Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-03-20
Work Of Short Session.

important actions in the short ses-
SION Just closing include:
Llteracy test immigration bill
passed, but vetoed by President Taft.
single six-year presidential term
amendment passed by Senate
Life prisoners in federal prisons made
eligible to parole
flVe-year closed season for fur seals
treaty.
Federal control of water powers de-
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
1000. 900.
Inc democratic majority that took
controi OF the House when congress or
ganlzed insisted on going ahead with
otner features of tariff revision, and
passed wool, cotton free list and some
otner pills All three measures, with
forces in the Senate, reached Presi
dent Taft. They We're vetoed on the
ground that the tariff board was con-
quoting Investigations the results OF
winch must be known before proper
revision OF the tariff could be made
Work Of Long Session.
Legfsla tive work throughout the spe-
clal session and the long session begin
ming In December. 1911, and running
7 .hrough 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.
HNcrI r, -.
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 OH patent medicines.
Wireless communication brought un-
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 vir-
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 nv President Taft how.
ever. were not ratified, because the
Senate so amended them that the presi-
dent considered they did not carry out
the understandings made with the two
powers.
In the two years. however the fol-;
perfected:
Pecuniary claims treaty with Great
Britain
North Atlantic coast fisheries agree
ment with Great Britain.
Fun. seal treaty VIII, Csraa+ pr;t.i,
Russia and japan " CO.. ''e-n'
international wireless treaty. witt,
Heading foreign mowers
international war prize agreement
International agreement covering
sanitary measures for the central ~
epidemics
General arbitration treaty with
France extended to 1918.
Copyright treaty with Hungary
International agreement covering as
sistance and salvage at ses.
ss'sss 1esu"'
Investigation covering wide range
OF important subjects were conducted.
In addition to those enumerated (the.
money trust" campaign expenditures
and steel inquir1es), special committees
ana the regular standing committees Of
the two houses have conducted the fol-
lowing:
ocratic tarin bills.
currency hearings, preparatory to