New-York tribune., 1912-08-12
Though Already Covering zoo
Days, 1t Has Passed Few
Laws of General Import.
CHICKERING'S A BARRIER
Big Appropriation Bills Still
Tied Up-Great Issues Fought
Out and Important Poll
cies Outlined.
lBy The Associated Prsss.l


length. Measured by the standard of new
laws enacted this one has not been fruit
ful of much general legislation. but from
the standpoint Of great issues fought OUT
and great policies outlined it has beer
Of more than usual interest.
Political activities have helped to pro-
long il, aud political differences between
the House and the Senate, the one Dem
ocratic and the other controlled by an
independent element of the Republican
party, have served 10 tie up appropriation
bills and impede the progress OF much
general legislation.
MANY huge annual appropriation bills
that should have become effective July J
still are at issue between the two houses.
DEVELOPMENTS Of the Session
The more important developments that
have marked the session. many OF them
outside the record Of general legislation
are:
The decision of the Senate tuat Will
lam Loiimer had not been legally elected
senator from Illinois. ,
The beginning of Impeachment proceed
iugs against Judge Robert W. Afchpan'
oT the Commerce Court. E,
Abrogation OF the Russian treaty toi-
lowing the agitation in Congress over the
jewish passport question.
Substantial defeat by amendment OF
President Tafts arbitration treaties WIN
Great Britain and France. 49, ..,o,,,,
Notice by the Senate 10 foreign istlohs
that the United States will permit none
10 acquire naval or military sl'cs III ''o
Western Hemisphere ,,d,,,o,,
APPROVAL of a constitutional amendment
for direct election of Senators.
Decision of both houses in faVor OF Tree
massage for American ships at Panand,
i'm face of Great Britalns prolesl ma
this would be a violation OF treaty Flsnes, s
Admission OF New Mexico and Arizona
Veto bv President Taft of tarih Dliis
passed by Democratic Progressive am
dnce. ,.oo,, l., tho
Creation of a children's bureau IN IN the
pensrfment OF Commerce and LABOR
Increase OF Civil War pensions through
the Sherwood service pension law.
Manv Questions Still Unsettled.
Imuortant questions remain TO be set
tied this week between the two houses
q, between Congress and the President.
Many OF them. incorporated in the annual
appropriation bills, are:
pronosed abolishment of the Tarlf
Board and the Commerce court ,o,o
Battleship building programme LOT s,I, ISIS'
Reorganization plans for the alhiS, ~
Etatord ,be army appropriation bill.
Establishment Of parcels post sys-
''It, Restriction of civil service employees TO
sTHefii netails Of the Panama Canal admins
tration law. .-,o,..i donartnent of
labor
Tariff plans Of the Democrats met ths
veto of President Taft again at 'h'S
session. as they did at the speclal ses
>sjon Of 1911 The House passed "ooi'
cotton steel and iron, chemical ana
sugar tariff bills and an excise TAX pii,
20 increase the revenues. Only the "ooi
.,d metal revisions have gone TO the
President The former was Vetoeu iaoe az
week. and a veto is eXpeCteeuu eu Ol assad I'd
metal schedule. The taTin pms naeSS inTas'T,ca
the Senate by renewal OF the aiiiaiiT Az Iit
oS democrats and Progressives, an am
ance which took the leadership IN @ tnas
b"dv away from the so-called resuiai.
Nepublieans and made any an nnyyoss,ble Stigeip' q"
T'6e Democratic House has contlnuso
much OF the investigating work tna'
marked the special session last Seai
The steel trust committee WIZ" III Hnnse
rs divided report recently to the hou9e,
-sooomended marked changes In tps
onti-trust laws, but no progress toMa,o ie
new antitrust legislation has been Haoe'
Inquiries Yield Few Laws.
Investigating committees appointed
year aso have prac tically all reported 10
Congre.s. covering the inquiries into
,.srious so-called trusts. the shipping
con,bine" Alaskan affairs Agricultural
oanartment operations, the secret fund
f-the State Department, the Titanlo ans
aster and many other subjects. Few Oh
them have resulted in new laws or reg
ulations.
inquiry into campaign expenditures mas
resuIted In the perfection of campaign
nubltcity bills that probably VIII pe
nassed next winter. Agitation for q
single six year term for President ana
Vice President also is expected 10 re-
suit I'm favorable action next session Cd
2 constitutional amendment
New investigations have been started
into the money trust, tho alleseu
financing of Cuban and Mexican lnsur-
rections by Americans, the damages shs-
tained by Americans In the Mexican rev.
o1ut,on and EXPENDITURES OF the forest
service.
The settlement of the lSorimer case IN
volyed the Senate in second protracteo
fight, and the final rejection OF the Gre
deutials of the Illinois Senator An IN
yesigation of the election of Senator
stephenson. of Wisconsin. resulted In
decision ln his favor. In the House
committee that Investigated the cleo
tion Of Representative Catlin, OF Mls-
souri,, has recommended that ne be uh-
seated because too much money was spent
for election purpOses.
Two questions of impeachment nave
been before the House. and In the case
OF Judge Archibald an impeachment trial
has been ordered-the ninth that has
ever come before the Senate An inves-
tigation of the judicial and private acts
OF Judge Hanford, of Seattle instituted
by the House, was followed by the Jur
lists resignation.
New Laws Enacted.
Some OF the important new laws that
have already resulted from the work OF
the session are:
Abolshmen,. by high ta%ation, of the
manufacture of white phosphorus
matches.
Fight hour federal labor law.
Prohibition against eXportation OF arms,
coal or supplies 10 insuTrectionists IN
other countries.
Granting commissions as onsigus 10
Iui6shipmen on graduation from Ahnapo-
us Naval Academy. -
Authorizing the separate sale OF the
i an1 a. =