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Show I REVIEW OF I CONGRESS I Two Years of EpochMaklng Strug- H gl Within Party Ranka H Recorded iV Washington, March G. With the I adjournment of congress Tuesday H noon, the end came to two years of I epoch making struggle within party H ranks; and to three sessions ot et-I et-I fort, only partially successful to ad-H ad-H Just the differences between a Dem- H ocratlc house, a senate undor Demo- Ft3 cratlc-Progresslvo control and a Ito- " publican president. Many important pieces of lcgtsla-H lcgtsla-H tlon have been enacted within that I time; Investigations of a peculiar I significance to the public have been I conducted; and many subjects of general Interest have been laid aside I without action. The tariff, attacked alike from Democratic and Kopubll- can sources, twice during that period haB been the subject of attempted revision, but nono of tho proposed changes became effective. Tho Sixty-second congress opened I in 1911 with n special session called by President Taft to consider Can- adlan reciprocity; It ends with an ex-I ex-I tra seasion of tho Sixty-third con.-I con.-I Kress only a few weeks away, to be called by Prosldent Wilson for a gen-M gen-M eral revision ot tho Payne-Aldrjch tariff law. National conventions, tho birth ot a new party, a general olec-I olec-I tlon and a complete change ot admin-I admin-I istratlon havo Intervened between its beginning and its end. Activities of I tho short session Just closed have I been limited almost entirely to rou-m rou-m tine work, because ot the determlna-I determlna-I tlon to leave to tho new admlnstra-I admlnstra-I ton all of the Important subjects ot a general character. Important Developments Perhaps tho most Important devel-H devel-H opments of the entire congress aro H the following: Now federal bureau ot labor cro- ated with cabinet officer nt its head. Physical valuation of the property I of railroads and other common car-H car-H rlcrs, to form basis for rate making. Canadian reciprocity law passed, but rejected by Canada. I Wool, cotton, metal and free list H tariff bills passed, but vetoed by H President Taft. H Constitutional amendment tor pop- H ular election of senators submitted to H tho states. H Shipment of liquor into prohibition -vfc Sstates forbidden by law. wJESr Arbitration treaties wltn Great H Britain and Franco negotiated, but H failed ot ratification because of changes mado by the- senate. Termination of tho' treaty ot 1832 with nus8la domanded by congress. Notice on World Notlco served on tho world by the senate that tho United States will not permit foreign nations to secure military or naval footholds where they might threaten safety ot this country. Children's bureau created In depart ment of commerce and labor. Panama canal law passed, establishing estab-lishing free passage for American costwlse ships, and barring railroad owned vessels from tho canal. Campaign publicity laws passed, requiring n complete public accounting account-ing ot all campaign funds. William Lorlmer declared not entitled en-titled to scat as senator from Illinois Judge Archibald Impeaened Judge Robert W, Archibald of commerco court Impeached and convicted con-victed on charges of Judicial misconduct. miscon-duct. Money trust investigation conducted, conduct-ed, disclosing detailed methods ot present day ilnaucial operation. Campaign expenditures investigated investigat-ed covering campaign funds ot 1904, 1908 and 1912; and disclosing correspondence corres-pondence between John D. Archibald of the Standard Oil company and members of congress. Investigation made of formation and operation ot the United States Steel corporation. These comprlso but a few of the laws passed, investigations conducted, conduct-ed, treaties passed on, and legislative legisla-tive subjects considered during the two years of tho Sixty-second congress. con-gress. Tho two great personal struggles, strug-gles, involving William Lorlmer and Judge Archibald, ran throughout tho congress; and with their interesting personal phases helped to draw attention at-tention from tho actual legislative work of tho two years. No Action on Three Subjects Wbllo congress passed nn eight hour law covering all government contracts except on tho Panama canal, can-al, it took no action on three Important Impor-tant subjects; anti-Injunction, workmen's work-men's compensation and nnti-trust legislation. Recommendations wero made by a senate commltteo within tho last week for radical changes In tho anti-trust law to restore competitive compe-titive conditions and prevent monopoly; mono-poly; and thoy may bear fruit In legislation leg-islation under tho new administration. administra-tion. Struggle In Senate Tho final session, now ending, has witnessed a struggle In tho 3cnate between Republicans and Democrats, that prevented the continuation ot the greater part of President Tntt's nppolntments. With raoro than 2000 appointments beforo the senate, Democrats Dem-ocrats declined to permit action on the great majority, and the result will bo that President Wilson will fill the places after ho comes Into of-lice. of-lice. This factional struggle, coupled with tho internal Democratic contest for the organization and control ot senate and houso under tho new administration, ad-ministration, Injected