The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-08-12
POLITICS CAUSE OF
LAWMAKERS DELAY
Many Appropriation Bills Still
Hang Fire; List of the I'M
portant Developments of
the Past Year.

| W M \ Il
NM session that has now run over
w 2oO days. The session has not
been fruitful of much general
legislation. but from the standpoint OF
great Issues fought out and great policies
outlined 1t has been of moro than usual
| interest.
Political activities have helped to pro-
long II and political differences between
the house and senate. the one Democrat
ic and the other controlled by an inde-
pendent element OF the Republican party,
have served to tie up appropriations and
Impede much general legislation
Many annual appropriation bills that
| should have become effective July 1 still
are at issue between the two houses
| Minor legislation and important ques-
items OF general interest are to be laid
aside in an effort to bring about ad-
journment by next Saturday or at the
latest by the end of the following week
Work of the Session.
| The more important developments that
| have marked the session are:
The decision OF the senate that Will
| liam Iorimer bad not legally been elect
ed senator from Illinois.
The beginning of impeachment pro-
ceedings against Judge Robert Archibald
OF the commerce court
Abrogation OF the Russian treaty fol-
lowing agitation over the Jewish pass
port question.
Substantial defeat by amendment of
President Taft's arbitration treaties with
Great Britain and France.
Notice by the senate to foreign nations
that the United States Will permit none
to acquire naval or military sites In the
western hemisphere.
Approval of a constitutional amend
ment for direct election of senators.
Panama Canal Bill.
Decision OF both houses in favor of
free passage for American ships at Pan
anna. in face OF Great Britain's protest
that this would he a violation of treaty
rights
Veto by President Taft of tariff bills
passed by Democratic Progressive alli-
auCe.
Creation of children's bureau in tho
department OF commerce and labor.
Increase OF Civil war pensions through
the Sherwood service pension law.
Not Yet Decided.
Important questions remaining to be
settled between the two houses or be-
tween congress and the president are
Proposed abolition or the tariff COM
mission and the commerce court.
Battleship building programme for 1913.
Reorganization plans for the army,
partly rejected by the president when he
vetoed the army appropriation bill.
Establishment of a parcels post,
Restriction OF civil service employees to
seve year terms.
Details OF the Panama canal adnlInis-
tration.
Creation Of a federal department of
labor.
Investigation committees appointed a
wear ago have practically reported tol
congress, covering the inquiries into va
rious So called trusts, the shipping com
b'ne," Alaskan affairs, agricultural de-
partment operations, the Secret fund
OF the state department.. the Titanic dis
astcr and many other subjects. Few In
vesttgations have resulted In new laws
Coming Legislation.
Inquiry into campaign expenditures has
/
publicity bill that probably will be passed
next winter. Agitation for single six
year term for president and vice presi-
| dent is expected to result In favorable
| action next session on a constitutional
amendment,
| New Investigations have been started
| Into tho ''moncy trust" the alleged
! financing OF Cuban and Mexican insur- |
rections by Americans: the damages sus
talned by Americans in the Mexican revo-
luton. and expenditures Of the forest
| service. An investigation of the judicial
| and private acts of Judge Hanford OF
Seattle instituted BY the house, was fol-
lowed by the jurist's resignation
| Some OF the important new laws that
have resulted from the work OF the ses-
| sion are:
| Abolition OF high taxation OF the manu-
fHcture OF white phosphorus matches.
| Eight-hour federal labor law.
| Prohibition against expectation OF arms,
coal or supplies to insurrectionists In
| other countries
| Granting commissions aa ensigns TO
| fConfinUed on Pape TIol