The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-03-20
special.-with the ad

~ c<oA SoAAB -
journment Of congress March 4,
the end was written Of two years
of epoch making struggle within party
ranks; and to three sessions of effort,
pnly partially successful, to adjust the
differences between a 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;
and many subjects of general interest
have been laid aside without action.
The tariff, attacked alike from demo-
cratic and republican sources twice
during that period, has been the sub
ject of attempted revision, but none
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 congress only
a few weeks away to be called by
President Wilson for q 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 its
end, Activities Of the short session now
SioolilS navy DCCA 1llll1tSu IL 0Il~
rirely to routine work, because of the
determination to leave 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 congress are the
following:
Canadian recipI ocity law passed, but
rejected by Canada.
Wood onffnr. mattel ,-I froo 1;et
tariff bills passed, but vetoed by Pres
ident Taft.
Constitutional amendment for popu-
lar election of senator's 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
inent Of commerce and labor.
Panama canal a 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 Lorimer declared not en-
titled to seat as senator from Illinois.
Judge Robert W. Archibald of COM
merce court, impeached and convicte
on charges of judicial misconduct.
Money trust investigation conducted,
disclosing detailed methods of present
day financial operation.
Campaign expenditures investigated
covering campaign funds of 1908 and
1872, and disclosing correspondence be-
tween John D. Archbold, of the stand
ard Oil company, and members of cor
gress.
Investigation made of formation and
operation of the United States Steel
corporation.
The new federal bureau of labor Gre
ated. with cabinet officer at its head.
Physical valuation of the property of
railroads and other common carriers
In order to form a basis for rate MAX
ing.
These comprise but a few of the laws
passed, Investigations conducted, treat
les passed on and legislative subjects
considered during the two years of the
~sixty-second congress. The two great
Lorimer and Judge Archbold, ran
throughout the congress-, and with
their interesting personal phrases
helped to draw attention from the act
ual legislative work of the two years.
Many Things Started.
While congress passed an eight-hour
law covering all government contracts
except on the Panama canal. it took
no action on three important subjects
anti-injunetion, workmen's compensa-
ton and antitrust legislation. Recon-
DAT We're made by a Senate
committee within the last week for
radical change in the antitrust law.
TO restore competitive conditions and
prevent monopoly, and they may bear
Irult IN legislation under the new adj
mtnistration.
The fh.dl 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 8
pointments. With more than 1000 an
pointlnents before the Senate. demo-
cIals oecilned to permit action on the
great majority. n the result will be
n q President Wilson Will fill the
places after he comes into office
Ihls Iactfonal struggle, coupled with
the internal democratic contest for the
organization and control of the Senate
House under the new Administered
tioi, lnlccted the political equation INTO
tue tast sessions work to an unusual
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 demo-
cratic president, Senate and House can
nase IN opportunity to carry out defi-
mite legislative programs.
a Fighting President