The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-03-10
DISTINGUISHED
F0RMANYB|LLs
Brief Summary Of The Work Of The
6ist Congress

Washington, March Sin. the retro
spect the 61st congress, which ex-
pired by constitutional limitation at
noon last Saturday, appears to have
been distinguished by three things:
The revision of the tariff in the So
called Payne-Aldrich bill, which was
passed at an extra session in the sum
mer of 1909; the large amount of i'm
portant legislation. much OF it upon
the recommendation OF President Taft,
enacted at the regular session OF
1909-I0, and the exceedingly small
product of the short session." So
called. i3sa
The interval between the last two
sessions was marked by the political
upheaval registered at the general
election of last November, which
changed large republican majority
into a still larger democratic ma
jority in the house OF representatives;
cut of the republican majority in the
senate almost TO the vanishing point
and incidentally effected striking
changes in the senate personnel.
The failure OF this session to enact
much important legislation has re-
suited in the practical certainty that
the new SD congress will be called
almost Immediately in extraordinary
session. especially by reason OF the
strong desire Of President Taft 10 se-
cure action upon the pending reci-
procity with Canada to the consumma-
ton OF WHICH the contracting parties
pledged the utmost efforts of the two
governments.
Thousands of bills were introduced
and thousands more came 10 the
closing session as heritage from the
first and second sessions. In all there
were between $4,000 and $1,000 meas
ures before the congress as it came
to close. The failure to enact many
laws was not due TO lack OF raw
material.
These are some Of the more i'm
portant measures. outside the appro-
priation bills, that the final session Of
this congress enacted into law:
Providing for forest reserves in the
Southern Appalachian and White
mountains
Providing for the inspection OF
boilers on locomotives.
Providing for the purchase or erec-
ton of embassies, legations and con-
suiar buildings abroad.
An ocean mail bill passed the SEN
ate but the house did not manifest
enough liking for Il to send II on to
the white house.
Barren as the final session may have
been Of fruitful legislation, the repub-
lican leaders point 10 the preceding
sessions as more fruitful
For the first. or extra session. they
point to:
The Payne-Aldrich tariff act. with
its maximum and minimum features
and corporation sax provisions. and
its customs court.
The resolution providing for an in
come tax amendment TO the constitu-
ton.
/ For the first regular session they
refer 70 the laws for:
Establishment OF postal savings
banks.
Admission OF New Mexico and Arr
zona 70 statehood.
The most extensive census ever
taken.
The creation Of the commerce court
and sweeping amendments TO the in
terstate commerce act.
4 Ballinger-Pinchot investigation.
Conservative Legislation including
authorization Of withdrawal % public
lands to preserve water sites and
authorization OF the issue Of $4,000.
600 In bonds for completing irrigation
projects.
/ Legislation designed TO suppress
the white slave trade"
Publicity Of campaign contributions
at election Of members Of the house
Amendment to the employers La.
bllity act Of 1905; supplemental safety
appliance act: requirement that rail-
roads report accidents 70 interstats
commerce commission. and establish
ment Of a bureau Of mines.
Reorganization Of lighthouse ser.
vice.
Authorization Of expenditures Of
! SIS 100000 for public buildings.