Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-03-05
THREE SESSIONS OF EFFORT
ONLY PARTLY SUCCEEDED IN AID
JUSTING DIFFERENCES Be
TWEEN TWO FACTIONS.
MUCH IMPORTANT LEGISLATION
ENACTED - MANY INVESTIGA-
TIONS OF PECULIAR SIGNIFI-
CANOE CONDUCTED.
(By Associated Press.)

WV vNNA' NDONh ANhi - ~
within party ranks; and to three sessions
of effort, only partially successful, to adj
just the differences between a democratic
house, a senate under democratic-pro-
gressive control, and a republican presi-
dent.
Many important pieces of legislation
have been enacted within that time; in
~vestigations 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 democratic
and republican sources twice during that
period, has been the subject of attempted
revision, but none of the proposed
changes became effective.
The sixty-second congress opened in
1911 with a special session called by
President Taft to consider Canadian re-
tiprocity; it ends with an extra session
of the 63rd congress only a few weeks
away, to be called by President Wilson
for a general revision of the Payne-Ald-
rich tariff law. National conventions,
the birth of a new party, a general cleo
ton, and a complete change of admins
tratiOns have interviewed between its be
ginning and its end. Activities of the
short session just closed have been lin
tied almost entirely to routine work, be
cause of the determination to leave to
the new administration all of the i'm
portant subjects of a general character.
Daphonc tho most in,nnntont Iauo1nN
ments of the entire congress are as fol
lows:
Canadian reciprocity law passed, but
rejected by Canada.
Wool, cotton, metal and free list tariff
bills passed, but vetoed by President
Taft.
Constitutional amendment for popular
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.
The termination Of the treaty of 1892
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
threaten the safety of this country.
Children's bureau created in depart
ment of m and labor.
nnz C~.,.l -. .,-.o1 o4.Il:I
ing free passage for American coastwise
ships, and barring railroad-Owned YES
sells from the canal.
Campaign publicity laws passed, re
q~uiring a complete public accounting of
all campaign funds.
Judge Robert w. Archibald of com
merce court impeached and convicted on
charge of judicial misconduct.
William LOrimer declared not entitled
to seat as senator from Illinois.
Money trust investigation conducted,
disclosed detailed methods of present day
financial operation.
Campaign expenditures investigated
covering campaign funds of 1904, 1908
and 1912; and disclosing correspondence
between John ID. ArchbOld of the Stand
ard Oil company and members of con-
gress.
Investigation made of formation and
operation of the United States Steel
corporation.
These comprise but a few of the laws
passed, Investigations conducted, treaties
passed on, and legislative subjects CON
sidered during the w years of the Sind
congress. The two great personal strug-
giles. involving William LOrimer and
Judge Archibald, ran throughout the con
gress. and with their interesting person
al phases helped to draw attention from
the actual legislative work Of the two
years.
While congress passed an e%ight-hOur
law covering all government contracts
except on the Panama canal. it took no
action III three important subjects: anti
Injunction. workmen'S compensation and
antitrust legislation. Recommendations
were made by a senate committee within
the last week for radical changes in the
antitrust law, to restore competitive
they may bear fruit in legislation under
the new administration.
The final session, just ended, has wit
messed a struggle in the senate between
republicans and democrats, that pre-
vented the confirmation Of the greater
part of President Taft's appointments.
With more than 1000 appointments be-
L