The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-03-11
LONG SESSION ENDS
RECORD. BREAKING CONGRESS
QUITS AFTER SITTING Al.
MOST TWO YEARS.
MANY NEM LAWS ENACTED
Estimated That Both Sessions Of the
sIxty-Thlrd Congress Levied
Tribute Of Nearly S2,2so, 900, 900 on
Treasury.

Washington, March 5.-The fall Of
EaVels in the senate and house brought
to an end the remarkable Sixty-third
congress, which has been in almost
continuous session since April Z, 1918,
and will be historic for the amount Of
major legislation enacted.
The appropriations of this congress
are the highest on record, while the
vast amount of important legislation
enacted chronicles the high mark for
congressional labor.
Appropriations at the first session
Of the congress reached the enormous
total of $1,116,00O,0OO and the sums
appropriated in the closing days of the
second session probably will be as
great 1t is estimated that the Sixty
third congress has levied tribute Of
nearly two billion and a quarter dol
lars upon the federal treasury.
President Wilson called the new
congress into session within a few
days after he assumed office, the big
tasks of the extra session began with
repeal of the Payne-Aldrich tariff
law and the enactment of currency
legislation. This extra session merged
into the regular session which began
December l, 1913, and the regular ses-
sion continued throughout another
summer, expiring on October "a, 1914.
The tired legislators were given a
brief respite from October "a to De-
cember Z, 1914, on which latter day
they reassembled for the final session
of the Sixty-third congress.
Aside from its appropriation for the
operation of the government and It's
various activities, the important legis-
lative achievements of the Sixty-third
congress are as follows:
The passage of the tariff law, with
its income tax provision.
The passage Of the currency bill,
establishing the existing federal re-
serve system.
Amendment of the Sherman anti
trust law by the passage of the Clay
ton antitrust bill.
The passage of the bill establishing
the federal trade commission.
The passage of the agricultural ex-
tension bill.
Passage of the Alaskan railway bill,
providing for the government owner.
ship and operation of a $35,OOO,OOO
railroad in Alaska
The enactment Of an emergency war
revenue tax.
A bill consolidating the life-saving
service and the revenue-cutter service
and creating out of the combined serV-
Ice coast guard.
A legislative rider to the naval ap-
preparation bill Of this session abolish
ing the "plucking board" and also Gre
ating naval reserve.
The passage of the La Toilette sea-
mems bill, designed to better condi-
tions of seamen and to promote the
safety of passengers.
In the investigating line both houses
showed activity. The senate and
house each investigated the so-called
lobby" at the capital, following the
Mulhall charges The senate also in
vestigated the West Virginia coal
strike and the house investigating
committee took note of the coal strike
in Colorado and the copper strike in
Michigan. The house judiciary COM
mittee probed charges against three
federal judges. One resigned while
charges were pending; another was
found not subject to impeachment, and
the third investigation is yet to be
concluded.
Among measures of comparatively |
minor Importance approved were those |
admitting foreign-built ships purchased
by Americans to American registry;
the ratification of various peace trea-
ties, the issuance of emergency treas
ury notes incident to business depres-
sion which followed the outbreak Of
the European war; the approval of
an investigation resolution to deter
tween the federal government and the
District of Columbia; the voting OF
money to get Americans out of Mexi-
co; authorization for tho sale to
Greece of two battleships, the Idaho
and mississippi and the creation in
the treasury department of tempo
rary bureau on war risk insurance, to
assume the assurance of vessels en-
barrassed because of the conflict
The Sixty-third congress was a rec
ord breaker in another respect in that
FOR the first time in hundred years
4 president personally appeared before
4 congress to read his annual and spe-
cial messages. President Wilson ap-
peared before a joint session of the
senate and house more than half.
iozen times to read messages.