The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-12
HOPE TO ADJOURN
BY. NEXT SATURDAY
Political Activities Have Prolonged the
Session and Tied Up Many Ap-
preparation Bills-Nine
Treaties Ratified

+ have been but seven continuous Ses
sions of great length. Measured by the
standard of new laws enacted this
one has not been fruitful of much gem
eral legislation, but from the stand
point of great issues fought out and
great policies outlined. 1t has been
OF more than usual interest.
Political activities have helped to
prolong IT, and political differences be-
! tween the House and Senate. the one
8 democratic and the other controlled
by an independent element of the re-
{ publican party, have served to tie up
z appropriation bills and impede the pro-
IS gress of much general legislation.
Many huge annual appropriation
bills that should have become effect
i've July l still are. at issue between
the two houses. Minor legislation and
!, important questions of general inter-
/ est are to be laid aside in an effort
1 TO bring about adjournment by next
Saturday or at the latest by the end
of the following week.
The more important Developments
that have marked the session, many
of them outside the record of general
legislation, are:
The decision pf the Senate that Will
liam Lorimer had not been 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 Tafts arbitration treaties
a In a
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 a constitutional amend
ment for direct election of senator's.
Decision OF both houses in favor Of
free passage for American ships at
Panama in spite of Great Britain's pro-
test that it would be violation of
treaty rights.
Admission of New Mexico and Ari-
zona to statehood.
Veto by Presden,A Taft of tariff bills
"a sslad ..hy dfnocf tie--progresss g. al
Creation of a children's bureau in the
department of commerce and labor.
a Increase of civil war pensions through
" the Sherwood service pension law.
Important questions remain to be settled
this week between the two houses, or be-
tween Congress and the President. Many
of them, Incorporated in the annual ap-
preparations bill are:
Proposed abolishment of the tariff COM
mission and the commerce court.
Battleship building programme Tor 1915
REORGANIZATION plans for the army, part
ly rejected by the President when he
vetoed the army appropriation bill.
Establishment of parcels post system.
Restriction of civil service employees to
seven year terms.
Details of the Panama canal adminstra-
tion law.
Creation of federal department of
labor.
Tarf plans of the democrats met the
veto of President Taft again at this ses-
sion as they did at the special session
OF 1911. The House passed wool, cotton,
steel and iron. chemical and sugar tariff
bills, and an excise tax bill to increase
revenue Only the wool and metal re-
visions have gone TO the President. The
former was vetoed last week, and veto
Is expected on the metal schedule. The
tariff bills passed the Senate by a re-
newal of the alliance of democrats and
progressives an alliance which took the
leadership in that body away from the So
called regular republicans, and made any
attempt at a legislative programme i'm
possible.
The democratic House has continued
much of the Investigating work that
marked the special session last year The
.steel trust" committee, which made Its
divided report recently TO the House. rec
ommended marked changes in the anti
trust laws but no progress toward new
antitrust legislation has been made
investigating committees appointed a
wear ago have practically all reported TO
Congress- covering the inquiries into va
rious so-called trusts, the shipping COM
bine." Alaskan affairs, agricultural de-
tte nj
the state department the Titanic disaster
and many other subjects. Few of them
have resulted in new laws OF regulations
INQUIRY into campaign expenditures has
resulted in the perfection of campaign
publicity bills that probably will be passed
next winter Agitation Tor single SIX
year term for President and vice presi-
dent is also expected to result in favor
able action next session on a coRstitu-
tional amendment.
Now investigations have been. starte ed
into the money trust" the alleged IL
nancing of Cuban and Mexican insurrec-
tions by Americans the damages sustained
by Americans in the Mexican revolution
and expenditures of the forest service
The Lorimer Case
The settlement of the Lorimer case in
volvej the Senate in q second protractet
fight and the final rejection of thu
investigation of the election Of Senator
stephenson OF Wisconsin resulted in de
cision in his favor
In the House a committee that in
yestigated the election of Representativ,
Catlin of Missouri has recommended tina
he be unseated because too much none,
was spent for election> purposes
Two questions OF impeachment hav,
been before the House, and in the cas-,
OF Judge Archibald. an Impeachment tria
has been ordered. the ninth that ha
ever come before the Senate. An investi
cation of the judicial and private acts O
Judge Hanford of Seattle, Instituted b,
the House was followed by the turist'
resignation.
New Laws Created
Sone of the important new laws tina
have ALREADY resulted from the work o
the session are:
Adjustment by high taxation OF tn
manufacture of white pnosphorou
matches.
Eight hour federal labor. law.
Problbition against ex xportation of arms
coal or supplies to insurrectionists II
ether countries.
, Grating commissions as ensisns to mid
shipment on graduation FROM Anna poll
" naval academy -
Authorixing the separate sale of the sur
zee OF coal and asphalt lands belongin,
&ths Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians
ranting authority TO the eovsrnmeu