The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-03-20
Reu;e,u Of Things Accomplished
BY the Sixty-Second Congress-
Work of Short Session.

Work of Short Session,
important actions in the short sess
sion Just closing include.
Llteracy test" immigration hill
passed, but vetoed by President Tar, u
single s1x-year presidential term
amendment passed by Senate.
Life prisoners in federal prisons nada
eligible to parole.
incorporated In the international seai
treaty. Sea
Federal control of water powers d.-
feated in the senate.
manufacturers Of foods required to
state the net weight and contents on
outside of food package.
government authorized by law to
seize trust controlled goods as soon az
imported into the United States.
Lincoln memorial authorized to cost
50, 200, 900. 49,
The democratic majority. that took
control OF the House when congress or
ganlzed Insisted on going ahead with
other features of tariff revision. and
passed wool. cotton. free list and some
other bills. All three measures. with
the aid Of the progressive republican
forces In the Senate, reached Presi-
dent Taft They We're vetoed on tha
ground that the tariff board was con-
quoting Investigations. the results Of
Whicn must be known before a proper
revision OF the tariff could be made.
WORK OF Long Session.
Legislative work throughout the spe-
clal session, n the long session begln-
ming in December, 1911, and running
through last August, included the fol-
lowing:
Increase in the size of the House OF
Representatives. from 1896 to 435 mem
bers. :.
Age and service pension law. increas.
ing civil war pensions.
Eight-hour law covering government
contracts.
Admission of Arizona and New Mexi.
co to statehood.
Use of poisonous white PHOSPHORUS
in match making prevented by the ex-
cessive tax.
Pure drug law amended to prevent
misleading labels on patent medicines.
Wireless brought UNI
der careful regulation, the law requir-
ing the wireless on all ocean vessels
to be adequately manned
Government transports required to
carry an ample number Of lifeboats.
Red Cross recognized officially as
branch Of government service in time
of war.
Federal relief given to 1912 flood suf-
ferers in lower Mississippi valley.
Commerce court and tariff board viz
tually legislated out of existence.
Industrial commission authorized to
study relations between capital and la
Dor.
Treaties Ratified.
This congress has witnessed the rat
ification of many important treaties
with foreign nations. The arbitration
treaties with France and Great Brit
ain, negotiated by President Taft, how
ever, were not ratified, because the
Senate so amended them that the presi-
dent considered they did not carry out
powers.
In the two years, however. the fol-
owing important agreements have been
perfected:
Pecuniary claims treaty with Great
Britain. EF
North Atlantic coast fisheries agree
ment with Great Britain.
EUR seal treaty with Great Britain,
Russia n Japan.
wireless treaty with
leading foreign powers.
international war prize agreement.
International agreement covering
sanitary measures for the control OF
epidemics.
General arbitration treaty with
france extended to 1918.
Copyright treaty with Hungary.
International agreement covering as
sistance and salvage at sec.
Inquiries Begun.
Investigation covering a wide range
OF important subjects were conducted.
IN addition to those enumerated (the.
money trust" campaign expenditures,
and steel inquiries), special committees
and the regular standing committees of
the two houses have the fol-
lowing:
Tariff hearings by ways and means
committee, in preparation for new DEM
ocratic tariff bills.
Currency hearings. preparatory to
ami monetary reforms.
investigation of affairs of American
uga Refining company. and its al
legged domination of the market.
Inquiry into the Titanic disaster.
investigation of conditions along
Mexican border and alleged financing
of Mexican re~volutionists by Ameri-
cans.
Shipping trust inquiry to deter
mine extent of the common control OF
ocean routes,
various reservations and at Washing
ton.
Investigation of agricultural, treas
ury and other government departments.
investigation of land grants about
controller bay, Alaska.
PRESIDENT Taft has used the veto
power freely throughout the congress.
Fully 20 bills have met his disapproval.
including democratic tariff bills, appro-
priation bills, which contained COM
MERGE court, civil service and army
reorganization n legislation Of which
ne did not approve; water power bills
In which the principle of federal con-
troll was not recognized. and the immi-
grafton bill containing the "literacy
test" feature.
leader who represents effectiveIv ths