Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-08-21

DltlOuS campaign adopted at the out
set, were not large.
Canadian reciprocity was brought as
near reality as tine executive and leg
islatiye departments could advance ii,
statehood was assured for New Mexico
and Arizona, campaign publicity leg
islation was enacted in a form its most
earnest advocates wished; provision
was made for an enlarged House Of
Representatives based on the last cen
sas, and few other measures of min
or Importance were passed.
\ Democratic House. the first since
1895. seized upon this session as a
vehicle 10 convey to the country tn
views of the Democratic party on the
subject Of tariff revision, but EXecu-
tive disapproyal rendered futile all ell
forts to impress those views upon the
statute books
Two tariff bills one materially re-
ducing the existing duties Oh wool aFd
wooden goods of all classes, and The
other placing on the free list articles
of mas hinerH and tools used By farm
ers, and amended 10 include many
other things. were vetoed by President
AIT. ne bdSti Ills Visa EJpl " a. ttl'3is
the ground that the bills had not beeH
scientifically" prepared, and that tar
if revision should wait until reports
on the different schedules had been
made by the Tarin Board. 4 cotton
revision bill awaits a similar tate.
The House under the leadership Of
Rep. Underwood Of Alabama, chair
man ofshe WAYS and means commit
tee, and Speaker clark. endeavored
To pass the bills over the veto but the
necessary two thirds vote could not b.
mustered The failures To overthrow
President Fats veto messages were
a strong factor in determining the
close et the session. and it IS not likely
that Congress will he in session to re
ceiYe like measure relating Ia the
cotton revision measure
Trust Investigations without num-
Der we're instituted during the session
and some Of them-notablv those beaf-
ing upon menopolies in the steel and
sugar indastries-Were prosecuted
with vigor and they still are III pro-
gress.
Constructive legislation to Lear on
federal regulation OF corporations IS
FeSA1ttbU as tel ttiI4 u t'4iit g. @
suit Of these inquiries. and plans al
ready have been instituted to revise
the antitrust laws
Charges were revived that Senator
Lorimer was elected hy tue Illinois
Legislature through the medium I'll
brit cry and a second Investigation 10y
the Senate WAS gotten Well under way,
A senatorial inquiry into the election
of Senator Stephenson of Wisconsin
was ordered.
General arbitration treaties with
Great Britain and France We're sent
to the senate by President TaHt, but
they received a frigid welcome, be-
cause the Upper House contended that
one provision of the treaties usurped
its constitutional prefogatiVe. Presen-
tation of the treaties strained the cor
dial relations between he foreign re
laions committee and the state de
partment. and as a result President
Taft has made it plain that an Issue
has heen raised which he will carry 10
the country in the hope 81 procuring
ratification when Congress recon
Venes.
Friction i'm the department Of agricui-
ture over the enforcement of the pure
food laws has been aired in many OF
the investigating committees in the Dem
ocratic House and a countrywide issue
is raised over the question of whether
the activities of Or. Harvey w. Wiley
the governments pure food expert, have
been made Ineffective.
With the acuuiescence of the House
leaders the Senate tackled an iron and
no hill. 1t
will be concurred in by the House to-
morrow. regardless of the death It IS
certain to meet when it reaches the
White House.
Legislative decks i'm both houses have
been cleared except for disposition oil the
cotton tariff revision bill with its aV-
erage cut of p per cent ad Valorem from
the present schedules and its numerous
riders to reduce duties on other scheu-
ules. and the bill to terminate the Ma
uonal Monetary Commission.
When the special session convened
April 4, the House was organized by the
Democratic ways and means committee,
and this body made the committee as
signments The new system eliminated
what was known for many years as the
czardom of the Speaker. The commit
tee also directed the deliberations OF the
Democratic caucus and framed the legls-
lative program of the session.
The program adopted and rigldly ad-
hered to by the House until the clos
ing weeks of the session included ac-
ton on Canadian reciprocity, farmers
free list bill. reduction of duties on the
wool and cotton schedules; increasing
the membership of the House from SSl
to 1879, providing for CONSTITUTIONS
amendment looking to the election OF
United states senators by direct vote
of the people campaign publicity law
and statehood for New Mexico and Arr
iona.
While the House was successful III
carving out its plans. few of its meas
ures will reach the statute books The
resolution relating TO popular election OF
senators was amended by the Senate and
was sent to conference from which II
cannot emerge this session. The state
hood bill was vetoed by President Tart
because the Arizona constitution ratified
the recall of the Judiciary but substi-
tute resolution, eliminating the recall
feature. later was passed by both houses
In the Senate with many of the Ole