Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-03
REVIEW OF THE WORK
OF THE 62ND CONGRESS

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
$1,000, 900.
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 PRECEDENT 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, ano ruiz
ming through last August, included the
following:
Increase in the size Of the house OF
representatives from 396 and 435 mem
bers
Age and service pension law, in,
creasing civil war pensions.
Eighthour law covering government
contracts.
Admission of Arizona and New Mex
leo 10 statehood
Use Of poisonous white phosphorus
in matchmaking prevented by exces-
sive tax.
Pure drug law amended 10 prevent
misleading labels on patent medicines.
/ Wireless communication brought un-
/ der careful regulation, the law re-
/ quiring the wireless on all ocean yes
/ sells to be adequately manned.
Government transports required 10
carry an ample number of lifeboats.
Red Cross recognized officially as
/ branch of government service in time
Of war.
Federal relief given to 1912 food
sufferers in lower Mississippi valley
Commerce court and tariff board vir-
tually legis.ated out of existence.
Industrial commission authorized to
study relations between capital and
labor.
This congress has witnessed the rat
itication Of many important treaties
with foreign nations. The arbitration
treaties with France and Great Britain
negotiated by President Taft, however
we're not ratified, because the senate
so amended them that the president
considered they did not carry out the
understanding made with the two
powers.
In the two years, however, the fol
lowing important agreements have
been perfected:
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
leading foreign nations.
International war prize agreement
International agreement covering
sanitary measures for the control o
epidemics.
Genera arbitration treaty wit
France extended TO 1918
Copyright treaty with Hungary.
International agreement covering as
sistance and salvage at sea.
Investigations covering a wide rang
Of important subjects were conducted
! In addition TO those enumerated 9TH
money trust" campaign expenditure
, and steel inquiries. special commit
tees and the regular standing CON
mittees Of the two houses have col
Quoted the following:
> Tariff hearings. by ways and mean
, committee in preparation for new den
ocratic tariff bills.
, Currency hearings preparatory I
. framing monetary reforms.
7 Investigation OF affairs of Amer
can Suger Refining company. and it
y alleged domination of the market.
8 Inquiry into the Titanic disaster.
: Investigation Of conditions alon
. Mexican border, and alleged fnancin
T. Of Mexican revolutionists by Amer
cans
. Shipping trust" inquiry. to deter
y mine extent OF the common control {
ocean routes.
! Investigations Of Indian affairs, O
= various reservations, and al WASHING
Z ton
Investigations OF agricultural. treat
: ~ and other government Department.
= investigation of land grants abou
Z Controller bay, Alaska
p President Taft has used the vet
= power freely throughout the congress
J. Fully 20 bills have met his disapprov
) al, including democratic tariff bill
g appropriation bills which containe
II commerce court, civil service and arm
Q reorganization and legislation OF whic
he did not approve; water power bill
h IN which the principe OF federal col
r troll was not recognized: and tn
! immigration bill containing the III
! eracy test" feature.
o TWO CONFERENCES CT rs