tho political equation Into the last session's work to, an unusual degree. Several bills that might have becomo law in the closing days ot this session have been held back becauso Democratic loaders preferred to have tho subjects sub-jects carried over until a Dmocratlc .president, senate and houso can havo an opportuntlty to carry1 out definite legislative programs. Snort 8eslon Acts Important actions In tho short session ses-sion Just closing Include: "Literacy tost" immigration bill passed, but vetoed by President Taft. Single six-year term presidential term amendment passed by senate. Mfo prlsonors in federal prUons mado eligible to parole. Flvo year closed season for fur seals Incorporated In the international internation-al seal treaty. Federal control of wator powers defeated In tho senato. Manufacturers of foods required to stato tho net weight and contents on outside of food package Government authorized by law to seize trust controlled goods as soon as Imported Into tho United States. Lincoln memorial authorized to cost 12,000,000. Democratic Majority The Democratic majority that took control of tho houso when tho con-gross con-gross organized Insisted on going ahead with other features of tariff revision and passed wool, cotton and freo list and some other bills . All three measures with tho aid ot tho Progrcsstvo Republican forcos In tho sonato, reached President Taft. Thoy woro vetoed on the ground that tho tariff board was conducting Investigations, Investi-gations, the results of which must bo known boforo a propor revision of tho tariff could bo mado. Legislative Work Legislative work throughout tho special session and tho long session beginning in December 1911, and run nlng through last August, Included tho following; IncrcaBo In the slzo ot tho houso of representatives from 39G to 435 members. Ago and service pension law, Increasing In-creasing Civil war pensions. Eight hour law covering government govern-ment contracts. Admission of Arizona and New Mexico to statehood. Uso ot poisonous white phosphorous phosphor-ous in match making prevented by cxcesslvo tax. Puro drug law amended to prevent misleading labels on patent medicines. medi-cines. Wireless communication brought under careful regulation tho law requiring re-quiring the wireless on all ocean vessels ves-sels to be adequately manned. Government transports required to carry an ample number ot lifeboats. Red Cross recognized officially as branch of government servlco In time of war. Federal relief given to 1912 flood, sufferers In lower Mississippi valley. val-ley. Commerco court and tariff board virtually legislated out of existence. Industrial commission authorized, to study relations between capital and labor. Treaties Ratified This congress has witnessed tho ratification of many Important treaties treat-ies with foreign nations. The arbitration arbit-ration treaties with Franco and Great Britain, negotiated by President Taft however, wero not ratified, becauso the senato so amended them that tho president considered they did not carry out tho understandings mado with the two powers. Agreements Perfected In the two years, however, the following fol-lowing important agreements have been perfected: Pecuniary claims treaty with Great Britain. North Atlantic coast fisheries agreement with Great Britain. Fur seal treaty with Great Britain, Russia and Japan. International wireless treaty with leading foreign nations. International war prize agreement. International agreement covering sanitary measures for the control ot epidemics. General arbitration treaty with France extended to 1918, Copyright treaty with Hungary .a International agreement covering assistance and salvage at sea. Investigations Conducted Investigations covering a wide range- of Important subjects were conducted. In addition to thoso enumerated enu-merated (tho "money trust," campaign cam-paign expenditures and steel Inquiries), Inquir-ies), special committees nnd tho regular reg-ular standing committees of the two houses havo conducted tho following: Tariff hearings, by ways and means commltteo, in preparation for new Democratic tariff bills. Currency bearings, preparatory to framing monetary reforms. Investigation of affairs of American Sugar Roflning company nnd its alleged al-leged domination ot tho market. Inquiry Into tho Titanic disaster. Investigation ot conditions along tho Mexican bordor and alleged financing fi-nancing ot Mexican revolutionists by Americans . "Shipping trust" inquiry, to deter-mlno deter-mlno extent ot the common control ot ocean routes. Investigations ot Indian affairs, on various reservations nnd at Washington, Washing-ton, Investigations of agricultural, treasury trea-sury and other government departments. depart-ments. Land Grants Investigation ot land grants about Controller liny, Alaska. President Taft has used the veto power freely throughout tho congress Fully 20 bills havo met his disapproval, disap-proval, Including Democratic tariff bills; appropriation bills which contained con-tained commorco court, civil servlco and nrmy reorganization and legislation legis-lation of which ho did not approvo; watcrpowor bills In which tho prin ciple of federal control was not recognized, rec-ognized, and the ' Immigration bill containing the "literacy test" feature. fea-ture. BB |