The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-03-06
GREAT WORK DONE IS
RECORD OF CONGRESS
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CONTINUED from Page 81
prevent monopoly: and they may bear
fruit in legislation under the new ad-
ministration.
The final session now ending, has
witnessed a struggle in the senate be-
tween republicans and democrats, that
prevented the confirmation of the great
er part Of President Taft's appoint
nents. With more than 1000 appoint
ments before the senate democrats de-
clined to permit action on the great
majority and the result will be that
President Wilson will fill the places.
I This factional struggle, Occupied
with the internal democratic contest
for the organization and control of
senate and house under the new adj
ministration, 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 leaders
preferred to have the subjects carried
over until democratic president, SEN
ate and house can have an opportunity
to carry out definite legislative pro-
grams.
Important actions in the short ses-
sion just closing include:
"Literacy 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.
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
outside of food package.
Government authorized by law to
seize trust controlled goods as soon as
imported into the United States.
! Lincoln memorial authorized to cost
100000.
Tariff Legislation.
The democratic majority that took
control Of the house when the con-
gress organized insisted on going
ahead with other features of tariff re-
vision, and passed wool. cotton. free
list and some other bills. All three
measures with the aid Of the pro-
gressive republican forces in the SEN
ate, reached President Taft. They
were vetoed on the ground that the
Itariff board was conducting invcstiga-
tions, the results of which must be
known before proper revision of the
tariff could be made.
Legislative work throughout the spe-
cial session and the long session be-
ginning in December. 1911, and run
ming through last August, included the
following:
Increase in the size of the house OF
representatives from 1896 to 435 mem
bers.
Age and service pension law, in
creasing civil war pensions.
Eight-hou law covering government
contracts.
Admission Of Arizona and New
Mexico to statehood.
l 80 altar sit
ting well into the early hours of Sun
day morning, met again In the after
noon to resume the effort to finish
up pending legislation before adjourn
|ment Tuesday noon. Agreements in
1.-THE senate early on the river and har-
Dor bill and the postoff1ce appropria-
lt,on bill, had cleared the situation so
that a spirit Of optimism prevailed In
both houses when the sessions were
resumed shortly after 2 y. IN.
The senate began the day with con-
sideration of the "Scamen's BILL the
measure designed to abolish involtn-
tary scrvitude on merchant ships The
bill had been greatly altered by the
senate commerce committee from the
form In which it passed the house.
House supporters Of the bill expressed
doubt Of Its acceptance by that body,
even should the senate pass 1t.
The blockade caused by the river
land harlypr bill. which was broken
in the senate early Sunday morning by
the adoption Of tho conference re-
port was completely removed late in
lthe afternoon when the house also
adopted the report and sent the bill.
carrying &47.sSS.s94 on It's way to
President Taft. The army appropria-
ton bill. completed by the senate at 2
o'clock Sunday. morning. was signed