The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-10-17

absorbed much attention OF the Congress,
irrespective OF the wars in Mexico and
Europe and formed the basis for Discus
sion by the president in his annual mes
sage and in frequent conferences with
members of the foreign relations com
mittee, This committee lost It's chair
man early in the session through the
sudden death OF Senator Augustus q,
Bacon of Georgia. Senator William j.
Stone of Missouri was chosen to sue
coed him as head OF this important com
mittee which was busy throughout the
session with the consideration OF treaties
and other foreign affairs, General arbi'
tration treaties with II foreign nations,
upon recommendation OF this commit.
tee. were ratified by the Senate, as fol-
lows.
Great Britain, Japan Italy, Spain,
Norway. Sweden, Portugal, Switzerland,
Paraguay, Austria Hungary, the Meth
erlands and Salvador.
Later in the session and in the midst
OF the European conflict, the Senate,
upon recommendation of the foreign re-
lations committee, ratified new treaties
providing for peace commissions of in
vestigation in international disputes not
settled by ordinary diplomacy with -
foreign nations as follows:
Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal,
Switzerland, Denmark, Italy, Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Boz
| livia, Persia. Costa Rica Venezuela, Ar
gentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Paraguay,
Great Britain, France and Spain. Sim
liar treaties negotiated and urged for
ratification but held up in the Senate
for further consideration are with China, |
Panama and San Domingo. A similar
treaty has been negotiated with Russia |
to be sent to the Senate later.
Much time was given by the commit: !
tee for hearings and consideration of a /
treaty with Nicaragua, to acquire the 7
Nicaraguan canal route and naval sta
ton rights in the Bay of Fonseca, for I
$3,000,000; and the treaty with Colon
bia, to pay that country S25000000 I
compensation for the Panama canal
strip. Action on both treaties was de-
ferred until next session.
Investigations by Congress were less
than has been undertaken in recent ses-
sions. The special lobby investigating
committee of the Senate, however, CON
tinued its existence and probed into al
legged lobbying in connection with the
passage Of the Panama canal act, and
the subsequent repeal of the tolls exemp.
ton provision. The committee has not
yet made a final report The House
lobby committee reported resolution
of censure for Representative McDer-
mott of Illinois, who resigned his office.
Investigation by the interstate com
merce commission into the financial OPP
erations OF the New York, New Haven 4
Hartford Railroad company and the Chi |
cago, Rock Island & Pacific railway were
instituted by resolutions of Congress. I
also were conducted by
Senate and House committees into the
West Virginia coal strike, the Mich {
igan copper strike and the Colorado coal :
strike. Inquiries leading to impeach- /
ment proceedings which eventually were !
dropped were conducted by the House :
judiciary committee into the affairs of
Judges Daniel Thaw Wright OF the SUI !
preme court of the District of Columbia, !
and Emory f. Spear, United States cir !;
suit court Judge for the southern dis i
trict OF Georgia Il
Notwithstanding its achievements, the !
Congress left much important work UNI :
finished. Much of this legislation will :
be taken up for consideration in the !
winter session, though it will be inn .
possible. in the opinion of administration I
eaders, to consider all of it before ad. j
ournment March next. Some of the \
ubieets uncompleted are the following: n
Government purchase of merchant vcs- :,
els advanced as part OF the war emer- :,
,ency program but postponed by agree q
nent with the president until next ses- :,
ion. 4
Revision of immigration laws inclui-
ng an illiteracy test. passed by the =
House and approved by Senate commit !, y
ee but never pressed in Senate; =
Regulation of development OF water = !
over in nsvigable streams. y
Bill providing for leasing of mines II
nd other natural resources on pubic .
omain.
Bill providing eventual independence
Or the Philippines, which passed the
louise but was deferred until next SEES n
ion by Senate. .
Bill TO provide rural credits logisla-
on by establishment OF a system OF
lrm mortgage banks. .,
Resolution providing for submission 4
constitutional amendment granting :.
Iffrage TO women, passed in House. de. :
,ated in Senate and reintroduced. s
Bill TO provide for submission Of con II
.itutional amendment for national pro-
Ihition
National direct primaries for nomins- :
on Of presidential candidates. Il
Regulation of railroad stocks anil
,nds by the interstate commerce CON- a.
ission undertaken as part Of antitrust a
ogfam but deferred =.
Measure for regulation Of stock ex. q