Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-08-30
CONGRESS ADJOURNED MONDAY.
One Of the Longest Sessions In the His
tory Of the country-Important Work
SUNNI arixed

One Of the Longest Sessions In the His
tory Of the country-lmportant Work
Summarized.
The second session or the e2d Con-
gress ended at 400 Monday afternoon.
An all-night session was held Saturday
and there we're threats Of fiilibusters
and disagreements, but the end was
marked by a return Of harmony. Sem
ator LaFollette's resolution demanding
action on the Penrose campaign fund
was passed.
Senators Chamberlain, Martin, Swan.
son and Culberson, after fighting Bit
terly for the payment of the State
claims" embodied in the general de-
ficiency bill, permitted the Senate to
yield to the demands of the House and
strike these claims from the bill. In
return for this concession, however, they
received the promise of support next
winter, when the claims again will be
pressed for payment. With these old
claims, amounting in all to 5000, 00O
went the extra months" pay for con-
gressional employees, which the Senate
demanded and the House refused to
give.
The session OF 267 days has been the
ninth longest In the history of the
country, so far as records go, but IL the
Congresses of 1867 and 1868 be excluded.
since there were long recesses in them.
this session is the seventh longest in
duration, Speaker Clark declares that II
Is the longest session in the country in
point OF actual working days. In one
respect this Congress breaks all records.
1t mas already been in session 40S days.
counting the 141 days OF the extra SEES
sion OF last year. No other Congress
has such a record and when the 90
days OF the next short session are add
ed 1t will have been practically 500 days
in session, exceeding that Of any other
Congress in the history of the nation.
From the tabulations of Chairman
Fitzgerald and former Speaker Cannon
1t develops that even this Congress, with
half Of 1t Democratic, is a billion dollar
Congress, the first in Democratic his
tory at all events. The appropria tions
were $1,000, 900, against 81, 026, 600. 900
OF the last session OF the Republican
Congress, showing that the program of
economy has effected a saving of only
81, 000,0 900. Mr.. Fitzgerald naturally
blames the Republican Senate for SVEN.
ing the totals, by s7O,OOO.OOO he con-
tends. Former Speaker Cannon, on the
other hand, showed that If the Panama
canal appropriations are excluded, and
they should be. this Congress has actu-
ally exceeded by 10000 900 the appropri-
atoms Of the last Republican Congress
The important. work of the session
may be summarized as follows:
The establishment of a trial parcels
post system and the creation of a COM
mission to watch this experiment with
the view of recommending further leg
islation.
Creation of a new bureau in the de-
partment OF commerce and labor which
is to be devoted entirely to the welfare
Of the children of the country.
Substantial increase in pensions for
Of the Civil war.
Fixing eight hours as the legal work
day on all government work.
Fixing the tolls to be charged for
the passage Of ships through the Pan
anna canal, granting free passage
through the canal of American-owned
ships engaged in the coastwise trade.
Divorcing railroads from the ownership
Of steamships, and providing for the OPP
Grafton of the canal after 1t shall be
completed.
Submission to the legislatures of the
several states Of a constitutional amend
ment providing for the direct election
by the people Of the United States SEN
ators.
Abolition Of the tariff board establish
ed two years ago at the request of
President Taft.
Election from the Senate of William
Lorimer of Illinois on the ground that
his election was brought about through
bribery.
Bringing Of impea chment proceedings
against Judge Robert w. Archbold of
the United States commerce committee.
The killing by unfriendly amendments
Of the arbitration treaties between the
United States and Great Britain and the
United States and France.
Authorization for government employees
to join associations or labor unions II
they desire to do so.
The commitment of the federal gov
eminent to the policy of assisting in the
construction Of roads by the appropria-
ton OF $500, 1000, for the building Of
experimental roads, and by the creation
Of a commission to plan further fed
eral aid.