Arizona republican., 1913-03-03

1 under the new administration. i The final session, now ending, has 1 witnessed q struggle in the senate 1 between the republicans and demo 1 crats, that prevented the confirma- ] ton of the greater part of President 1 Tafts appointments With more than 1 2.000 appointments before the senate. l democrats declined to permit action on the great majority. and the result win be that President Wilson will l fill the places after he comes into 1 office.
 This tactional struggle, coupled l with the internal democratic contest ! for the organization and control of i senate and house under the new ad- ministration, injected the political l equation into the last sessions work ! to an unusual degree. Several bills l that might have become law in the i closing days Of this session have 1 been held back because democratic 1 leaders preferred to have the sub l jects carried over until democratic i president. senate and house can have an opportunity to carry out definite i legislative programs | Important actions in the short ses- i sion just closing include: 1 "Literacy test" immigration bill passed, but vetoed by the president. l Single siX-year presidential term 1 amendment passed by senate i Life prisoners in federal prisons made eligible to parole ! FiNe-year closed season for fur seals incorporated in the intcrnI tional seal treaty.
 1 Federal control of water powers l defeated 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 300o. .00O.
 The democratic majority that took concusiion of the head has been the control of the house when the con- gress organized 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 President Taft. They were vetoed on the ground that the tariff board was conducting investiga [ tions the results of which must be known before proper revision oi
 the tariff could be made
 Legislative work throughout tho
 special session. and the long session
 beginning in December, 1911, anC
 running through last August. include,
 the following:
 Increase in the size of the house of representatives from 396 to 43.
 members.
 Age and service pension law. in
 oreasing civil war pensions.
 Eight-hour ltw covering govern l ment contracts.
 Admission of Arizona and New l Mexico to statehood. Use of poisonous white phosphorou
 in match making prevented by eXccs = sive tax.
 > Pure drug law amended to pro g vent misleading labels on patcn ' i medicines.
 Wireless communication brough < under careful regulation. the law rc quiring the wireless on ali oceaI
 vessels to De adequately manned.
 Government transports required t' ! carry an ample number of Hfcboats
 Red Cross recognized officially a U branch of government service il
 time Of war
 Federal relief given to 1912 flood ' sufferers in lower Mississippi valley
 Commerce court and tariff board virtually legislated out of existence.
 Industrial commission authorized |, ' study relations between capital an,
 labor
 This congress has witnessed th'
 ratification of many important treat i ies with foreign nations The arbi
 tration treaties with France anC z Great Britain. negotiated by Presiden
 Taft. however, were not ratified, be , cause the senate so amended then = that the president considered they did not carry out the understanding z made with the two powers. In the two years however the fol
 lowing important agreements hav' , been perfected:
 a Pecuniary claims treaty with Grea
 Britain
 North Atlantic coast fisheries agree ment with Great Britain.
 Fur seal treaty with Great Britain . | Russia and Japan.
 International wireless treaty witt i leading foreign nations. oI International war prize agreement
 International agreement covern;
 sanitary measures for the control o 1 epidemics
 General arbitration treaty wit ! France extended tO 1918
 Copyright treaty with Hungary. f International agreement COVerin: 1 assistance and salvage at sea. f investigations covering Wid . range of important subjects were con = ducted. In addition to those enum 1 erated, the money trust campaign
 expenditures and steel inquiries,) spe cial committees and the reguia [ standing committees of the tw'
 houses have conducted the following
 Tariff hearings, by ways and mean
 committee. in preparation for new
 democratic tariff bills
 Currency hearings. preparatory t
 framing monetary reforms.