Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-03-21
Revieu Of Things Accomplished
By the Sjxty-Second CONGRESS

washington, special WIN the al
journment of congress March 4
OF epoch making struggle within party
ranks: and to three sessions of effort,
only partially successful. to adjust the
differences between a democratic
House, a Senate under democratic
progressive control and a republican
president.
Many important pieces of legislation
have been enacted within that time:
Investigations of a peculiar significance
to the public have been conducted:
n many subjects of general interest
have been laid aside without action.
The tariff, attacked alike from delno-
cratic and republican sources twice
during that period. has been the sub
ject of attempted revision. but one
of the proposed changes became effect
i've.
The Sixty-second congress opened in
1911 with a special session called by
President Taft to consider Canadian
reciprocity: it ends with an extra ses-
sion OF the Sixty-third only
q Few weeks away to be called by
President Wilson for a general revision
of the Payne-Aldrich tariff law. Ma
tional conventions. the birth OF a new
party. a general election. and a COM
plete change of administration have in
tervened between it's beginning and it's
end. Activities of the short session now
SAoSlIiS nave OeeU IIIIlilcu almost en-
tirely to routine work. because of the
determination to ave to the new adj
ministratiOn all of the important sub
jects of a general character.
important Legislation.
Perhaps the most important level
Opments of the entire ongre are the
following:
Canadian reciprocity law passed. but
rejected by Canada
Nnnd rx,ftnn p,,afo prx3 frn, 1ipf
tariff bills passed. but vetoed by Pres
ident Taft.
Constitutional amendment for popu-
lar election of enator submitted to
the states.
Shipment of liquor into prohibition
states forbidden by law.
Arbitration treaties with Great Brit
ain and France negotiated. but failed
of ratification because of changes made
by the Senate.
Termination OF the treaty of 1882 with
Russia demanded by congress-.
Notice served on the world by the
Senate, that the United States will not
permit foreign nations to secure mill
tary or naval footholds where they
might threaten safety of this country.
Children's bureau created in depart
ment of commerce and labor.
Panama canal law passed. establish
Ing free passage for American coast
wise ships. and barring railroad owned
vessels from the canal.
Campaign publicity laws passed. re-
| curing "A complete public accounting
of all campaign funds.
William i.orimer declared not en-
titled to seat as senator from Illinois.
Judge Robert w. Archibald of COM
merce court. impeachcc and convicted
on charges of judicial misconduct.
Money trust investigation conducted.
disclosing detailed methods OF present
/ daN financial ODeratiOn.
Campaign expenditures investigated
covering campaign funds of 1908 and
1912, and disclosing correspondence be-
tween John ID. Arch!ooid. of the Stand
gross.
Investigation made o: formation ard
operation of the United states steel
corporation.
The new federal bureau OF labor Gre
ated. with cabinet officer IT it's head
Physical valuation OF the property of
railroads and other Common carriers
In order to form a basis for rate AJAX
ing.
These comprise but d few of the luU,s
passed. Investigations conducted. treat
les passed on and legislative sih ictt Is
considered during the two years OF tire
Sixty-second congress. The two ereat
personal struggles. involving William
Lorimer and Judge Archboid. ran
throughout the congress. anal With
Inelr interesting personal phrases
helped to draw attention from the act
ual legislative work of the two years.
Many Things Started.
While congress passed AN e%ight-hour
law covering all government contracts
except on the Panama canal. it took
no action on three important subjects
anti%-injunction, worknlen's compens;,-
ton and ANTITRUST legislation Recon-
mendations We're made by a Senate
committee within the last week for
radical change in the anti-tr,,st law.
to restore competitive conditions and
prevent monopoly. and they may bear
fruit in Legislation under the new adj
m~inistration.
The final session. now ending. has
witnessed a struggle in the Senate be-
tween republicans and democrats that
prevented the confirmation of the
greater part of President Taft's APP
pointments. With more than 1000 ap-
pointmeiHs before the Senate. demo-
Gratis declined to permit action on the
great majority. and the result will be
that President Wilson will fill the
places after he comes into office.
rms factlonal struggle. coupled with
organization and control Of the Senate
and House under the new administra.
ton, injected the political equation into
the last sessions work to an unusual
degree. Several bills tina might have
become law in the closing days of this
session nave been held back because
democratic leaders preferred to have
the subjects carried over until a demo-
cratic president. Senate and House car
nave an opportunity to carry out def
mite Legislative programs.