New Britain herald., 1915-03-04

1 domination of the democratic party since 1895, ended today at noon.
 It had been in almost continuous 1 auguration two years ago. Beginning 1 with an extra session called by the l president April ', 1913, the congress has worked actually 637 days. Important Legislation Accomplished. Much important legislation was ac- l complished, but much contemplated, some of it hard pressed by the president of the party leaders, was left undone. It is the present ln- tention of the president and his ad- visers to give congress a rest. Rather than force an extra session, they would leave the remainder of the ad- l ministrati tioh's constructive aspirations to new congress next winter, which, although under democratic control, will have a greatly reduced majority in the house.
 Foremost in the enactments of the SiXty-third congress were:
 The Underwood-S tariff act, with the income tax, which replaced the Payne-Aldrich tariff law.
 Federal Reserve Act.
 The Federal Reserve Act, reorgan- izing the currency system
 Antitrust laws to supplement. the sherman act, including the Clayton law and Federal Trade Commission act, the former providing for punish ment of individuals who violate busi- ness regulations and the latter estab- fishing a government institution to aid in keeping business within the law.
 Tolls Exemption Repeal.
 Repeal of the Panama Canal tolls exemption for American coast-wise shipping.
 Act directing the building at a cost of S35,OOO,OO of a government rail- road to the mineral fields of Alaska.
 Act to regulate cotton exchanges ands to penalize dealings in purely speculative cotton future sales.
 Special "War Tax"
 A special internal revenue tax, com monly called the war tax"
 A government war risk insurance bureau to insure American ships against the hazards of war, and an act providing for the transfer of for e1gn-owned or built ships to Ameri- can registry
 Other Dcmocatic Measures.
 Of these measures which failed of enactment could not be considered for lack of time, the following are regarded by democratic leaders as paramount.
 Bill for government purchase or charter of transoceanic ships for the establishment of an American mer- chant marine which encountered the most stubborn filibuster in the history of the senate, created an insurgent movement in the democratic ranks and held up general legislation for weeks of the last session.
 Famous Immigration Bill.
 The immigration bill~ including a literacy test for admission of aliens, which passed both houses, was vetoed by President Wilson and failed by a narrow margin to repass the house on a motion to overturn the veto.
 Conservation measures urged by the president to provide a new system for leasing of water power sites and a leasing system to open the mineral resources of the country.
 Philippine Government Bill. Bill to enlarge the measure of Philippine self-government and to ex- tend promise of ultimate inde-, pendence to Filipino people, a meas ure which passed the house and was approved by a senate committee.
 Regulation by the Interstate Com merce commission of the issue of railroad securities, originally a part Of the administration's antitrust pro- gram.
 Rural Credits Legislation.
 Rural credits legislation contem- plating the establishment of a system of farm mortgage loan banks, per sistently urged throughout the con- gress.
 In addition to the foregoing, scores of general legislative bills cov- ering wide range of subjects died with the end of the congress, among them measures for federal road inn Lrovement, general waterway de- velopment, reorganization of the civil service, to prohibit importation of convict made goods, and several meas ures for reorganization of the army.
 Failure of Big Issues.
 The last session of the congress was notable, too, for the failure of two great issues, national prohibition and woman suffrage. Proposed con- stitutional amendments precipitated two of the most exciting legislative battles in the history of the house of representatives, both measures fail ing to receive necessary two-ti1irds vote.
 Foreign relations of the nation were constantly to the fore almost from the beginning of the congress. The Mexican situation requiring close