Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-03

the END Will ne written 10 TWO years
of epoch making struggle within par
ty ranks: and To three sessions of eff
fort, only partially successful. to add
just the differences between a Demo-
: cratic House, n Senate under Demo-
cratic Progressive control, and Il Re
publican President.
Many important pieces OF legisla-
ticn have been enacted within that
time; Investigations of a peculiar sig
nificance To the public have been con-
Quoted; ANA many, subjects of general
interest have been laid aside without
action. The tariff. attacked alike from
Democratic and Republican sources
twice curing that period, has been
the subject Of attempted revision, but
none of the proposed changes became
effective.
The Sixty Second Congress opened
in 1911 with Il special session called
by President Taft to consider Cana
dian reciprocity: it ends with an cX-
ira session Of he 63rd Congress only Il
few weeks away, to he called by Pres
ident Wilson for a general revision of
the Payne AIdrich tariff law. Nation
al conventions, the birth of a new
party, a general election, and com
plete charge of administration haVa
interviewed between its beginning and
it's end Activities of the short ses-
sion now closing have been limited al
most entirely to routine work, because
of the determination to leave to the
new administration all of the impor-
tant subjects Of II general character.
Perhaps the most important deVcl-
opmcnts of the entire Congress are the
following:
New federal bureau Of labor Great
ed, with cabinet officer at it's head.
Physical valuation of the property. Of
fcers and of the common carriers or
dered 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
| President Taft.
Constitutional amendment for popu-
| lar election of Senators submitted to
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 foreign nations TO secure mill
| tary or naval footholds where they
| might threaten safety of this country.
| Children's bureau created in depart
mcnt of Commerce and Labor.
Panama Canal law passed, estab-
fishing free passage for American
| coastwise ships, and barring railroad
| owned vessels from the Canal.
Campaign publicity laws passed. re-
| quiring a complete public accounting
OF all campaign funds.
| William Lorimer declared not en-
| titled to seat as Senator from Illinois.
| Judge Robert w. Archibald of Com
| merce Court impeached and convicted
on charges of judicial misconduct.
Money trust investigation conducted
| disclosing detailed methods of pres
| cnt- day financial operation.
| Campaign expenditures investigated
covering campaign funds of 1904, 1905
| and 1912: and disclosing correspond
| ence between John d. Archbold of the
| Standard Oil Company and members
| of Congress.
| Investigation made Of formation and
| operation of the United States Steel
| Corporation.
| These comprise but a few of the
| laws passed Investigations conducted
| treaties passed on, and legislative
| subjects considered during the two
| years Of the 62nd CONFESS. The two
great personal struggles, involving
| William Lorimer and Judge Archi-
bald ran throughout the Congress
| and with their interesting personal
| phases helped to draw attention from
| the actual legislative work of the two
| years.
| While Congress passed an eight
| hour law covering all government
| contracts except On the Panama Can
| al it took no action on three impor-
| tant subjects anti-injunction, work
| mons compensation. and ANTITRUST
| legislation. recommendations were
! made by Senate committee within
| the last week, for radical changes in
| the antitrust law, to restore compeu-
| tive conditions and prevent monopoly;
! and they may bear fruit in legislation
/ under the new administration.
| The final session, now ending, has
| witnessed a struggle in the Senate be-
! tween Republicans and Democrats,
| that prevented the confirmation of the
| greater part of President Taft's ap-
| pointments With more than 2O00 APP
| pointments before the Senate, Demo-
Gratis declined to permit action on the
| great ma jority, and the result will be
| that President Wilson will fill the
| places after he comes into office.
| This fractional struggle, coupled
| with the internal Democratic contest
for the organization and control of
Senate and House under the new ad-
mi!1istration, injected the political
equation into the last sessions work
| to an unusual degree. Several bills
| that might have become law in the
closing days of this session have been
| held back because Democratic lead
ers preferred to have the subjects car
| ried over until n Democratic Presi-
dent. Senate and House can have an