The pioneer express., 1912-08-16
CLOSE Gil IS IN SIGHT
PRESENT GATHERING HAS NOT
ENACTED MUCH GENERAL
LEGISLATION.
BILLS LONG OVERDUE
Huge Appropriations Are stlIi at
'''ue.-Po''t'ea' AetIv't'e, Have
Helped Prolons
Meeting.

1 ~
about to terminate a session that has
now run for over $50 days. Since the
organization Of the government there
have been but seven continuous ses
sions of greater length. Measured by
the standard Of new laws enacted, this
one has not been fruitful Of much gen
eral legislation. it's interest is from
the standpoint of great issues fought
out.
Political activities have helped to
prolong it; and political differences
between the house and senate. the
one Democratic and the other con
trolled by an independent element of
the Republican party have served to
tie up appropriation bills and to impede
the progress Of much general legis-
lation.
Many huge annual appropriation
bills that should have become effec-
tive July l, still are at issue between
the two houses.
Minor legislation and important
questions of general interest are to be
laid aside in an effort to bring about
adjournment by the end of the week,
or at the latest by the end of the fol.
lowing week.
Important Developments.
The more important developments
that have marked the session, many of
them outside the record of general
legislation, are:
The decision of the senate that VIII
liam Lorimer was not legally elected
senator from Illinois.
The beginning of impeachment pro-
ceedings against Judge Robert w.
Archibald of the commerce court.
Abrogation Of the Russian treaty,
following the agitation in congress
over the Jewish passport question.
Substantial defeat by amendment Of
President Taft's arbitration treaties
with Great Britain and France.
Notice by the senate to foreign ma
tions that the United States will per.
NIT none to acquire naval or military
sites in the western hemisphere.
Approval of constitutional amend
ment for direct election of senators.
Decision Of both houses in favor of
free passage for American ships at
Panama, in face of Great Britain's pro-
test that this would be a violation of
treaty rights.
Admission of NSw Mexico and Arl.
coma to statehood.
Veto by President Taft of tariff bills
passed by Democratic Progressive ALI.
ance.
Creation of children's bureau in the
department of commerce and labor.
Increase of civil war pensions
through the Sherwood service pension
law.
Washington, D. G. - The Panama
canal administration bill. providing
free passage to American ships, pro-
h1biting railroad owned vessels from
using the waterway and authorizing
the establishment of a one-man gov
ernment when the canal is completed,
was passed by the senate sby a vote
OF AZ to Is. The provision for free
tolls, which was fought out in the
senate on Wednesday. was indorsed
again just before the passage of the
measure.
Attached to the bill as it passed the
senate were two important amend
ments directed at trust or railroad
control of steamship lines. The first,
by Senator Reed, would prohibit ships
owned by an illegal Industrial COM
bination from using the canal, and
the second, by Senator Bourne, would
force railroads to give up water lines
that might otherwise be their COM
petitors. If it were proved that they
were sitting competition.
Opponents Of the free toll provision
Tor American ships. against which
Great Britain made formal protest,
carried their fight up to the last mo-
ment of the bills consideration. Just
before its passage Senator Root
moved to strike out the section Civ.
ing free tolls to American coastwise
vessels; and Senator Hoke Smith Of
Georgia moved to strike out the provi.
sion for free tolls Of American ships
in the foreign trade. Each motion
was defeated by an overwhelming
vote. As the bill passed, It would per-
NIT American coastwise vessels to
pass through the canal free without
conditions, while again foreign trade
ships might pass through free II their
owners agreed to sell the vessels to
the United States at fair price in
time OF war or emergency.