The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-03
Much Important Legislation
Enacted by Body
TARIFF IS A FEATURE
Investigations of Peculiar Significance
to Public Conducted and Many
Subjects of General Interest
Failed of Action

of epoch making struggle within party
ranks; and to three sessions of effort
only partially successful, to adjust the
differences between a democratic House
a Senate under democratic progressive
control, and a republican President
Many important pieces OF Legislation
have been enacted within that time
Investigations of a peculiar signifi-
canoe to the public have been con.
Quoted; and many subjects of general
interest have been laid aside without
action. The tariff, attacked alike from
democratic and republican sources
twice during that period. has beer
the subject of attempted revision, but
none of the proposed changes became
effective
The Sixty-second Congress opened In
1911 with a special session called by
President Taft to consider Canadian
reciprocity; it ends with an extra ses-
sion of the Sixty-third Congress only
a few weeks away, to be called by
President Wilson for general revision
of the Payne -Aldrich tariff law. Ma
tional conventions. the birth of a new
party, a general election, and com.
interviewed between It's beginning and
its end. Activities of the short session
now closing have been limited almost
entirely to routine work, because oi
the determination to leave to the new
administration all of the important
subjects of general character
Perhaps the most important develop
ments of the entire Congress are the
following:
fa1 t.tra Nf Lob IL
with cabinet officer at its head.
Physical valuation of the property oi
/ railroads and other common carriers
in order to form basis for rate making
Canadian reciprocity law passed, but
rejected by Canada.
Wool, cotton, metal, and free list
tariff bills passed. but vetoed by Presi-
dent Taft.
| Constitutional amendment for popu-
the states.
Shipment of liquor into prohibition
states forbidden by law.
Arbitration treaties with Great Brit
ain and France negotiated, but failed
of ratification because of changes made
| by the Senate.
| Termination of the treaty of 1892
with Russia demanded by Congress.
| Notice served on the world by the
| Senate, that the United States will not
permit fortign nations to secure mill
| tary or naval footholds where they
| might threaten safety of this country.
| Children's bureau created in depart
( ment of commerce and labor.
| Panama canal law passed, establishing
| free passage for American coastwise
ships, and barring railroad owned ves-
sells from the canal.
| Campaign publicity laws passed, requir.
| ing a complete public accounting of al
campaign funds.
| William Lorimer declared not entitled
to seat as senator from Illinois.
| Judge Robert w. Archibald of com
merce court impeached and convicted or
| charges of judicial misconduct.
Money trust investigation conducted
disclosing detailed methods of present das
| financial operation.
Campaign expenditures investigated GOV.
| ering campaign funds of 1904. 1908 anc
1912. and disclosing correspondence be
| tween John d. Archbold of the STANDARD
| Oil company and members of Congress.
| Investigation made of formation and op
| GRAFTON of the United States Steel corpo
| ration.
1 These comprise but few of the laws
passed, Investigations conducted, treaties
passed on, and legislative subjects consid
| cred during the two years of the Sixty
second Congress. The two great persona
struggles, involving William Lorimer ant
JuGge Archibald, ran throughout the Con
gress. and with their interesting per
sonal phases helped to draw attention
from the actual legislative work of the
| two years.
While Congress passed an eight houl
law covering all government contracts
except on the Panama canal, it took nj
action OH three important subjects-anti
injunction, workmen's compensation anc
n n n
were made by Senate committee within
the last week for radical changes in th'
antitrust law, to restore competitive
| conditions and prevent monopoly, ant
they may bear fruit in legislation undel
the new administration.
The final session. now ending, has wit
messed struggle in the Senate betweer
republicans and democrats that prevented
the confirmation of the greater part o.
President Tafts appointments. witt
more than 1000 appointments before thu
Senate, democrats declined to permit ac
ton on the great majority, and the resul
will be that President Wilson will fill thu
places after he comes into office.
This factional struggle, coupled with TN
internal democratic contest for the or
ganization and control of Senate anC
House under the new administration. in
jected the political equation into the las
sessions work to an unusual degree
Several bills that might have become
1 law in the closing days of this session
have been held back because democratic
leaders preferred to have the subjects
carried over until democratic President
Senate and House can have an oppor
tlnity to carry out definite Legislative
programmes.
Important actions in the short session
just closing include:
Literary test immigration bill passet
but vetoed by President Taft.
Single six year presidential term amend
ment passed by Senate.
Life prisoners in federal prisons mad
eligible to parole.
Five year closed season for fur seals in
corporated in the International seal treaty
Federal control of water powers defeatet
in the Senate.
Manufacturers of foods required t.
Estate the net weight and contents oi
loutsde of food package.
Government authorized by law u
Iseize trust-controlled goods as soon n
Imported into the United States.
Lincoln memorial authorised to cos
$4,000, 900.
The democratic majority that tool
lcontrol of the House when the Congress
organized insisted on going ahead will
other features of tariff revision, AM
passed wool. cotton, free list and SOM
other bills. All three measures with tn
lid of the progressive republican force
In the Senate, reached President Taft
They were vetoed on the ground tha
the tariff board was conducting In
lvestigations, the results OF which mus
!be known before a proper revision o
1.-THE tariff could be made
Legislative work throughout the spe
icial session, and the long session be
~ T.