Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-03-05

anu HOuSc uIluef Tile new administration,
injected the political equation nito the
last sessions work to an unusual degree.
Several bills that might have become law
i'm the closing days of this session have
been held back because democratic lead
ers preferred to nave the subjects car
ried over until a democratic president,
senate and house can lave an OppOrtun-
ity to carry out definite legislative pro
grams.
Important actions in the short session
just closed include:
"Literacy test immigration bill
passed, but vetoed by President Taft.
Single six;year presidential term
amendment passed by the senate
Life prisoners in federal prisons made
eligible to parole.
Five year closed season for fur seals
incorporated in the international seal
treaty.
Federal control of water powers de-
feated in the senate.
Manufacturers of foods required to
state the net weight and contents on out
side of food package.
Government authorized by law to seize
trust controlled goods as soon as i'm
ported into the United States.
Lincoln Memorial authorized to cost
s .000,0 600.
The democratic majority hat took
control of the house when congress or
ganiZed insisted on going ahead with
other features of tariff revision, and
passed cotton, wool, free list and some
other bills. All three measures with the
aid of the progressive republican forces
in the senate, reached President Taft.
They were vetoed on the ground that the
tariff board was conducting investiga-
tiOns, the results of which must be known
before a proper revision of the tariff
could be made.
Legislative work throughout the spec
ial session, and the long session be
ginning in December, 1911. and running
through last August, included the fol
lowing:
Increase in the size of the house of
representatives, from 396 to 435 members.
@ASC hiu DtDSlOh 1oNs ~
ing civil war pensions.
Eight-hour law covering government
contracts.
Admission of Arizona and New Mexico
to statehood.
Pure drug law amended to prevent
misleading labels on patent medicines.
Use of poisonous white phosphorus in
~ ofnh 1,n Ii ,NnoxortoJ I-
tax.
Wireless communication brought I'M
der careful regulation, the law requiring
the wirless on all ocean vessels to be
adequately manned.
Government transports required to
carry an ample number Of lifebOats.
Red Cross recognized officially as a
branch'O of government service in time of
war.
Federal relief given to 1912 flood suf-
ferers in lower Mississippi Valley.
Commerce court and tariff board vir-
tually legislatcd out of existence.
Industrial commission authorized to
study relations between capital and
labor.
This congress has witnessed the ratifi-
cation of many important treaties with
foreign nations. The arbitration treat
les with France and Great Britain, ne
gOtiated by President Taft, however,
were not ratified, because the senate 50
amended them that the president con
sidered they did not carry out the under
standings made with the two powers.
In the two years, however, the follow
ing important agreements have been
perfected:
Pecuniary claims treaty with Great
Britain.
North Atlantic coast fisheries agree
ment with Great Britain.
Fur seal treaty with Great Britain,
Russia and Japan.
International wireless treaty with
leading foreign nations.
International war prize agreement.
International agreement covering san
itary measures for the control of cpl
denies.
General arbitration treaty with
France extended to 1918.
Copyright treaty with Hungary.
International agreement covering as
Sistance and salvage at sea.
Investigations covering a wide range
Of important subjects were conducted. In
addition to those enumerated ("money
trust" campaign expenditures and steel
inquiries). special committee and the
regular standing committees of the two