The Mena weekly star., 1913-03-06
RETIRING CONGRESS PASSED MANY BILLS.
Important Measures Credited to SiXty-SecOnd Body, Which Ter minated Existence Tuesday
 Many Probes Are Started.

adJOurnmant of congress at noon today, the end will be written to two years of epoch-making struggle within party ranks; and 10 three sessions of effort only partially successful, to adjust the differences between Democratic house, a sen ate under Democratic-Progressive control, and Republican presi- dent.
 Many important pieces of legisla- ton have been enacted within that time; investigations of a peculiar significance to the public have been conducted; and many subjects of general interest have been laid aside without action. The tariff, attacked alike from Democratic and Repub- lican sources twice during that pc riod, has been the subject of at tempted revision, but none of the proposed changes became effective.
 The 62d congress opened in 1911 with special session called by President Taft to consider Canadian reciprocity; it ends with an extra session of the 63d congress only a few weeks away, to be called by President Wilson for general re- vision of the Payne-Aldrich tariff law. National conventions, the birth of a new party a general election and complete change of admin istration have intervened between it's beginning and it's end. Activi- ties of the short session now clos ing have been limited almost entire ly to routine work, because of the determination to leave to the new administration all of the important subjects of a general character.
 Perhaps the most Important de- VelOpments of the entire Congress are the following:
 Canadian. reciprocity law passed, but rejected by Canada
 Wool, cotton, metal and free list tariff bills passed, but vetoed by President Taft.
 Constitutional amendment for popular election of senators sub mitted to the states.
 Shipment of liquor into prohibi- ton states forbidden by law,
 Notice served on the world by the senate that the United States will not permit foreign nations to secure military or navy foothols where they might threaten the safety of this country.
 Childrens bureau created in de- pertinent of commerce and labor.
 Panama canal law passed, estab- fishing free passage for American coastwise ships, and barring rail- road-owned vessels from the canal
 Campaign publicity laws passed requiring complete public ac- counting of all campaign funds
 William Lorimer declared not en- titled to seat as senator from llli- nois.
 Judge Robert w. Archibald of Commerce court imp cached and convicted on charges of judicial misconduct.
 Money trust investigation con- ducted, disclosing detailed methods of present-day financial operation.
 Campaign expenditures invesli- gated, covering campaign funds of i90i, 1908 and 1912, and disclosing correspondence between John D. Archbold of the Standard Oil Com pany and members of congress.
 Investigation made of formation and operation of the United States Steel Corporation.
 These comprise but few of the laws passed, investigations conduct ed, treaties passed on and legisla- tive subjects considered during the two years Of'the 62d congress. The two great personal struggles, in William Lorimer and Judge Archibald, ran throughout the con- gress; and with their interesting personal phases helped to draw at tention from the actual legislative work of the two years.
 While congress passed an eight hour law covering all government except on the Panama canal, it took no action on three inn portant subjects: anti-injunction, compensations and anti trust legislation. Recommendations were made by a senate committee within the last week for radical changes in the antitrust law, to re- store competitive conditions and to prevent monopoly; and they may bear fruit in legislation under the new administration.
 The final session, now ending, has witnessed struggle in the Senate between Republicans and Demo- crats, that prevented the confirma- tion of. the greater part of Presi- dent Tafts appointment. With more than 2,000 appointments be- fore the senate, Democrats declined to permit action on the great ma iority, and the result will be that President Wilson will fill the places after he comes into office.
 This factional struggle, coupled with the internal Democratic con- test for the organization and con- trol of Senate and House under the new administration, injected the po- litical equation into the last ses- sion's work to an unusual degree. Several bills that might have be- come law in the closing days of this session have been held back because Democratic leaders preferred to have the subjects carried over un- til Democratic President, Senate and House can have an oDDOrtuni-