The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-08-16
PRESENT GATHERING HAS NOT
ENACTED MUCH GENERAL
LEGISLATION.
BILLS LONG OVERDUE
Huge Appropriations Are Still at
Issue.-PolitieaI Activities Have
Helped ProIong
Meeting.

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 SEES
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 Tough,
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 I, 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 VII
liam Lorimer was not legally elected
senator from Illinois.
The beginning of impeachment pro.
ceedings against Judge Robert w
Archibald Of the commerce court.
kbrogation 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 M
tions that the United States will per
nit none to acquire naval or military
sites In the western hemisphere.
Approval Of a constitutional amend
ment for direct election of senators.
Decision of both houses In favor OF
free passage for American ships a,
Panama, in face of Great Britain's pro
test that this would be a violation OF
treaty rights.
Admission Of New Mexico and Ari
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 pension.
through the Sherwood service pension
law.
Washington, ID. c. - The Panams
canal administration bill. providing
free passage to American ships, pro
hibiting railroad owned vessels from
using the waterway and authorizing
the establishment of a one-man gov
eminent when the canal Is completed
was passed by the senate by a vote
OF Al to Is. The provision for free
tolls, which was fought out in the
senate on Wednesday. was Endorsed
again just before the passage of tn,
measure.
Attached to the bill as II passed tn,
senate were two important amend
ments directed at trust or railroad
control OF steamship lines. The first
by Senator Reed. would prohibit ship
owned by an illegal Industrial com
bination from using the canal. an,
the second. by Senator Bourne. woul,
force railroads to give up water line
that might otherwise be their com
petitors, II 1t were proved that the,
were sitting competition.
Opponents Of the free toll provision
for American ships. against which
Great Britain made formal protes,
carried their fight up to the last me
ment Of the bills consideration. Jus
before its passage Senator Roo
moved to strike out the section Civ
ing free tolls to American coastwis
vessels; and Senator Hoke Smith o
Georgia moved to strike out the prov
sion for free tolls Of American ship
In the foreign trade. Each motto
was defeated by an overwhelmin
vote. AS the bill passed. II would pei
NIT American coastwise vessels I
pass through the canal free withou
conditions. while again foreign trad
ships might pass through free II thei
owners agreed to sell the vessels I
the United States at fair price 4
time Of war or emergency.