The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-03-04
Esd Congress Has Actually
Worked 637 Days Since
April z, 1913
IMPORTANT MEASURES
ENACTED INTO LAW
Foreign Relations of the Nation Con
stantly to the Front on Account of
War.

WASHINGTON, March t. - The !
SiXty-third congress, first under com
piete domination of the Democratic
party since 1895, ended today at noon.
1t had been in almost continuous
session since President Wilson s in
auguration two years ago. Beginning
with an extra session called by the
President April :, 1913, the congress
has worked actually 637 DAYS.
Much important legislation was ac-
complished, but much contemplated,
some of it hard pressed by the Presi-
dent and party leaders, was left un-
done. 1t is the present intention of the
President and his advisers to give con
gress a rest. Rather than force an ex-
ira session, they would leave the re-
mainder of the administration : con
Structive aspirations to new con-
9ress next winter, which, although un-
der Democratic control. will have a
greatly reduced majority in the house.
Foremost III the enactments of the
SiXty-third congress were:
The Underwood Simmons tariff act,
with the income tax. which replaced
the Payne Aldrich tariff law
The federal reserve act, recognizing
the currency system
Antitrust laws to supplement- the
Sherman act, including the Clayton
law and federal trade commission act.
the former providing for punishment
of individuals who violate business
regulations and the latter establishing
a government institution to aid in
keeping business within the law.
Repeal of the Panama canal tolls ex-
emption for American cOast-wise ship
Iping.
/ Act directing the building at cost
! of $50 100000 of a government rail
road to the mineral fields of Alaska.
! Act to regulate cotton exchanges and
to penahze dealings in purely specu-
lative cotton future sales.
A special internal revenue tax. com
monty called the ''war tax
\ government war risk insurance bu
Ireau to insure American ships against
the hazards of war. and an act provid
ing for the transfer Of foreien-owncc
or built ships to American registry.
OF those measures which failed OF
enactment or could not he considered
for lack Of time, the following are re
garded by Democratic leaders as para
mount:
Bill for government purchase o
charter of transoceanic ships for tn,
establishment of an American merchan
marine which encountered the mos
stubborn fihbuster IN the history o
the senate, created an insurgent move
, ment in the Democratic ranks and hell
up general legislation for weeks of tn
last session.
The immigration bin. including
hteracy test for admission of alien.
L.
by President Wilson and failed by
narrow margin to repass the house o
8 Il motion to oVerturn the veto.
Conservation measures urged by tn
President to provide Il new system fC
I leasing of water power sites and lea
I ing system to open the mineral n
sources of the country.
Bill to enlarge the measure of Phi
ippine self government and 10 extcn
promise of Ultimate independence
Filipino people. a measure which passt
tire house and was approved by a Sc
ate committee.
IL Regulation by the interstate cor
merce commission of the issue Of raj
/ road securities, originally Il part OF Il
administration 5 antitrust program.
Rural credits legislation confer
of farm mortgage loan banks. persi
tently urged throughout the congres
In addition to the foregoing, scor
: of general Legislative bills covering
1 wide range of subjects died with Il
] end of the congress. among thel
] measures for federal road improv
ment, general waterway developmer
reorganization Of the civil service.
prohibit importation of convict-ma,
! goods, and several measures for /
! organization of the army
4 The last session of the congress w
| 1 notable, too, for the failure of tH
] great issues, national prohibition al
woman suffrage, proposed constitutio
al amendments precipitated two of t
] most exciting legislative battles in t
1 history of the House of Represent
III tives, both measures failing to recci
u a necessary two-thirds vote.
= Foreign relations of the nation we
constantly to the fore almost from t
beginning of the congress. The Nc
ician situation required close atte
70 ton from the outset as has the Flu
if Ipean war. Throughout the session t
President and the senate foreign
lations committee were in freuue
conferences and much was done to
= strain unusual demonstrations viii
ii might have disturbed information
ii tranquility. Early in the session q,
II eral arbitration treaties with sever
II great foreign powers were renewed
II lfve-year periods and % peace comm
III sion treaties providing for investi.
II ton of international disputes befC
" resort to arms were negotiated a
= ratified. \ treaty to enforce the re.
lations adopted by the London safe
at sea conference was ratified |.
December, but with an amendme
making reservations which came
late for other powers to consider, II
preventing enforcement of the G,
lNnntinn A trnntN with Y la =. Q