alleged declaration of Mr. La Foilette in St. Taul that the nation went to war to maintain a technical right of Americans Ameri-cans to travel ou munition-laden vessels ves-sels in behalf of munitions makers' interest in the war. Marking the session which has just passed into history were its war declaration decla-ration ; provision for quick and large increases in the nation's fighting forces on land, sea and in the air; appropriations appropria-tions of more than twenty billions dollars; dol-lars; measures of taxation ami credits to meet the financial drafts, and vesting vest-ing the president with vast powers. Looming ahead for disposition at the December session are further enormous enor-mous appropriations for this and next year, great tax and bond bills and a mass of other war and domestic legislation legis-lation with congressional primaries and elections closely following. Among the most important measures enacted were: The army draft law, two war credits measures, authorizing loans to the allies and sale of domestic bonds, 1 lie war tax law, appropriations of ?(i 10,000,000 for airplanes, the espionage act, control of foods, feeds and fuel ; the trading with the enemy act,' including authority7 for the president presi-dent to embargo imports, the soldiers' and sailors' insurance act and two war budget bills. Resides prohibiting further manufacture manu-facture or importation of distilled beverages bev-erages and authorizing the president in the food control bill to stop or curtail that of beer and wines, the senate by a vote of Go to 20 also passed the Sheppard resolution, proposing a national na-tional dry amendment to the federal constitution. It is pending in the house for action at the December session. ses-sion. - " "TIfehou.se created a special committee commit-tee on woman suffrage, while the sen ate favorably reported the Susan P, Anthony amendment proposing an ccjual franchise amendment to the constitution. con-stitution. The latter will be pressed next session. Several bills passed the senate and house, but failed of joint approval and remain pending on. the calendar. Among them are the soldiers' and sail o,s' civil rights bill, the daylight saving sav-ing measure, the Webb export bill, the measure regulating the killing of migratory birds ami the national prohibition prohi-bition measure. - The' proposed Colombian Colom-bian treaty for payment of $23,000,000 in satisfaction of her loss of the Panama Pan-ama canal zone, also failed of senate ratification and is on the calendar. |