The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-03
62nd Congress Will
Conclude Tuesday Noon
(continuea rrom Page Ore,


pointments before the senate, demo-
Gratis declined to permit action on the
great majority, and the result will be
that President Wilson will I'LL the
places after he comes into office.
This fractional struggle. coupled with
the internal democratic contests for
the organization and control of sem
ate AMI house under the new admins
tration, injected the political equation
into the last sessions work to an un-
usual 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
a democratic president, senate AMI
house can have an opportunity to car
r. out definite legislative programs.
Important actions in the short ses-
sion just closing include,
tLiteracy test" immigration bin
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- I
feated in the senate.
Manufacturers Of foods required e.
state the net weight and contents on
outside of food package.
Government authorized by Law 60 i
seize trust-controlled goods as aoen
as imported into the United States I
Lincoln memorial authorized 20 cost d
100000
MEASURES VETOED.
The democratic majority that took y
control OF the house when the con- i
gTess organized insisted on going 4
ahead with other features OF tariff re-
vision, and passed wool, cotton, free T,
list and some other bills. All three
measures with the aid OF the progress
sive republican forces in the senate, /
reached President Taft. They were
vetoed on the ground that the tariff
board was conducting Investigations.
the results Of which must be known
before a proper revision OF the tariff
could be made.
Legislative work throughout the
special session, and the long session
beginning In December, 1911, and run
ming through last August. included the
following:
Increase in the size CT the house of
representatives, from 396 and 435
members.
Age and service pension law, in
civil war pensions.
Eight-hour law covering government
contracts.
Admission of Arizona and New Mex
leo to statehood.
Use of poisonous white phosphorus
In matchmaking prevented by excess
sive tax.
Pure drug law amended to prevent I
labels on patent medicines. !
Wireless communication brought s
under careful regulation, the law re- {
curing the wireless on all ocean f
vessels to be adequately manned. I
Government transports required to /
carry an ample number % lifeboats.
Red Cross recognized officially as /
branch of government service in time !
CT war. j
Federal relief given in 1912 food t
sufferers in lower Mississippi Valley. 7
Commerce court and tariff board s
legislated out of existence. f
Industrial commission authorized to a
study relations between capital and g
labor.
This congress has witnessed the G
of many important treaties 7
with foreign nations. The arbitration Y
treaties with France and Great Britain, t
negotiated by President Taft, how
ever, were not ratified, because the :
senate so amended them that the pres
ident considered they did not carry
out the understandings made with the
two powers.
In the two years. however. the fol- {
lowing important agreements have {
been perfected: 7
Pecuniary claims treaty with Great t
Britain.
North Atlantic Coast fisheries agree- ]
ment with Great Britain.
Fur seal treaty with Great Britain,
Russia and Japan.
International wireless treaty with
lea ding foreign nations. =
International war prize agreement. =
International agreement covering v
sanitary measures for the control of u
epidemics.
General arbitration treaty with il
France extended 90 1918.
Copyright treaty with Hungary.
International agreement covering as %
;istance and salvage at sea.
MANY INVESTIGATIONS. n
Investigations covering a wide range
,s important subjects were conducted.
IN addition to those enumerated (the p
money trust" campaign expenditures u
md steel inquiries), special commit a
.ees and the regular standing commit "
.ees of the two houses have conducted a
he following:
Tariff hearings. by ways and means e
committee in preparation for new a
tariff bills. h
Currency hearings, preparatory to
aiming monetary reforms.
Investigation of affairs of American u
Sugar Refining Company. and it's al d
eyed domination Of the market. II
Inquiry into the Titanic disaster.
Investigation of conditions along S
Mexican border, and alleged financing t.
IF Mexican revolutionists by Ameri-
ans.
shipping trust" inquiry. to deter f
nine extent of the common control of t.
,cean routes. t
Investigations of Indian affairs, on
,arious reservations, and at Washing u
on. d
Investiga tions of agricultural, treas S
Try, and other government depart II
nents. a
Investigation of land grants about