Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-03-06
62ND CONGRESS
IS SUMMARIZED

~ ~ \ASSsAS W
62d Congress)-With the adjournment of
Congress Tuesday noon, the end was
written to two years Of epoch making
struggle within party ranks; and to three
sessions of effort. only partially success
full. to adjust the differences between q
democratic house, a senate under demo-
cratic-prOgressive control, ana a repub-
llcan president.
Many important pieces Of legislation
have been enacted within that time; In
vestigationS Of Il peculiar Significance
to the public have been conducted; and
| many SUBJECTS Of general interest have
! been laid aside without action. The tar
III, attacked alike from democratic and
republican sources twice during the per-
iod, has been the subject of attempted
revision but none Of the proposed changes
have become effective.
The Sixty-Second Congress opened in
1911 with = special session called by
President Taft to consider Canadian rec
iprocity; it ends with an extra session
OF the G3rd Congress only a few weeks
away, to be called by President Wilson
for a general revision of the Payne-Al-
drich tariff law. National conventions,
the birth of Il new party, a general cleo
ton, and a complete change of admin
istration have interviewed between its be-
ginning and its end. Activities Of the
short session now closing have been lin
tied almost entirely to routine work. be-
cause of the determination to leave to
the new administration all Of the import
ant subjects of a general character.
Perhaps the most important develop
ments Of the entire Congress are the
following:
Canadian reciprocity law passed, but
rejected by Canada. -.
Wool. cotton, metal and free list tar
if bills passed, but vetoed by President
Taft.
Constitutional amendment for popular
election Of Senators submitted to the
states.
Shipment of liquor into prohibition
states prohibited by law.
Arbitration treaties with Great Britain
and France negotia ted. uut failed of rati-
fication because of, changes made by the
Senate. * ~ go Z
Termination Of the treaty of 1882 with
Russia demanded by Congress-.
Notice served on the world by the SEN
ate that the United States will not per-
NIT foreign nations to secure military or
naval footholds where they might threat
en- safety of his country.
Children's bureau created in depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor.
Panama Canal law passed, establishing
free passage for American coastwise
ships, n barring railroad owned ves-
sells from the. Canal. - T..
Campaign publicity laws passer, re-
curing a complete public accounting Of
all campaign funds.
William Lorimer declared not entitled
to seat as Senator from Illinois.
Judge Robert W.. Archibald of Com
merce Court impeached and convicted or
charges of judicial misconduct.
Money trust investigation conducted,
disclosing detailed methods of present.
day financial operation.
Campaign expenditures investigated
covering campaign funds of 1904, 1908 and
1912; and disclosing correspondence be-
tween John d. Archbold of the Standard
Oil Company and members of Congress.
IIltCSIISttlul IlituS Oh IOTllldlIOu anu
operation of the United States Steel Cor
poration. ...
These comprise but n few of'the laws
passed, Investigations conducted, treaties
passed on, and legislative subjects con-
sidered during the two years Of the Sind
Congress. The W great personal strug-
giles, involving William Lorimer and
Judge Archibald, ran throughout the
Congress-; and with their interesting per-
sonal phases helped to draw attention
from the actual legislative work of the
two years.. g..
While Congress passed an eight-hour
law covering all government contracts
or the Panama canal, it took no
action on three important subjects: anti
workmen's compensation and
antitrust legislation. Recommendations
made by a senate committee last
eek, for radical changes in the antitrust
law, to restore competitive conditions and
monopoly; and they may bear
fruit in legislation under the new adj
ministration. I
The final session, now ending, has wit
messed a struggle in the Senate between
and Democrats, that pre-